02/20/2026
At 45 years old, the St. Paul, Minnesota native is living well with a kidney transplant she received in 2018. But her story with kidney disease began long before that.
When Leanna was just six months old, she was diagnosed with Polycystic Kidney Disease. For years, she was able to manage her condition and live a normal life. Her mom, a single parent raising five children in St. Paul, made sure of that. Despite the challenges, Leanna grew up surrounded by love, especially from her younger brother — the sibling she remains closest to today.
It wasn’t until the birth of her second child that her condition worsened and the strain on her kidneys intensified. At a routine six-month nephrology appointment, her doctor noticed a drop in her kidney function and began preparing her for the possibility of a kidney transplant. After extensive testing, she was finally placed on the transplant waiting list.
Leanne would wait six years – a year and a half spent on dialysis. Some days she felt sick and exhausted. Her schedule changed. Family stepped in. Her sisters, nieces, nephews — everyone showed up.
Then one day, she got a call while she was at work — in the middle of a case in the operating room (OR), that there was a match. Her brother flew in. Family gathered. Friends picked up hospital shifts just to be nearby. Her support system surrounded her completely.
It is now nearly eight years later, and she’s living her second chance fully — celebrating kidney birthdays, advocating in her community and reminding others that behind every transplant is generosity, courage and the power to save a life.
As an African American and Mexican woman, Leanna is passionate about reaching multiethnic communities disproportionately affected by high blood pressure, diabetes and kidney disease. She speaks candidly about prevention, healthy choices and having family conversations early.
