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Eddie Schneider, 17 years old from Wall, NJ was diagnosed with a kidney disease known as IGA Nephropathy 4 1/2 years ago. This is a chronic disease which progresses over 10 - 20 years and can lead to end-stage renal disease eventually leading to dialysis and kidney transplant. The cause of this disease is the kidney's inability to breakdown the protein we have in our body known as IGA.
Eddie was first brought to the hospital in January of 2004 when his urine looked "like Coca-Cola," in fact there was blood in his urine. One of the consequences of IGA Nephropathy is always having blood in the urine. The loss of blood causes Eddie to become anemic, so much so that his first year having the disease, he missed 22 days of school.
Each time Eddie suffers serious symptoms of the condition, he is taken to a doctor. His blood pressure is checked, and if it is too high, he is treated with steroids. For about four or five days, Eddie must rest and drink lots of water. Unless more research turns up a cure, that is all an IGA Nephropathy patient can do. The long-term consequence is more severe. Someday, Eddie will need dialysis, and eventually, a kidney transplant. If the disease keeps progressing at the rate it has, a kidney transplant could happen by the time Eddie is in his early 20s.
Even though Eddie does not feel 100% all of the time, he is a festive young teen, always looking to entertain and make the people around him happy. Eddie stays focused and does not let this disease get the best of him, instead he wants to make a difference.
To encourage research and find a cure for IGA Nephropathy, Eddie's mother, Bonnie Schneider, started the nonprofit group Strides for IGA Nephropathy, Inc. With the help of many friends, and walkers, Strides for IGA Nephropathy raised over $175,000 so far.
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Bonnie Schneider, Executive Director | Strides For IGA Nephropathy
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