I have never read columns as entertaining as those penned by the late Erma Bombeck, who survived by cancer surgery, only to be claimed by kidney disease at age 69. Her battle was valiant as she underwent five years of dialysis before ultimately failing to survive transplant surgery that came too late. (Never mind she refused to be moved up on the list, instead insisting on waiting her turn.) She was magical in finding “household humor” despite dealing daily with realities that were decidedly “unfunny.” Here’s one example: Chances of inheriting polycystic kidney disease – one that she dealt with for ...