Chronicles of a Chronic Control-Freak Vol 1

Once upon a time there was a type-A, over-acheiving, perfectionist, control-freak who lived in sunny Southern California and had decided to complete a Master's Degree in Education with a Teaching Credential in one year whilst simultaneously tutoring, mentoring a group of high school girls, and remaining involved with church and friends.

Her kidneys failed one moderately cool day in February 2008, and her life hasn't been the same since.

After two hospitalizations, dozens of blood tests, physical therapy, and a variety of diets, the control-freak still wondered why she wasn't back to her previous state of perfection. Thanks to her wonderful parents and sister, the control-freak had made it through all of her coursework for her Master's degree, sometimes pushing her in a wheelchair, often driving her to and from class, and always helping her rely on Jesus for strength and encouragement.

But the control-freak wanted everything back the way it once was or might have been. With determination and perhaps a little foolhardiness, the control-freak enrolled in the final term of her education: student teaching. The control-freak was thrilled and a bit terrified to realize she would spend 90 days in a kindergarten classroom, perhaps the most germ-filled location known to planet earth.

"Aha!" the control-freak proclaimed as she obsessively planned wardrobes, cooked meals, delineated sterilization procedures, and gathered medications for the first week of school. "I have discovered the recipe for finally conquering the fatigue that comes alongside chronic kidney disease---Planning!"

Unfortunately, the control-freak did not take into account the fickle nature of a body that has been through, well, a lot. Her body declared, one sweltering September morning "Uh uh. No more. You want me to go-go-go 12 hours a day when a few months ago you were only requiring 2 hours of activity? Not a chance." And, without any other options, the control-freak rested.
And rested.
And rested.

And then she woke up, two days before student teaching began, tentative about going back to work full time, but trusting that somehow she could be an energetic teacher, hoping that everyone would understand how exhausting her days would be and forgive her for disappearing into work for awhile, and believing that whatever happened with her kidneys, good things would soon come.

If nothing else, she figured she'd have a pretty fascinating story to tell.