Our Story
A family united by lived experience — turning personal health journeys into international advocacy for rare kidney disease awareness and health equity.
Meet the Team
The Lending Hand Initiative is built on family, faith, and a shared commitment to making sure no one faces a rare kidney disease diagnosis alone.
Jorden Albright
Jorden Albright
Founder | Patient Advocate & National Speaker
Jorden is an Atlanta-based patient advocate living with APOL1-mediated FSGS. Diagnosed in 2022, he transformed his personal health journey into a mission to advance awareness, early screening, and health equity in rare kidney disease.
In addition to his advocacy work, Jorden serves as a Director at Rise Property Group, a boutique commercial real estate brokerage based in Atlanta. He has spoken at forums including the Congressional Black Caucus and the International Society of Glomerular Disease, and has contributed to regulatory and policy discussions at the FDA and KHI APOL1 Kidney Disease Roundtable.
Jorden is committed to ensuring that lived patient experience informs research, innovation, and the future of kidney care.
Jaime Albright
MSW
Jaime Albright, MSW
Patient Parent & Advocate
Jaime is a Georgia-based patient parent and kidney disease advocate. She and her husband, Joshua Henighan, are raising six children. After their sons, Joshua (diagnosed in 2021) and Jorden (diagnosed in 2022) were diagnosed with Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), a rare genetic kidney disease, Jaime became a passionate advocate for early screening and genetic testing, recognizing that their stories of early diagnosis were uncommon.
She now facilitates patient support groups, serves on multiple patient education panels, and was appointed to Governor Brian Kemp's Rare Disease Advisory Council. In addition to her advocacy work, Jaime is a writer and producer at Tenderfoot TV, where she uses storytelling to amplify meaningful voices and impactful narratives.
“My goal is to ensure that conversations around APOL1 move upstream — increasing awareness, strengthening trust, and connecting more individuals to the information and support they need.”
Joshua Albright
Joshua Albright
Patient Advocate & Teen Coordinator
Joshua is a 21-year-old Communication major at Georgia State University and Teen Coordinator at The Drake House. Diagnosed in 2021 at age 17 with stage 2 kidney disease and FSGS, he participates in a clinical trial for APOL1-mediated FSGS.
Joshua advocates for kidney disease awareness and early screening, serving on multiple patient education panels. He attended the 2024 KDIGO Conference in Ghana and was appointed to Governor Brian Kemp's Rare Disease Advisory Council. He is co-founding a consulting firm with his brother, Jorden, to bridge the gap between patients and the pharmaceutical world.
Joshua coined the phrase "Facing Struggle, Gaining Strength" for FSGS to highlight resilience and empower others, and uses his social media platforms to show that living fully after diagnosis is possible.
Boards, Advisory Councils & Committees
APOL1 Kidney Disease Roadmap Implementation Roundtable
Member
2024–2025
FDA APOL1 Kidney Disease Roundtable (NKF/KHI)
Advisory Member
2024–present
American Kidney Fund (AKF) – Patient Advisory Council
Member
2022–present
Governor Brian Kemp's Rare Disease Advisory Council
Member — Jaime Albright
Current
Governor Brian Kemp's Rare Disease Advisory Council
Member — Joshua Albright
Current
Awards & Recognition
Georgia Kidney Champion Award
National Kidney Foundation – Inaugural Southern Santé Event
March 2026
Education & Certifications
NORD Rare Disease Drug Development Certificate
Completed August 2025
American Kidney Fund Kidney Health Coach Program
Completed August 18, 2025