Ten years ago, Lanay Lopez was a healthy, active 15-year-old who spent her free time playing basketball for her high school team and participating in clubs. Then, sudden kidney failure changed everything.
She urgently needed a kidney transplant — and, as it turned out, her father was the perfect match.
As Hackensack Meridian Health marks its 10th anniversary this year, we checked in with Lanay, now 26, about the transplant that gave her a second chance and how she’s doing a decade later.
Strange Symptoms and a Shocking Diagnosis
In spring 2016, Lanay started having unusual fatigue and allergy-like symptoms, like eye swelling and frequent sneezing.
“They felt like regular allergies, but I felt very drained,” she says.
Even stranger, she’d leak small amounts of urine when she sneezed. The family suspected an infection, but a urine test ordered by Lanay’s pediatrician revealed something far more urgent: high protein in her urine, which can indicate a serious kidney problem. The pediatrician instructed Lanay’s mom, Sabrina, to bring Lanay to the emergency room right away.
“I was like, are they talking about my kid? She had never had any indications of kidney problems before,” Sabrina recalls.
After calling Lanay’s dad, Rene, to fill him in, Sabrina took her daughter to Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital at Hackensack University Medical Center, near their home in Secaucus. Testing there showed that both of Lanay’s kidneys were failing.
Searching for Answers
A few days later, Lanay and her parents met with pediatric nephrologist Kenneth Lieberman, M.D., chief of pediatric nephrology, who ordered more tests to understand what was going on with Lanay’s kidneys.
He diagnosed her with glomerulosclerosis, severe scarring of the kidneys that makes it hard for them to filter waste and balance the body’s fluids. The condition is rare, and in many cases — including Lanay’s — the underlying cause is never found.
“There are some treatments that can improve kidney function a little bit for a period, but we don’t have a cure,” Dr. Lieberman says.
Lanay’s best shot at a full, normal life would be to get a kidney transplant. Otherwise, she’d face permanent dialysis, an artificial method of cleaning your blood when your kidneys can’t do it on their own.
The news was hard for Lanay to absorb, but Dr. Lieberman made her feel more comfortable.
“He was really nice and caring,” Lanay recalls. “He would explain everything very thoroughly. He was also funny — he’d tell jokes to put you at ease.”
A Father Steps Forward
In June 2016, Lanay and her family began searching for a kidney donor. Without hesitating, Rene offered to give one of his kidneys to Lanay if he was a match.
“They asked if any of us wanted to get tested, and I raised my hand immediately. It was a no-brainer,” he says. (Sabrina couldn’t volunteer to be a donor since she was Lanay’s primary caregiver.)
The family also put Lanay on the national transplant wait list in case Rene’s kidney wasn’t a fit.
Over the next several weeks, Rene underwent bloodwork and testing to determine his eligibility, and Lanay began prepping for surgery. Her team checked her nutritional status, heart health and dental health as well as whether she had any underlying infections that could cause complications postsurgery.
“The idea is to make sure that the patient is in the best possible shape to help them weather the transplant,” Dr. Lieberman says.
Rene was declared to be a match in early August, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Lanay recalls feeling a mix of joy, surprise and anxiety. “I was like, ‘OK, we’re really going to do this now,’” she says.
The Big Day Arrives
At the end of August 2016, Lanay and her parents arrived at the hospital for the transplant. Reality set in for Lanay as she saw her dad being prepped for surgery.
“I was in awe. It felt like, you see this on TV,” she says.
Despite everyone’s nerves, the 90-minute procedure went smoothly. After Rene’s team removed one of his kidneys, Lanay’s surgical team, led by Michelle Joosun Kim, M.D., transplanted it into her lower abdomen. Her own damaged kidneys were left in place to decompose naturally as they stopped working.
When she woke up in the ICU, Lanay had some pain, but she quickly started to feel better. When Rene visited the next day, the two took a short walk down the hall as instructed.
“She was walking fine,” says Rene. “But everyone thought I’d had back surgery because I was so hunched over [from the pain]. She’s way stronger than I am — that’s for sure.”
A Speedy Recovery
Lanay went home after a week in the hospital. Rene, whose recovery was easier, left after three days.
Determined to get back to full strength fast, Lanay followed Dr. Lieberman’s post-op instructions to a tee. She tracked her temperature, blood pressure, water intake and urination frequency daily. And she was diligent about her medications — a whopping 28 pills a day — to fight infection and keep her body from rejecting the new kidney. She saw Dr. Lieberman weekly for check-ups.
Her hard work paid off. By November, Lanay had more energy and was cleared to return to school. Over the rest of the year, she tapered off many of her medications and was able to stretch out her time between doctor visits.
Embracing Her Second Chance
After high school, Lanay went to college and then into a career working with youth in the juvenile justice system, which she finds deeply fulfilling.
“A lot of these kids are fighting for a second chance, and I think [my health journey] helped me be more understanding. I listen better. I hear their stories. I understand that fight,” she says.
Lanay now sees an adult nephrologist every six months, but she recently reunited with Dr. Lieberman for a catch-up.
“She and I were both kind of teary,” says Dr. Lieberman.
Ten years later, Lanay recognizes just how significant her dad’s gift was. “I feel like I have a second chance,” she says.
And her parents couldn’t be prouder.
“It means the world to see her [healthy],” Rene says. “It’s been gratifying to see her living her life, making friends and living her dream.”
Next Steps & Resources
- Meet our source(s): Kenneth Lieberman, M.D., Michelle Joosun Kim, M.D.
- Make an appointment online with a pediatric nephrologist near you, or call 800-822-8905
- Learn more about our adult kidney care services or our pediatric kidney care services.
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