Before My Transplant, My Father Tried to Kill Me

Before the kidney transplant, the doctor ran through the final round of questions.

"No infectious diseases, correct?"

I was about to shake my head when my father, who'd accompanied me for the surgery, piped up with a grin.

"Doctor, does an STD count as an infectious disease?"

I couldn't believe what I'd just heard.

I had endured countless agonizing days waiting for this kidney to become available.

And now, my father was cracking jokes to make himself the center of attention. Again.

He knew full well that without this transplant, I had three days left to live.