About Evan
James Evan Daigle (“Evan”) is a 37-year old son, husband, and friend to many. He was born in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and moved with his family to Kinston, North Carolina in 1996. He attended East Carolina University and majored in Information Technology, eventually earning a Master’s Degree in Information Security. He married Lauren Elizabeth Ellisberg in 2017. They have two dogs, and one (semi) domestic cat.
Evan hadn’t been feeling very well, but attributed it to the state of the world and growing older. After getting blood work done, Evan received a call from his doctor and was instructed to go straight to the hospital. On July 13, 2022 Evan was admitted to UNC Rex Hospital with stage 5 kidney disease. After several tests and biopsies, he was diagnosed with IgA nephropathy, or Berger’s Disease.
IgA nephropathy (nuh-FROP-uh-thee), also known as Berger's disease, is a kidney disease that occurs when an antibody called immunoglobulin A (IgA) builds up in your kidneys. This results in local inflammation that, over time, can hamper your kidneys' ability to filter waste from your blood.
IgA nephropathy usually progresses slowly over years, but the course of the disease varies from person to person. Some people leak blood in their urine without developing problems, some eventually achieve complete remission and others develop end-stage kidney failure.
No cure exists for IgA nephropathy, but certain medications can slow its course. Keeping your blood pressure under control and reducing your cholesterol levels also slow the disease.
