Bernie "Bernardine" Dowell describes her perspective as her husband's caretaker when they suddenly discovered he was experiencing major kidney failure. The discovery occurred following a meal which they both assume might be indigestion. After a few days of diagnosis, beginning with admission to the emergency room, the medical staff determined John (her husband) had kidney failure. Bernie worked with John through peritoneal dialysis (in-home treatment), which uses your abdomen's lining to filter your body's blood. She also helped him through hemodialysis, which filters wastes and water from your blood, as your kidneys would when they were healthy.