So You're On Dialysis (You Are Not Alone) (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781519602541)

Norman L. Ross was born March 20, 1969 in Chicago, Illinois. Growing up on the south side of Chicago in the Englewood community, Norman developed a love for writing and reading at the age of four. His aunt wrote words on index cards for him to read, spell, and create sentences. By the time he began kindergarten he could read and write at the second grade level. Norman attended Lewis Champlin Elementary School until it closed in 1977 and then attended Walter Reed Elementary where he continued as an above average student. Norman tested well and had the choice to attend several of Chicago's top Magnet schools. He ultimately chose Hyde Park Career Academy in Chicago's historic Hyde Park community. While at Hyde Park Norman further nurtured his love for writing; he joined the school newspaper and participated in the annual renaissance fair where he wrote several original poems and read from Shakespeare. Norman had aspirations of becoming an English teacher. After graduating from Hyde Park Career Academy, he attended Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois where he excelled in creative writing. During his third year at ISU, Norman was diagnosed with renal failure and began his journey as a dialysis patient. Norman received a kidney transplant in August of 1998. After living with the transplanted kidney for nearly a decade, Norman experienced a rejection episode and began dialysis again in March 2006. In July of 2013 early stage glaucoma and Non Arteric Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (NAION) left Norman visually impaired. With only thirty percent of his vision in one eye, Norman wrote the manuscript entitled "Filtered (Life On Dialysis)" which later became "So You're On Dialysis - You Are Not Alone." At the completion of the book he was on dialysis awaiting his second transplant. He is the Network Patient Advocate for dialysis patients at his dialysis unit. He is also an advocate for the visually impaired. Norman is also the proud father of a daughter Lunye' Ross-Smith and grandfather of two energetic and smart grandsons Zion and Amir.