MY SON’S GIFT

A father chronicles his struggles with kidney disease and his son’s priceless offering in this memoir.

In a book dedicated to his son, Steve, whom he calls “a true hero,” Minnesotan Simenson dramatically recounts his experiences as a father of two teenagers who falls desperately ill. After battling a rare inflammatory blood disease as a child, the author practiced taekwondo for decades and became a third-degree black belt, but his kidney function had been gradually diminishing for decades. At 49, he was suffering mysterious leg pains, fatigue, and cramps and was diagnosed with kidney failure. After consultations with nephrologists, the author was told that he would need a kidney transplant as soon as possible. The family bonded as they never had before, as Simenson’s wife, son, and daughter thought over how to restore his health. Steve immediately offered to donate one of his own kidneys; it turned out that he was a viable donor match, and the book progresses through the numerous surgeries and intensive aftercare and recovery processes for both father and son. It also chronicles the emotional connection they shared and the challenging years after the surgery, which were filled with trepidation but also fulfillment, compassion, love, and respect. Through it all, Simenson’s prose is amiable and often humorous, as when he tells of making strides toward being medically discharged: “One small pull of a catheter, one large step forward for a man.” In addition to offering an uplifting story of a family’s devotion, the book also effectively addresses tougher material: intimidating and painful medical procedures, unscrupulous physicians, details of how transplants are performed, and the risky side effects for both donors and recipients, which the author frighteningly experienced firsthand. This candid, unvarnished journey, while harrowing in spots, will be informative to those who find themselves in similar situations.

An inspiring and optimistic chronicle of illness, recovery, and familial sacrifice.