"My journey with IgA nephropathy began in 1985. My wife and I had just got married. We decided to apply for life insurance, and a nurse came to the house and did a blood test and a urine sample.

About a week later, we got a call back saying I had been denied coverage, and when I asked them why, they told me that I had some blood and protein in my urine and I needed to go see a doctor.

I was 25 years old and very healthy – never been to a hospital, never really had any health issues before – so it was a big surprise."