Editor’s note: This profile of a woman in need of a kidney transplant is part of a series of articles featured in Denver Urban Spectrum to bring attention to the urgent need for organ donation. We focused on this mother and daughter in the May issue in recognition of Mother’s Day. DUS agreed not to use last names to protect their privacy when sharing about their personal medical story. To read previous articles, visit www.denverurbanspectrum.com.
From the time Sydney was a little girl, she can’t recall a moment when her mother, Stephanie, wasn’t right beside her. Every volleyball game, swim meet, basketball game and even practices, her mom was there. Not occasionally. Not when it was convenient. Always.
Stephanie worked tirelessly to ensure her daughter had access to opportunities many only dream about. Raising her in northeast Denver and enrolling her in a private school, she was intentional about building a future designed to reach generations for years to come.
From the outside, it would be easy to assume those choices came with heavy sacrifice – the financial strain, emotional exhaustion, the constant pull-on time and energy. But when Stephanie reflects on those years, she sees them through a different lens. To her, it was never a burden. It was for a purpose.
She became a mother in her early 30s, after accomplishing many of her personal goals. So, when Sydney came along, Stephanie was ready, fully present and all in. And it shows. Sydney’s confidence, leadership, and commitment to community is the direct result of a foundation carefully and faithfully built.
As a student athlete, health is everything. When Sydney began experiencing excruciating knee pain, it raised immediate concern. Stephanie took her to a sports medicine doctor, determined to get answers. They were connected with a Black woman physician who pushed for more extensive testing beyond standard overuse evaluations, a decision that would prove critical in Sydney’s health journey.
In her senior year of high school in 2020, she was diagnosed with lupus, an autoimmune disease that can attack the joints and vital organs, including the kidneys. It’s a condition that disproportionately affects Black girls and women, often between the ages of 15 and 44, and one that can be difficult to detect early.
Shortly after, she headed to college in Connecticut and transferred her medical care to UConn Health. As she was getting into her groove and working on campus; together with her doctors, she made the decision to undergo knee reconstruction surgery in hopes of easing the pain.
Over the next couple of years, lupus began attacking Sydney’s kidneys. By 2024, conversations about dialysis and the need for a transplant were no longer hypothetical – they were becoming a reality. After graduating from college and residing back east for a year, she made the decision to move back home. Returning to the one place she knew she would be fully supported.
By 2025, fatigue set in. Everyday tasks required more energy than before. And in early 2026, what started as routine lab work quickly escalated into an emergency.
“I knew it was serious,” Sydney recalls.
She was rushed to the hospital, where she underwent two blood transfusions and multiple procedures to prepare her body for dialysis. “When they told me dialysis was my only option,” she says, pausing to hold back tears, “that was heartbreaking for me.”
Dialysis, a life-sustaining treatment that removes waste and excess fluid from the blood, can be done in a clinical setting or at home. Sydney opted for at-home treatment, which offers more flexibility, but also requires intense training, strict routines, and daily commitment.
For a young woman in her 20s, the adjustment has been overwhelming to say the least.
“I’m still in my 20s. I want to enjoy this decade,” she says. “The biggest fear is the future. When will I get a kidney? How long will I be on dialysis?”
Despite feeling physically “okay” at times, the reality of her diagnosis weighs heavily.
“Because I was still functioning, still going about my day, I didn’t think it had gotten that far,” she says.
Now, she is learning to navigate a new normal – one shaped by medical schedules, dietary changes, and the emotional toll of uncertainty. But even in the hardest moments, she is not alone.
From hospital stays to surgeries and an intense week-long training for how to manage dialysis at home, she has leaned on her faith and the love of her mother.
And just like in Sydney’s childhood, Stephanie is still right by her daughter’s side.
She’s at every appointment, asking questions, taking notes, and advocating when something doesn’t feel right. She ensures protocols are followed, her daughter feels safe, and her care is taken seriously. She’s done her own research. She’s watching closely. She’s praying constantly.
This new phase of motherhood hasn’t shaken her; she’s doubling down.
“She’s my support system and my rock,” Sydney says. “She makes sure I keep God in my life. She’s always speaking positivity over me, always reminding me that I will get a kidney one day.”
As Sydney waits for a kidney transplant, her mother’s unwavering love is the power that will see her through.
Editor’s note: The primary organ procurement organization (OPO) for the Colorado region is Donor Alliance, which facilitates the coordination, recovery, and distribution of organs and tissues for transplantation across Colorado and most of Wyoming. For more information, visit https://www.donoralliance.org/.
Editor’s note: Denver will host the 2026 Transplant Games of America from June 18–23, 2026. This biennial, multi-sport event, often called the “largest celebration of life in the world,” will be held at the Colorado Convention Center and various venues across the city. For more information, visit https://www.transplantgamesofamerica.org/
