The family gathers to watch TV during a home dialysis session. From left: mom Elizabeth de Forest; Asher de Forest, 14; Jonah de Forest, 12; and dad Michael Goldberg. The couple did a coin toss to decide whose last name the kids would get. She won. Photos by Quinn Russell Brown
Michael Goldberg’s heart is working just fine.
The University of Washington professor teaches a class on romantic comedies. From “Annie Hall” to “Pretty Woman,” he leads his students on a tour of film’s fondest genre.
What Goldberg needs, however, is a new kidney, and it’s not the first time. His lone kidney is a failing transplant from nearly two decades ago.
It all started when he was a 15-year-old living in Los Angeles. He was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, a disorder in which the pancreas stops producing insulin, a hormone that converts sugar into energy. Blood sugar levels rise, causing excessive thirst and urination, as well as potential organ damage down the line.
Looking back, he wishes he’d taken better care of his body after the diagnosis.
“I was probably not in good control for three or four years,” Goldberg said. “It was a combination of I was a semi-alienated 15-year-old, and I had ADD.”
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