The Saga of Sam

The Saga of Sam

Prelude

Sam, I will never be able to thank all the people who reached out to us during this illness.  Hopefully, I will capture the major events and acts of kindness.  People prayed from coast to coast and further: Erin and the Pepus family in LA; Aunt Jeannette in O.C., Church in France; Prayer groups and family of neighbors; friends; and friends of friends.  You don't realize how little control there is until times like this.  Prayer was the only hope.

People sent meals to maintain the disrupted household; people from Mom's work - Annie, Susan, Elaine, Carlene, Gayle; people from my work - Sharon and Vicki; friends like Ralph and Ian Craig's family, neighbors like Fee.

People sent presents and flowers and cookies.  The Quinns, Charles', Cochrans, Wanda Klijanowicz, the Matyseks, Millie Dice.  The Padonia Fitness Center Sick Bodies gave you the spoils of the annual weight loss contest.  People from school, the nurse Ms. Greenhouse, and members of LTRC all remember you.

My Mom, Aunt Ag, Aunt Flo kept you in scratch-off lottery tickets.

The Leos (Chad), Harnesses (Josh, Jacob) and Freitags (Chris, Kelly) cared for Shaun during the ordeal.

People visited regularly and helped to maintain your great attitude; Uncle Stuart & Aunt Gayle; Cheryl, Doug, Danny & Greggie; Susan again; Leslie, Carlene and Laurie, The Knepleys, The Kennedys, Jack Ross, Chip Pierce, and both of our families.

Thanks to the staff at Hopkins: Dr. Kathy Schwarz; Dr. Paul Colombani and their staffs, Dr. Nancy Yokios; Dr. Susan Cumming; Barbara Wise (transplant coordinator); Jackie (transplant RN), the ER with Josie; the 8th floor with Pam, Tonya, Nashreen, Betsy; the 9th floor with Jill and Michelle P.  All were wonderful.  All were competent.  All are very special to us.

I know of no way to truly thank them and others.  So I dedicate this story to them.  And I commit to each and every one that I will never forget the Hopkins Children Center or the Make-A-Wish Foundation.  They will be the focus of our charitable giving, henceforth.

One final thought ---I have yet to mention the donor family.  I don't know much about them nor how to thank them.  I know the donor was "21", in Cumberland and all her abdominal organs were gifts given to save other lives.  Her liver matched you very well; the right blood type and size and neither of you had Epstein Barr virus.  This is most unusual at "12" much less "21".  But it makes the match that much better.  I guess the only thanks we can give is to love you as much as they must have loved their daughter.

Me & Mom