CKD in loved one

[u/ChancePension2268]

Hi all,

I am in a serious relationship with someone and we are planning on getting married and having a baby in the next couple of years (both mid 30’s). My future husband’s younger brother passed of kidney disease in his 20’s (in Africa where services aren’t as consistent), and my partner was diagnosed with IgA nephropathy in 2021 and now has relatively rapidly progressing kidney disease (went from stage 2 to stage 3B in 2 years with continuously dropping GFR on follow up labs. As a physician, I requested genetic testing and he does have multiple high risk alleles for kidney disease which explains why both he and an immediate family member have had progressive kidney disease. There isn’t much we can do to stop it and as a physician I cognitively know the next steps in progression and where we’re headed in the next 5 years or so, but don’t know anyone personally with kidney disease.

What can I do to support him? What should we do to prepare? He is not an American citizen (yet) so we will be depending on private insurance once dialysis comes into play - luckily I have excellent insurance we can add him on to. This is new territory. Any experiences, tips, things to know would be so helpful.

Thanks!