The Queen with One Bean: Turning Nutcracker Syndrome into a Lifesaving Gift

In this episode of Let's Talk Transplant, Michael Lollo sits down with the remarkable LJ, also known as the "Queen with One Bean". A certified psychic recognized as "Psychic of the Year" in 2022 and the current American Miss National Mrs. 2024, LJ shares her harrowing and inspiring health journey.

After suffering from a spinal injury and severe abdominal pain, LJ was diagnosed with Nutcracker Syndrome—a condition where the left renal vein is compressed like a nut in a nutcracker. Facing a nephrectomy to relieve her pain, LJ made a groundbreaking decision: rather than just discarding the kidney, she fought to donate it, becoming a pioneer in donating a kidney due to Nutcracker Syndrome.

In this episode, we discuss:

• LJ’s 16 surgeries and her struggle to get a proper diagnosis.
• The life-changing "LRVT" surgery and the decision to donate her kidney at Weill Cornell.
• Her partnership with the National Kidney Registry (NKR) to launch the Nutcracker Centers of Excellence, which has already established 10 centers to help patients cure their condition through donation.
• LJ’s dual life as a psychic medium and how she uses her intuition
• Why self-advocacy is critical when navigating the medical system.

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