No one can write a book alone, and so we would like to thank everyone who helped us to make this a reality. We would like to thank the Indiana University School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics and the Division of Children’s Health Services Research, as well as Riley Hospital for Children for their support. We would especially like to thank Dr Richard Schreiner and Dr Stephen Downs, who allow us the freedom to do work off the beaten track. We also thank the Regenstrief Institute and Tom Inui, who has offered us both mentorship and encouragement. We would like to thank our agents, the witty know-it-all Janet Rosen, Sheree Bykofsky, who literally wrote the book which helped us get our foot in their door, and their intern Nathan Belofsky, who picked our query out of the pile. Alyse Diamond, our editor, took over this book at the last second but loved us just the same, and for that we are grateful as well. We would also like to thank the British Medical Journal for publishing our myth papers, Toni for her help with hymens, Cindy for leading us through the media maze and Zarafina for producing the best darn tea maker in the world.
Aaron would additionally like to thank his family – his parents (Shelley and Stan), for their lifetime of love and support; his brother and sister-in-law (David and Lisa), for their wisdom and sense of humour; his sister (Nancy), for always being so proud; and his in-laws (Michael, Sharon, Daniel, Mark and Julie), who loved him right from the start. He would also like to thank his friends, who act like family, including (but not limited to) Jon, Sue, Todd, Marlo, Rob, Amy, Gabe, Michelle, Matt, Jill, and especially Todd and Linda – all of whom shamelessly promote this book whenever they get the chance. Aaron is especially grateful for his children: Jacob, who seems to be made only of the best parts of him; Noah, who (unlike Aaron) is fearless and always the life of the party; and Sydney, who completed the family and has promised him she will always be Daddy’s little girl. Most of all, he couldn’t live without his wife, Aimee, whom he loves dearly, and who loves him enough to let him think he’s right most of the time.
Rachel owes many, many thanks to Joe Fick, who makes her laugh and makes her dinner and makes her life full of love. She would also like to thank her parents (Tom and Jacki), who offered her a foundation of love from which to explore the world; her brothers (Dan and Phil), who discovered science with her before any of them realized that scientists don’t usually wear disguises; her brothers-in-law (Dave and Charles), who educate her in the ways of television and film quotation; her parents-in-law (Gary and Mae Ellen), who gave her Joe, CFO and a new understanding of love; and all of the Vreemans for whom laughter, books and arguing your point are among life’s great pleasures. In addition, Rachel gives her sincere thanks to her beloved circle of sisters in the US (Jessica, Lorrie, Maria, Elizabeth, Martha and Jessica), with special thanks for making her an auntie. She thanks the Fountain Square Supper Club, which indeed makes it a Pleasant street. And she thanks all of the permanent and itinerant occupants of the IU House who make up her family in Eldoret, Kenya, with special gratitude for the constant inspiration from Joe and Sarah Ellen Mamlin; the constant cheering on from Sonak, Karin, April and Martin; and the constant hard work from all of her AMPATH colleagues and friends. Finally, Rachel would like to acknowledge that Aaron was right about this.