Cledus B. Washington, Jr. is an attractive, hardworking, 50-year-old man with a great sense of humor and whose world is turned upside down when he becomes a statistic amongst the 20.6 million Americans who are diagnosed with chronic kidney disease each year. As he comes to grips with his illness, his girlfriend leaves him, his mother tries to take over his life, and his financial security is severely compromised as his world shrinks down to monitoring the buzzing sound of his "lifeline" that confirms he is alive. Cledus’ story is told with compassion and humor that encompasses the uncertainty, the fears, and the frustration of day-to-day living while coping with this disease. Readers will share the journey with Cledus as he faces his challenges, and relates his frustration, his feelings of isolation and his courage as he deals with the life-sustaining confinement of a dialysis machine. Through a maze of medical examinations, physician consultations, and endless diagnostic tests, he learns about his disease, treatment options, and how to trust his heart again.