MHS alumna awaiting transplant in lupus struggle

By Bernadette Russoniello

Once a Ram, always a Ram. Leandra Fleming didn’t expect what 2020 would bring. While family and friends argue on social media about political beliefs, Leandra is facing the fight of her life.

The 2016 Maricopa High School graduate was diagnosed with lupus nephritis her senior year. Now she is waiting for a new kidney.

A visit to her Facebook page chronicles her journey with the disease. Evolving from a young graduate with hopes and dreams for the future, her posts reflect her progression with the disease.

Her initial public interactions involved a few random memes regarding the autoimmune disease and side effects of steroids, a common treatment for symptoms. At first Leandra was tentative to share her diagnosis with friends and teachers, but as the disease progressed, so did Leandra’s advocacy for awareness.

In 2017 she started sharing general posts about awareness, walks and fundraisers for various foundations and organizations committed to fighting the disease. By 2018, forgoing typical birthday wishes and presents, Leandra asked friends and family to donate to the Lupus Foundation of America.

Working two jobs, Leandra experienced her first major hospitalization from the illness. In 2018, when she was 21, Leandra declared herself a “Lupus Warrior,” using social media to share and spread awareness.

“My name is Leandra Fleming. I am 21 years old and I have Lupus.

“In May of 2016 I was diagnosed with lupus nephritis, an autoimmune disease in which my immune system attacks healthy tissues and organs in my body. As a teenager I played it off and ignored it because I didn’t want to feel weak, broken or defeated by myself. I ignored the signs and symptoms of my disease for the sake of others. At the beginning of the month after almost two years of battling my lupus, I finally saw what the damage of ignoring it was.

“I now have the harshest form of lupus. Stage 3 diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis. Both of my kidneys are compromised, and I have limited mobility in my legs and can’t move for long. Since having lupus I have had three surgeries, two kidney biopsies, seven scars, weeks in the hospital and months of suffering in silence.

“I’ve lost weight, time, memories and years off my life. And now I am here. I share my story not for pity but as representative for those who have this silent killer and to document for those who care to learn or for those who may be concerned for me how I am doing.

“For the next six months I will be undergoing IV Cytoxan treatment. It’s a form of chemotherapy in hopes to reverse the damage done. The road is gonna be hard and has many risks, but it’s the road where I decide that I will no longer live around my lupus and my lupus will live with me! I thank everyone in advance for the support I have received, and I hope I can educate and motivate anyone and everyone on lupus and the importance to take care of yourself.” (FB – Oct. 29, 2018)

Her story continues with pictures, posts, heart-rending descriptions and updates, and she continued to share her journey with friends and family. Sharing about struggles with employers recognizing and providing adequate health coverage and medical leave for her condition, exhaustion, hospitalizations and the constant rollercoaster lupus creates.

Now, in the midst of a global pandemic and election turmoil, Leandra is rallying the courage to ask for help. Lupus has pushed her body into the final stages of renal disease. Her kidneys function at 3%, leaving Leandra on dialysis until her transplant.

She has been in and out of the hospital four times over the past six weeks. She is currently treated at Chandler Regional Hospital. She has several people willing to test to match, and Leandra is on the top of the donor list due to her age.

In October, Leandra created a fundraising page to help with medical costs. To date, she has reached nearly $4,000 of her $10,000 goal. She is asking friends and family to donate, to share her story and to help.

Go to Leandra’s GoFundMe page.
Learn about lupus.