Olympic Gymnast Suni Lee Fights Incurable Kidney Disease

Suni Lee's Health Battle

Olympic gymnast Suni Lee is making a comeback after a battle with incurable kidney disease. Last year, the now 21-year-old gymnast was diagnosed with two rare kidney diseases. Since then, Lee has shared snippets of her health journey. In a new interview with SELF magazine, Lee opens up about being diagnosed with an incurable kidney disease and how it has affected her life.

Lee's Diagnosis

Lee was diagnosed with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) and minimal change disease (MCD) in 2023. FSGS is a rare kidney disease that causes scarring of the glomeruli, which are the tiny filters in the kidneys that help remove waste from the blood. MCD is another rare kidney disease that causes the glomeruli to become leaky, allowing protein to leak into the urine.

Lee's diagnosis came as a shock to her and her family. She had always been healthy and active, and she had no idea that she had a kidney disease. "I was just really confused and scared," Lee said. "I didn't know what was going on or what was going to happen to me."

Lee's Treatment

Lee has been undergoing treatment for her kidney disease since she was diagnosed. She takes medication to help slow the progression of the disease and to reduce the amount of protein in her urine. She also has regular check-ups with her doctor to monitor her kidney function.

Lee's treatment has been successful in slowing the progression of her disease. However, there is no cure for FSGS or MCD, and Lee will need to continue treatment for the rest of her life.

Lee's Comeback

Despite her diagnosis, Lee is determined to make a comeback to gymnastics. She has been training hard and is hoping to compete in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

"I'm not going to let this disease define me," Lee said. "I'm going to keep fighting and I'm going to make a comeback."