The First Dialysis Story written by US!

[shay_pcb]

"Yeah, definitely! Umm...When and where?" Sam replied.
"Well, I was thinking...umm...maybe we could...have dinner?...Or lunch, whatever you want?? Uh..or not....? Y-your choice..." Jim finally spat out nervously.
Sam's stomach was in knots and her face burning up. "Uh, dinner? Sure...when is good for you?" Then the call waiting beeped in. "Umm...Hold that thought, Jim. I have another call."
"OK," he replied. 'Who is calling NOW?' Sam thought. It was none other than...

[angieskidney]

her mom! She realized she never did call her mom back! "Oh crap!" she thought! 'Hi mom! Sorry I got someone on the other line! Can I call you back.. uh .. or you can wait on the line??" she laughed nerviously as she realized her mom probably wouldn't believe that she would call back.

[okarol]

Just then the doorbell rang and Sam peeked out the window. "Mom, Barbara is here to take me to pick my car up at the dealer. Then I need to go by work and dialysis tonight. I will call you back, I am ok, but I need to go." She clicked back to the other line. "Jim, my ride is here. I'll call you from my cell in a bit." She opened the door and headed out with Barbara. The drive was a few minutes, and during that time she filled Barbara in about Jim and the late night phone call. "I hate to say this, but it sounds like he might be married," warned Barbara. "No, I don't think so," said, Sam, "Why would the caller leave a message with me? Something else is up. I am going to see him later, I'll let ya know what's happening." Barbara hugged her quickly and Sam headed inside get her car. On the drive toward the office she called Jim. They agreed to meet before dialysis, at the cafe across the street. When she got to work her boss Gene was waiting for her. "Sam, Jimmy filled me in on your last couple of days. I am sorry you've had some real challenges. But that doesn't excuse the fact that your project is late and other people are hung up waiting. If you don't think you can handle your responsibility, this isn't going to work. I'm sorry, but I can't bend over backwards for you, when other people are waiting in the wings, ready to take your job." She left the meeting frustrated and worried. No one really seemed to understand how hard she was trying to live a "normal" life.
Sam headed to the cafe and spotted Jim at a table. He stood up as she approached. "Hi, how are you?" he smiled. Sam felt some of her anxiety lift when he smiled at her. The waitress dropped off menus and they ordered sandwiches. "I still want that malt, but I will hold off until the next crisis," Sam laughed. Jim then said, "I want to apologize. There's so much I want to tell you, but I had to be careful about who I could trust." "Trust?" said Sam, "About what? Is it about Marion?" Jim said "Oh yes, I guess I need to explain about that too. First of all, I need to tell you, I don't really need dialysis. I am a reporter, and the call you got was from my editor." "What??? said Sam. "I don't understand..."

[angieskidney]

WHAT?!?! lol ooh I GOTTA keep reading this!!

[mrhecht]

OMG....doesn't really need dialysis? Wouldn't that like....kill him? Electolytes and stuff....LOL LOL LOL

[angieskidney]

Yeah, what did they do? PRETEND to hook him up and no one noticed? I know I am always gawking at other patients (well at least I was before I got the fistula as it scared the hell outta me lol)

[okarol]

did I make it too complicated? Sorry my imagination went overtime. I envisioned him having a secret. And maybe an
accomplice. Maybe a different name? Shall I modify it? I don't want to steer the story so let me know if it's too weird to follow.

[angieskidney]

did I make it too complicated? Sorry my imagination went overtime. I envisioned him having a secret. And maybe an
accomplice. Maybe a different name? Shall I modify it? I don't want to steer the story so let me know if it's too weird to follow.

No .. no .. go with it The show must go on and the name of this game is improv! lol I am curious where this is going! Heheh

[Sluff]

OMG....doesn't really need dialysis? Wouldn't that like....kill him? Electolytes and stuff....LOL LOL LOL

Maybe it should kill him, and then a big secret lawsuit or murder investigation to lengthy your story. Just my  worth

[Ohio Buckeye]

I was thinking of him being a reporter doing a story about a week in the life
of a dialysis patient.  But I don't know how you explain him being on dialysis.
 

[okarol]

"I saw you get hooked up!" said Sam. "Yes, I have been working on a story about dialysis centers and patient care. I realized the only way to understand what it's like for patients is to become one. A friend supplied blood and urine for the tests. As far as the nephrologist and clinic know, I am a dialysis patient. The last few weeks have been a real eyeopener," explained Jim. "But aren't you risking your health?" asked Sam. "Yes, there have been side effects. But I knew this before I started, and have been supplementing to keep my body balanced. Remember the day I threw up at dialysis? Well, sometimes I just can't keep it under control. But I am fine." Sam was stunned. An undercover reporter? Nothing was what she thought. 'Am I just part of his project?' she wondered to herself.

[shay_pcb]

I love the way this story is going!! I just can't think of anything to put after that....Keep it going ppl!! lol   

[Ohio Buckeye]

Sam continued to stare at Jim in amazement with eyes full of questions.
"I'm sorry Sam.  This job has been the most eye-opening experience of my
career.  I had no idea what the life of a dialysis patient is like until now.
Just seeing what you've been through in this short time has astonished
me.  You mean a lot to me Sam.  I admire your strenth and your
determination and courage.  I did not go into this wanting or expecting to become
attracted to anyone."  " I hope we can see each other again, Sam."
Sam, still feeling as tho this could not be possible. trying to absorb
this news looked at Jim and said "So................are you working on your article
right now, or is the article comcpleted?  What else should I know about you.
Jim?"

