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The PFA: Part Two- Diagnostics
It’s been over four months since her diagnosis with a chronic disease, but Anna Grace Shramere is nowhere near remission. Frustrated by her lack of progress, Anna Grace darkens the Pretend Friend Association’s storyline by giving nephrotic syndrome to one of her youngest imaginary characters.
The PFA: Diagnosis (Part Two) rewinds to unveil the details of Anna Grace’s diagnosis while moving onward in her kidney disease adventures. 10% proceeds will go to the NephCure Foundation.
The PFA: Diagnosis (Part Two) rewinds to unveil the details of Anna Grace’s diagnosis while moving onward in her kidney disease adventures. 10% proceeds will go to the NephCure Foundation.
62 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 25, 2013
2 people are currently reading
57 people want to read
About the author
Hannah Reimers
6 books1 followerHi! I'm Hannah Reimers. I'm a 25-year-old geek who loves Disney World, penguins, and my two pet guinea pigs. I also happen to be a six-year kidney transplant survivor, and I'm battling other chronic illnesses including POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) and Dysautonomia, among others.
As little kids, my brother and I created an entire imaginary world full of pretend friends. Eventually, I became a teenager, and our tales of talking cats and underground lands were literally pushed underneath my bed.
When I was fifteen, I diagnosed with a debilitating kidney disease called FSGS. Struggling with harsh treatments and an uncertain future, I pulled out the dusty stack of papers that described the pretend friends of my preteen years. As I fought for my life, I began reading the imaginary stories I had written as a healthy child. Before long, I started writing again, using my imagination as an escape from the daily monotomy of needles, doctor's appointments, and chemo-like medicine.
In June 2010, only one month after graduating high school, I received a kidney from my amazing cousin. Almost immediately thereafter, I began writing a fictionalized version of my real-life journey. It was incredibly boring, and I felt there was a huge piece missing. In March 2012, I finally came to my senses and realized I couldn't tell the true story of my life without including the completely fictional stories of The Pretend Friend Association.
The PFA: Part One- Stories was published on December 21, 2012. Since then, I've published two or three each year. By December 2018, the series will be complete with twelve books. Ten percent proceeds will always go to some non-profit organization working to raise awareness and find cures for chronic illnesses.
As little kids, my brother and I created an entire imaginary world full of pretend friends. Eventually, I became a teenager, and our tales of talking cats and underground lands were literally pushed underneath my bed.
When I was fifteen, I diagnosed with a debilitating kidney disease called FSGS. Struggling with harsh treatments and an uncertain future, I pulled out the dusty stack of papers that described the pretend friends of my preteen years. As I fought for my life, I began reading the imaginary stories I had written as a healthy child. Before long, I started writing again, using my imagination as an escape from the daily monotomy of needles, doctor's appointments, and chemo-like medicine.
In June 2010, only one month after graduating high school, I received a kidney from my amazing cousin. Almost immediately thereafter, I began writing a fictionalized version of my real-life journey. It was incredibly boring, and I felt there was a huge piece missing. In March 2012, I finally came to my senses and realized I couldn't tell the true story of my life without including the completely fictional stories of The Pretend Friend Association.
The PFA: Part One- Stories was published on December 21, 2012. Since then, I've published two or three each year. By December 2018, the series will be complete with twelve books. Ten percent proceeds will always go to some non-profit organization working to raise awareness and find cures for chronic illnesses.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 9, 2018
So, this was a very interesting book to read.
Going into it, I wasn't really sure what to expect, having already read that it's based on a true story. I guess this made me a little uncomfortable at times, as one of the reasons I like reading fiction is because you know it isn't real--and all the bad stuff that happens to the characters isn't real. But, while reading this I couldn't shake the knowledge that this was reality for the author... and I think that's what made it so gripping.
I LOVED this book, and learned so much about FSGS and kidney disease. I guess that was the thing that really surprised me--just how informative this book is about this medical condition, even when it's almost not trying to be. And it's not done in an overbearing all-the-info-at-once kind of way; no, the way Reimers intersperses medical facts with the fictional narratives (which were playful and energetic) is intriguing and brilliant. The balance between the imaginary world and the informative but heart-wrenching sections about the disease was perfect; they complimented each other so well, and without the PFA stories I think this book would've become a little too heavy as, at times, I found the journal entries hard to read just because Reimer's writing is so emotive and gripping.
My favourite character was Pepper the Cat--I just loved her personality, and her poor grammar really made her seem like an individual. She was just so lively and bright--there was something about her scenes that reminded me of fairytales at several points--just the mood and tone she set.
This is a fantastic story--and it's so different from anything I've ever read before. In some ways, that made it even more intriguing; and I loved the structure Reimers employs. The passage about the PFA rules near the beginning of Part One really made me realise just how different this book was going to be.
Reimers' writing style is easy to read and accessible. The prose is well edited.
If you're looking for a new read that's gripping, and both heart-wrenching and entertaining--and based on a true story--then I highly recommend this book.
Going into it, I wasn't really sure what to expect, having already read that it's based on a true story. I guess this made me a little uncomfortable at times, as one of the reasons I like reading fiction is because you know it isn't real--and all the bad stuff that happens to the characters isn't real. But, while reading this I couldn't shake the knowledge that this was reality for the author... and I think that's what made it so gripping.
I LOVED this book, and learned so much about FSGS and kidney disease. I guess that was the thing that really surprised me--just how informative this book is about this medical condition, even when it's almost not trying to be. And it's not done in an overbearing all-the-info-at-once kind of way; no, the way Reimers intersperses medical facts with the fictional narratives (which were playful and energetic) is intriguing and brilliant. The balance between the imaginary world and the informative but heart-wrenching sections about the disease was perfect; they complimented each other so well, and without the PFA stories I think this book would've become a little too heavy as, at times, I found the journal entries hard to read just because Reimer's writing is so emotive and gripping.
My favourite character was Pepper the Cat--I just loved her personality, and her poor grammar really made her seem like an individual. She was just so lively and bright--there was something about her scenes that reminded me of fairytales at several points--just the mood and tone she set.
This is a fantastic story--and it's so different from anything I've ever read before. In some ways, that made it even more intriguing; and I loved the structure Reimers employs. The passage about the PFA rules near the beginning of Part One really made me realise just how different this book was going to be.
Reimers' writing style is easy to read and accessible. The prose is well edited.
If you're looking for a new read that's gripping, and both heart-wrenching and entertaining--and based on a true story--then I highly recommend this book.
November 18, 2022
It's an intriguing title, isn't it? And a beautiful book woven from an imaginary world – constructed over years – and real life. Above all, it is a testimony to God’s love in sustaining the faith of a young girl.
Hannah suffered, walked by faith, and survived. She used her imagination to help make sense of what she experienced. Her creations – children, animals and stuffed animals that are alive, parents, teachers, doctors, and nurses – suffer and survive too.
Her book concludes on a strong note of hope. More of her encouraging story appears in the sequel.
Hannah suffered, walked by faith, and survived. She used her imagination to help make sense of what she experienced. Her creations – children, animals and stuffed animals that are alive, parents, teachers, doctors, and nurses – suffer and survive too.
Her book concludes on a strong note of hope. More of her encouraging story appears in the sequel.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews