Cabus

My kidney function was at 15%

Man… this one hits different.

This was my last TV performance on Good Morning Texas last May… just weeks before my kidney transplant in June.

At the time, my kidney function was sitting around 15–18%. Creatinine was 4.4. My body was tired in ways I can’t fully explain. If I’m being real… my voice wasn’t as strong as it used to be, and my energy definitely wasn’t the same. Imagine what that felt like trying to get through full shows.

But the second I stepped on that stage… something shifted.

Performing has always been my escape. It gave me joy when everything else felt heavy. And the support… from that room, from people watching, from messages online… it felt like a real push that carried me through every note.

For those who found me recently through my kidney transplant journey on TikTok or Instagram… just know, this is also who I am.

Music isn’t something I picked up along the way. It’s who I’ve always been.

And if you’re going through something right now… whatever it is… I hope this reminds you that you don’t have to put your life or your passion on hold. You’re allowed to keep showing up for the things you love, even in the middle of it all.

Sometimes that thing is exactly what helps carry you through.

I truly believe I was born to be on a stage.

Now here I am… on the other side of a transplant. One kidney. GFR at 65. Creatinine at 1.3. Slowly getting my wind back, getting my reps in… and I can feel the difference.

I don’t take any of this lightly.

Thank you to the team at UTSW UTSouthwestern- Dallas , the National Kidney Foundation National Kidney Foundation, Kelly, my family, my friends… and everyone who has supported me in any way, whether through my music or my health story.

April is National Donate Life Month.In 2023, I was told I would need a kidney transplant. My blood type is O, which meant the wait could take years. At one point, we thought we had an answer. My sister Lorraine Gayao-Lanham was a match and moved back from Bangkok to try and make it happen. But in the final stages, doctors determined it wouldn’t be safe for her to go through with the procedure.Back on the list, the reality set in again.During the holidays that year, my brother-in-law Steven Lanham was visiting from Bangkok. Before he left, he asked me to go on a walk. That’s when he told me he had quietly gotten tested, contacted my transplant team at UTSouthwestern- Dallas UTSouthwestern- Dallas completed the process on his own.He was a match.What he did next is something I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life. He made the decision to leave his job, move his family across the world, and come to Texas to donate his kidney to me.On June 16th, I received that gift.There isn’t a day that goes by where I don’t think about what that took. Not just the surgery, but the disruption, the commitment, the willingness to step into something that most people would never even consider.Because of that decision, I’m still here.Because of that decision, I’m back to doing what I love—making music, performing, living a life that almost paused.If you’ve ever considered becoming an organ donor, I hope this gives you something to think about. One choice can extend someone’s life in ways that go far beyond the moment.Grateful for the work of the National Kidney Foundation in continuing to support and advocate for people navigating this journey. Larry Gee

Happy 75th Birthday to the National Kidney Foundation!
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As a musician, motivational speaker, kidney disease advocate, and transplant survivor, I’m here today because early awareness matters — and because I radically changed my diet and lifestyle when I was diagnosed with Stage 5 kidney disease.
NKF is fighting to eliminate preventable kidney disease and to support the millions of people and families affected. Their work helps people like me every single day.
If my story has inspired you, please consider supporting NKF as they celebrate 75 years of life-saving impact.
Visit kidney.org/birthday to donate. Together, we can help more people get a second chance.

Two generations. Two battles. One belief.My dad’s been fighting thyroid cancer for 20 years. I fought kidney failure.Both of us turned our lives around through faith, discipline, and a plant-based lifestyle.Your body can heal when you give it the right fuel. 🌱💪Hashtags: