SOME CONFRONT LIFE CHALLENGES AND PREVAIL. OTHERS TRY AND DO NOT. OTHERS TRY, BUT THE CHALLENGES PERSIST. THIS MEMOIR IS A STORY ABOUT SOMEONE WHO FACED A SIGNIFICANT MEDICAL CHALLENGE IN CHILDHOOD, OVERCAME THE CHALLENGE, AND LED A MEMORABLE, FUN, AND PRODUCTIVE LIFE. IN CHILDHOOD FAMILY, FAITH, AND RELIGION BECAME HIS PRIORITIES. IN ADULTHOOD, COMMITMENT TO HIS PROFESSION COMPETED WITH THESE PRIORITIES. STRIKING THE RIGHT BALANCE WAS A CONTINUING STRUGGLE. SHARING THIS STORY WITH OTHERS WHO FACE SIMILAR CHALLENGES HOPEFULLY WILL HELP THEM TO UNDERSTAND AND COPE WITH COMPETING LIFE PRIORITIES.