I remembered back in March 2022, for National Kidney Month, Jon Gramling, featured three people diagnosed with kidney disease on the cover. https://www.capitalcityhues.com/03072022kidney/  I was one of those three people, along with LaTisha McDuffy and Antwon Clipps. Clipps has been fortunate to have a successful kidney transplant. McDuffy and I both still need a kidney transplant and with the article, we were informing our community about kidney disease, African Americans, and the hope that kind people consider donating one of their healthy kidneys. People live well with one kidney. Madisonians understand Gramling and his newspaper are advocates for justice, especially for the issues that are important to communities of color. I have known Gramling for decades and written a column in his newspaper for as long. We are friends who met as work colleagues at the Madison Urban Leagye (now Urban League of Greater Madison) under the late Betty Franklin-Hammond.

McDuffy and I continued dialysis for our kidney disease. This summer, my kidney disease took a terrible turn, which caused hospitalization and my family, led by my adult son, came to Madison to help me. My family were joined by pastors, church members, community, work colleagues, friends and even people from organizations I worked with, over the years. I am recovering which means returning to the transplant list. While I have always been a woman of faith, after this experience, I can never forget being lavished with love and prayers. It is seldom that a person gets such unmistakable evidence of others’ kind regard for her that I did this entire summer. I was never alone, because my son, a friend or a member of the African American Health Network, was always present to help, encourage and advocate for my healthcare. I deeply appreciate how caring each person was to me.

I also take this opportunity to thank Jon Gramling publicly for so many years of supporting me as a poet and columnist, as a community organizer, and as a respected friend now battling illness. Looking out of my hospital window in September on Mexican Independence Day, I tried to see cars with Mexican flags waving or hear any of the musical celebration that, in previous years, went down Park Street. Staring longingly to try and see this festive celebration led me to thinking about two poet friends, Oscar Mireles, and Araceli Esparza. Both poets have the unique ability to honor their culture while respecting other cultures. Both have enriched my poetry because of who they are and how they write. Araceli met with me years ago to create the Hibiscus Collective, a group of multicultural women poets, because of her desire to collaborate with other women poets. Oscar helps young people as director of Omega School, while his poetry is inclusive as well. What I intend, in the future, is to be quick to say who and what I am thankful for all year round. Thanksgiving Day gives us one opportunity to express our gratitude, however, I would like to be thankful every day to folks who bless you on life’s journey.