[Bajanne]

"Well, my time at the clinic is over.  Please remember that this is a secret.  You are the only person I have shared it with, apart from Marion, my editor"
"But....b-b-but...," Sam stammered trying to get her thoughts together as her brain raced and raced.
Jim reached and held her hand.  "I know this must be difficult for you to understand."
"Not that it is so difficult to understand - you reporters do some weird things to get a story.  Why are you telling me, if it is to be a secret?"
"I really want to take this all slowly, but I have to let you know that I care about you a great deal.  I know that we don't really know each other that well, but somehow, it seems as if we have been thrown together these days and I feel as if I have known you forever."
Sam lowered her head and whispered, "I know what you mean.  I feel rather comfortable with you.  But....."
"Let's leave the 'buts' for now. Let's just get to really know each other and see how things go.  Is that okay?".  He lifted her hand and gave it a soft kiss.
"But....."
"

[kitkatz]

Sam thought about it for a few more minutes, holding Jim's Hand.  "No, Jim, you are a self absorbed prick for leading me on this way!  I never want to see you again!"   She snatched her hand away from his and whirled around and stomped out the door.
Jim stood there with his mouth hanging open.

[shay_pcb]

For the next few days, Jim sends her flowers, candy, cards, and anything else he can think of to get Sam to talk to him again. Sam wants to talk to him and be with him but figures that if he can lie about something as serious as being on dialysis then he could lie about anything. She'd never be able to trust him in a relationship. She was so confused now...

[Ohio Buckeye]

As Sam stood there contemplating what should be her next move or direction she should take she realized
how very tired she was.  She had been on an emotional roller coaster because of the
transplant possibilities, now this thing with Jim only added to it.  The thought of getting away
even for a couple of days seemed like would be beneficial for her to rest and clear her
mind, think things through.  She would have to decide where to go and see if she could get in
for a dialysis treatment or two.  Her good friends she used to work with, Sue and Maria,  loved to do getaways.
Maybe they would be interested.   The more Sam thought about it, the more appealing the
idea became.  Maybe LV, hummmmmmm.  She was trying to remember where it was she went one
time and had the most wonderful tacos, Tito's Tacos, they were called.  Hadn't found any like that
anywhere again.  Wow, that sounded sooooooooooo good to her as her  mouth began to
water just thinking about them.  And she'd heard that some guy went there often who was on home dialysis.
Owner of some kind of website about dialysis.  Maybe she'd run into him there or someone from
the site.  So Sam picked up the phone to call..........

[Ohio Buckeye]

If it's not ok to use a real name of a place etc. as I did, then delete where necessary.
Hope I didn't do any no-nos there.
 

[mrhecht]

Sam thought about it for a few more minutes, holding Jim's Hand.  "No, Jim, you are a self absorbed prick for leading me on this way!  I never want to see you again!"   She snatched her hand away from his and whirled around and stomped out the door.
Jim stood there with his mouth hanging open.

You GO girl (SNAP!) and I mean YOU Kitkatz!!!  LOL

[mrhecht]

her mother and let her know about her plans.
"Mom? What are you doing? Got a minute?"
Margie said sure and Sam began to tell her about her plans to getaway to Vegas for a few days. Her mother thought it was a great idea, so great that she decided to pack a bag and join Sam on the trip! Sam hung up the phone with mixed emotions. Her mom was super and they always had fun when they were together, but Sam kept very few secrets from her mother and she hadn't told her about Jim's subterfuge. She didn't know if she could keep the secret she'd promised on a roadtrip with her mother. Really, as she thought about it, the angrier she got. What obligation did she have to him anyway? The thought of anyone being able to just walk away from those machines whenever they wanted just made her feel crazy.

[kitkatz]

She started grabbing the flowers and candy and throwing them into the trash.  At the last minute she stopped herself and decided to donate the flowers to the dialysis center.  It might brighten up the place a bit.  The candy her Mom could have.  Might as well not waste this stuff.  As far as she was concened Jim was a non-entity.   
    But then she thought, "He sure was good looking and kind of nice."
     She jerked herself out of her thoughts and grabbed the vase full of flowers. She walked out of her apartment to go put the flowers into her car.  Jim was standing by her car.

[kitkatz]

Now think, is this going to be Jim the reperter, or Jim from work?  I just love the twists and turns this is taking.

[shay_pcb]

"Oh...Hi, Jim," Sam told Jim from her work.
"Were you heading out? I can come back later?" Jim said.
"No. I was just putting these in my car so I'd remember them later. What are you doing here?"
"I was coming to see if you were OK. I heard about how rough the past wee has been for you."
"Thanks! That's sweet of you! I'm OK, though. Things will get better!"
"Oh, OK. Well, are you up for going out sometime?" Jim asked.
"Uhh...Actually, I don't think so...I've just been through a lot...I don't think that's a good idea right now. Maybe another time?" Sam replied. She didn't really like this Jim. He was part of the computer programming team at work; he was just too nerdy for her.

[kitkatz]

And way too young for her tastes.  He was in his early twenties and Sam just did not have anything in common with him.  He played computer games on the weekends.  Nerd stuff.  She turned to go into her apartment, Jim following close on her heels.
" Look Jim I have work to do. I will see you later."  San turned to go down the hallway to her apartment door.
"Well, geez, Sam. Don't be rude to me.  I just wanted to have some fun." Jim whined at her.
"Jim, I have had a rough week. I will see you at work." Sam opened her apartment door.

[Bajanne]

"Can't you stay and chill a while," Jim said in a whiny voice that irritated Sam.
"Sorry, but I have some important stuff to do, as I already told you," she said, trying to keep annoyance out of her voice.  "Bye.  See you later."
She entered her apartment, and closed it firmly.   She just stood quietly for a moment, trying to organize herself mentally.  Just as she moved to continue her packing, the doorbell rang.  'That silly Jim!' she thought. 'I seems I am going to have to be rude to him."
She opened the door decisively and was just about to speak her mind when, standing there before her,  she saw .....