AUTHOR’S NOTE

IN WRITING THIS memoir, I have relied upon personal journals, medical records, and my recollections. I have consulted with most of the individuals in the story to check factual details, where these can be verified. In some cases, the individuals have helped me to re-create events and dialogue. Yet, ultimately, this is my version of the story and true to my emotional experience. Others may have different experiences of events that we shared.

I have changed many of the names and identifying details to preserve anonymity. In some cases, where individuals have agreed, I have retained real names and details.

I have not created composite characters or events. In a few instances, I have compressed time for the ease of storytelling. I have omitted events that do not relate directly to the themes in this book, and because it is impossible to include everything that happened over the six years that the memoir covers.