For four months, I was winning. My creatinine was rising, but very slowly. When kidneys fail, they lose their ability to cleanse the blood. Inpurities and toxins begin to pile up, leaving the patient feeling ill.

It got to the point in late January 2000 that I was having as many bad days as good days. I often woke up feeling nauseated and I was always exhausted. If I didn't get 10 to 12 hours of sleep per night, I was worthless the following day.

Dr. Pruchno presented me the option of going on hemodialysis. "It's your choice, but I guarantee you'll feel better within a week," he said.

It did not take a whole lot of convincing.