Living with C3G: Chase’s Story

Diagnosed with C3G as a child, Chase has spent most of his life navigating uncertainty, resilience, and change. Watch Chase’s full story below to learn more about the challenges of living with a rare kidney disease and the hope inspired by research and innovation.

TRANSCRIPT: 

Chase: A lot of people hate running. I look at it as like a form of like freedom or meditation. I'm a young guy. I've always lived my life. I've always had my basic like health abilities, which is like walking, talking and breathing and going through that kidney transplant. I remember coming out of the surgery and I did not have those things. My name's Chase. I'm 22 years old and I was diagnosed with C3G back in second grade. I’ve lived with that disease my whole life. That disease, you know, ruined my original kidneys causing me to have a kidney transplant at the age of 20. My mom's been my ride or die, obviously since I, since I was born. 

Beth Ann: I would describe Chase as a very energetic, dynamic person. It was very hard raising Chase. He never stopped. I noticed Chase's eyes were puffy. That went on for a couple times. We were in Maryland on vacation and his whole body swelled up. It was really to the point where when we got back from that vacation, I went right to the hospital.

Chase: And I was in the hospital, I think for like seven or 14 days. They were taking blood work. They were trying to figure out what all happened, and that's when I was diagnosed with C3G. 

Beth Ann: You have an 8-year-old boy who, who's just, what do they want to do? They just want to run around and be, have fun. There wasn't fear, it was more frustration. The research on the C3G was, there wasn't that much information. Chase was stable with his kidney function for many years, and right around 18/19, his kidney function started to decrease. 

Chase: And then when I, you know, graduated high school, I'm out here doing my own thing, being my own boss, loving my, you know, business. I was like sitting in an office; out of the blue, my doctor's like, yeah, your function's decreasing. You need a kidney transplant. 

Beth Ann: Chase was put on the National Kidney Registry for DC's donor when he was at 20% and within like a year, a year later it was at 5%. We didn't know if we were going to get a donor in time or if he was going to have to go on dialysis. His father went and got tested, so finally we got the approval for the transplant. The operation was very successful. 

Chase: Coming out of the transplant, like my health completely changed. You realize you, you were sick. The kidney transplant is not a cure, it's really just giving you more time. It's just a lease on life. 

Beth Ann: The fears to me would be, is he going to need another transplant? Is the disease going to become active again? You kind of worry about things like that. 

Chase: I'm just an optimistic person, so I always look at the future. I always stay positive. 

Beth Ann: I'm really thankful to the people who are doing research in this rare kidney disease is just very hopeful to me so that other children don't have to go through what Chase went through.