![]() I know she was amazing because she created my mom. I wish I had the opportunity to meet this warrior. My mom’s mom, Pauline aka “Mickey,” battled a lot because of PKD. I respect her decision but will never understand it. At that time I did not know she had made the decision to not go on dialysis and to let herself pass away. She was in kidney failure and I remember her sitting on the floor of the spare bedroom in our home with curlers in her hair and medicine in plastic bags surrounding her. ![]() Donna lived in North Carolina and I only spent time with her for one week when I was 15 years old. My mom’s sister, Donna, also died from PKD at 48. PKD took Jack’s life at age 60, who was my mom’s half-brother. My mom had one half-brother and one sister who passed away from PKD. We paid respect to them at their tombstones on that poignant spring day in Loganville, Pennsylvania. A lot of my mom’s aunts, uncles and cousins had PKD. My mom’s grandparents had 10 children and my mom’s mom was one of the several children who inherited PKD. We know that PKD started with my mom’s grandfather, Kervin, who passed away at age 60. She told me who each person was and how I was related to him or her. It was chilling, emotional and inspiring to watch my mom walk around our family members’ tombstones. We visited the cemetery where several of our family members who died from PKD are buried. On April 8, 2010, during one of our visits to Loganville, my mom and I made a spontaneous detour. I feel closer to my family members whom I never met, when we are in Loganville. Every time we visit Loganville, my mom is sure to point out the exact house that her grandparents lived in. We then enjoy old fashioned ice cream at a hidden treasure, Carman’s Ice Cream shop. We visit Brown’s Orchards for a delicious lunch and a stroll through the fun market. I always enjoy going to Loganville with my mom, as I know it is special to her and is now special to us. My mom has shared fond memories with me of when she was a child in Loganville, Pennsylvania. ![]() I wish I would have listened more and talked less as a youngster. I enjoy hearing stories of when they were younger, how they feel, their thoughts and aspirations. I am concerned about their well-being and genuinely interested in learning as much as I can about their lives. I can tell I am aging as I now worry about my parents. When I was younger I didn’t worry much about my parents. I don’t recall asking my parents about their day! When they come home from school, they tell their parents about their day. They are growing, learning and finding their way in life. I believe it is normal for children and teenagers to be self-consumed. ![]()
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