Prologue

As I sit here quietly thinking of what happened 36 y years ago, I never thought I was as sick as I was in 1987 until the doctor, my primary doctor told my parents with me that I had total kidney failure and UW- Hospital and Clinics in Madison, Wisconsin. Upon hearing this, I was trying to hold back the tears, and my throat was getting sore and scratchy. As the doctor said goodbye and good luck, I had one foot out the door, I looked at the doctor with a look of dislike at him and turned to face the hallway then the tears and crying began. My dad grabbed me and hugged me for a few minutes, then we walked to our cars. Dad was dressed was at work at the time of my appointment and came in a few minutes after we arrived and was in the doctor’s office waiting for him to get off the phone regarding me. My dad, a policeman, at the time had just arrived when the announcement of my kidneys has failed and the UW in Madison was expecting right away. I was scared, angry, and my throat was sore from holding back tears. Sandy, my soon to be 1 year old sister, Kelsey, and I go to the police station to wait for dad to let his boss know what was going on and go home to pack.