When someone gets a life-altering diagnosis such as IgAN, it not only affects the person living with it, but also the people around them. For parents, it’s a different and unique experience. They provide support as they watch their child learn to cope and live with the impact of this disease. It can be a lonely and worrying experience navigating what are often unchartered waters, but it doesn’t have to be. Today, we have with us Julie and Jeanette, two amazing moms of children who are at different stages of their IgAN journey. Their budding friendship speaks to the little blessings that can come from life’s challenges. Even though they live states away from one another, they met at an event to raise awareness about the impact of IgAN, with both of their now adult children sharing their experiences. That chance meeting led to the start of a life-long friendship rooted in shared experiences, love for their children, music, and a mutual love for Babyface. “I found that on this journey, it’s so very important to say it out loud, say that you’re scared, anxious, that you don’t know the questions to ask, say that I’m shaking and I don’t know where to go from here.” -Jeanette Julie and Jeanette talk about how their friendship has helped one other. They share the importance of making connections, being vulnerable and creating bonds that can help you through these uncertain times.

For example, the connections: ● Between parents who are going through the same struggles. They say you can feel what is in each other’s hearts without necessarily having to say the actual words. ● Between people living with IgAN. Their kids are now close friends. They are both working as IgAN Ambassadors to support other patients, especially those who are newly diagnosed and are at a loss on what to do. They want to encourage others by sharing their experiences. ● Outside the disease. When there is a disease such as IgAN, it can be all-consuming. A big part of your life revolves around the disease, so it’s even more important to bond outside of it. They recommend spending time as parent and child or as friends just having fun and doing other things you both enjoy. And when asked about their wish for Mother’s Day, both Julie and Jeanette don’t want anything special, and only expressed their gratitude for the little things, and for their kids. This Mother’s Day is also special since it falls on the same day as the 2 nd Annual IgA Nephropathy Awareness Day. May 14 marks the date when Bonnie and Ed Schneider formally launched the IgA

Nephropathy Foundation a journey that began after their son was diagnosed and there was nowhere to turn. It’s not always an easy road for parents of children with a diagnosis, but it is amazing when they are able to find each other, support one another, and form a bond that would last a lifetime, like how Julie and Jeanette have.