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A Kidney Doctor's Search for the Perfect Match
by M.D. Vanessa Grubbs
A young, hopeful doctor's memoir—an unforgettable love story and an informative journey into the world of medicine and kidney transplantation that ultimately asks: What does it mean to let go of something that you love, even if it is life itself?
When Vanessa fell in love with Robert, she had no idea that the relationship would thoroughly transform her life. Robert suffered from end-stage kidney disease, which required him to endure years of debilitating dialysis to stay alive, at least until his failed organ could be replaced by a kidney transplant. Although Vanessa was a primary care doctor, she developed a deeper understanding of the difficulties Robert faced with dialysis and in finding a donor. Despite their being early in their relationship, she volunteered one of her own kidneys—and discovered that she was a match. This life-affirming experience forged a bond that would become a pillar of Vanessa and Robert's marriage—and the beginning of her new career.
Motivated by Robert's experience and her newfound knowledge, Vanessa became a nephrologist—a kidney doctor—and discovered far more about the realities of the specialty. Shaped by Vanessa's remarkable experiences as a doctor, a woman of color, a mother, and a kidney donor, Hundreds of Interlaced Fingers is a love story, an exposé, and a clarion call for us all to consider the dualities of both loving and letting go.
"Thoughtful and endearing." —Washington Post
"Dr. Grubbs' extraordinary story reminds us all of the Samaritan function of being a physician. Not only did she train as a kidney specialist because of the man she loves, but also gave him one of her kidneys. This gripping, heartfelt memoir is a deeply insightful look at health care in America as experienced by doctor and patient." —Abraham Verghese, author of Cutting for Stone
"Hundreds of Interlaced Fingers is a love story—love for a man, love for the profession of medicine, love for humanity, love for life. In the sure hands of Vanessa Grubbs, it is a story told beautifully, courageously, and honestly. You'll never forget Vanessa and Robert, and you'll never view medicine quite the same way again." —Robert Wachter, MD, author of New York Times bestseller The Digital Doctor
This information about Hundreds of Interlaced Fingers was first featured
in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.
Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Dr. Vanessa Grubbs is an associate professor of medicine and a nephrologist at the University of California, San Francisco and has maintained a clinical practice and research program Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital since 2009. She received her undergraduate and medical degrees from Duke University and teaches writing for patient advocacy to medical students and practicing physicians. She lives with her husband, teenage son, and two dogs in Oakland, California. Hundreds of Interlaced Fingers is her first book.
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