You could be soaring high in the gymnastics world today and be brought down by an unexpected illness tomorrow. Suni Lee faced this reality. She discovered something was amiss when swelling began to interfere with her training.
“I kept peeling off the bar. I couldn’t hold on,” Suni revealed.
The symptoms intensified and made her fingers so swollen that a simple kip cast became impossible. The swelling didn’t stop there; it led to a dramatic weight gain of about 40 pounds. This unexpected change impacted her physically and mentally. Consequently, it challenged her to adapt and persevere through these hardships.
The Shocking Diagnosis
Suni’s journey to a diagnosis was anything but smooth. Initially, signs suggested an allergic reaction. However, further tests revealed the true culprit: an incurable kidney disease. Her kidney biopsy confirmed the worst. The gymnast made significant changes in her life and career.
“It affected my whole body and how I looked and how I was feeling,” she shared.
The condition led to her ending her college gymnastics career prematurely because her university’s medical team couldn’t clear her to train. However, Suni remained positive and expressed gratitude for her specialized medical team.
“I am blessed and thankful to be working with the best specialized medical team to treat and manage my diagnosis,” she stated.
Navigating Life with Kidney Disease
Chronic kidney disease comes with a myriad of symptoms, including fatigue, nausea, and muscle cramps, to name a few. These symptoms disrupted Suni’s life significantly. The disease’s impact became evident when she had to opt out of the world championship team due to medication adjustments.
“They’re still monkeying with the medication to try to get it so she reacts the same way each day,” explained her coach, Jess Graba.
Because her response to medication varied, her training schedule was affected by the good and bad days. Despite these challenges, Suni remained resilient, adapting to the unpredictable nature of her condition.
The Road to Recovery and Resumption
In January 2024, Suni received life-changing news: her medications were finally working effectively.
“We have it under control now,” she announced.
This breakthrough allowed her to resume training and reignited her passion for gymnastics.
“There were so many times when I thought about quitting and just giving up because I was so sick,” she admitted.
However, the unwavering support from her loved ones, especially teammate Simone Biles, kept her going. Simone’s encouragement after Suni’s fall during the U.S. Nationals was particularly impactful.
“I just know that she needed some encouragement and somebody to trust her gymnastics for her and to believe in her,” Simone said.
A New Perspective on Life and Gymnastics
Suni’s health battle has given her a new outlook on life and her career. She acknowledges that she will never be the same athlete she once was.
“Whenever I’m talking to my coaches, I’m always like, I get really sad because I’m never going to be the same, like the same Suni, not the same athlete,” she confessed.
However, her coaches see this change as a positive transformation. They believe it has made her tougher and more resilient.
Suni agrees, saying, “I decided I wanted to come back because I really was only getting better and I love gymnastics.”
Suni’s journey is a testimony to her incredible strength and determination. Despite facing an incurable disease, she continues to pursue her passion for gymnastics with unwavering resolve. Her story is a source of inspiration. She has reminded us all that even in the face of adversity, we can find the strength to keep going and achieve our dreams.