I had been a first grade teacher for many years when I had a strep infection. I did not go to the doctor for 6 months thinking it was only a sore throat. The strep became rheumatic fever and invaded my kidney. Since I have only 1 kidney from birth; the strep infection was devasting to me. My nephrologist told me in 1992 that I would need a kidney transplant as soon as I was sick enough. By March 2003, I had to start dialysis. I chose peritonal dialysis . My family even took a vacation to the Outer Banks of NC that summer. My transplant was in 2004 from my niece.