When Ruchi Ambike was diagnosed with IgA nephropathy (IgAN) in 2001, she didn’t realize how profoundly it would shape her life. IgAN is a rare autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks the kidneys, often progressing quietly for years before causing noticeable symptoms.
After moving for graduate school, routine urine testing by a new physician revealed protein and blood that had never been investigated. Within weeks, she was referred to an internal medicine specialist, then to a nephrologist, and soon after underwent a kidney biopsy. The diagnosis was IgA nephropathy. “That was it,” she said. “I was told the name, but not much else.”
Ruchi relied almost entirely on her nephrologist for guidance. Treatment focused on managing her blood pressure. There were no conversations about nutrition, lifestyle changes, or long-term planning. “I didn’t know enough to be worried,” she said. “I felt fine.”
Her kidney function was strong then: stage one, with a glomerular filtration rate (GFR) around 105. Life moved forward. Ruchi married, built her career as a speech-language pathologist, and became pregnant with her first child.
That pregnancy became the moment when the reality of her diagnosis could no longer be ignored.
After developing severe preeclampsia, Ruchi spent nearly 10 days hospitalized following delivery. During that stay, a different nephrologist was consulted. “In one conversation, she gave me more information than I’d received in years,” Ruchi said.
Ruchi’s second pregnancy came sooner than planned, before her body had fully recovered. Preeclampsia returned, though this time the risks were anticipated and carefully monitored.
Still, the toll was real.
By 2010, Ruchi’s kidney disease had progressed to stage three, where she stayed for many years. Her protein levels remained relatively stable, which slowed further decline. Physically, she still felt well. As a mother of young children, her focus stayed firmly on her family. “I didn’t feel sick,” she said. “So it was easy to push it to the background.”
Even though Ruchi had been so careful, she ended up being exposed to COVID-19 and noticed a shift in her lab results. Her kidney function began to decline more rapidly, and she entered stage four chronic kidney disease.
Treatment options in Canada remained limited. Care continued to focus on symptom management. Some newer medications were prescribed off-label, but often at significant personal cost. “I hit a wall,” Ruchi said. “Emotionally and physically.”
During one appointment, she broke down in tears. “My nephrologist cleared the room and listened,” she said. “Together, we made a plan: begin preparing for a kidney transplant.”
The idea of asking for a living donor felt overwhelming. With a friend's help, she shared her story publicly. Five people volunteered to be evaluated. “Just knowing people were willing—it changed everything,” she said. “It gave me hope.”
For years, Ruchi had never met another person living with IgA nephropathy. That changed in 2023, when she discovered the IgA Nephropathy Foundation in the U.S. and attended a patient symposium in Washington, D.C. “Walking into a room filled with hundreds of patients and caregivers was overwhelming—in the best way,” she said. “Everyone understood. I’d never experienced that before.”
What began as a personal search for connection became something larger. Ruchi became the Foundation’s first Canadian patient ambassador and began building a community. She launched a Canadian Facebook group, organized awareness events, and collaborated with the Kidney Foundation of Canada to expand patient education nationwide.
Today, Ruchi balances life as a mother of two teenagers, a healthcare professional, a patient preparing for transplant, and a national advocate. She continues to push for treatment access and equity, meeting with Members of Parliament and serving on the Canadian Society of Nephrology Advocacy Committee.
Her advice to newly diagnosed patients is simple but hard-earned: advocate early. Ask questions. Seek support. And don’t assume feeling “fine” means everything is fine. “If I could go back,” she said, “I’d focus more on my health from the start—nutrition, self-care, balance. Not out of fear, but out of respect for my body.”
Despite the uncertainty ahead, Ruchi remains grounded in what brings her joy: family, friends, travel, reading, and meaningful work. “I don’t know exactly what’s next,” she said. “But I know I’m not facing it alone.”
