Kyra

My name is Kyra Loehr, and I am 22 years old. Last summer was unlike anything I had ever imagined. I was diagnosed with Secondary HLH in June 2025. Doctors were unsure what triggered my HLH until a few months ago, when they narrowed it down to lupus. I didn't know I had lupus prior. I was treated at Regions Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota. In July 2025, I was able to return home, but I still had months of rehab ahead of me.

Today, I am feeling great and have not had any signs or symptoms of HLH. I just finished my junior year of nursing school and am working as a nurse intern this summer. Since last summer, I have also had the opportunity to shadow as a nursing student on the same units where I was once a patient. After graduation, I hope to become a nurse in an ICU or step-down unit so I can give back to others.

I will forever be grateful for Dr. Elie Gertner and his medical team, who saved my life and provided excellent care. I am also incredibly grateful for my current rheumatologist, as well as my family and friends, who were with me every step of the way.

The biggest lesson I have learned from this journey is not to take anything for granted. For those currently fighting HLH, you are so much stronger than you realize. To the family and friends of a loved one with HLH, your love, presence, and support matter more than you know. You help carry us through the fight.