4th of July EVE…

Last year we spent an incredible 4th of July holiday with Gary and Cathy Daichendt at their lovely home in Laguna Beach.  Right at dusk, we watched an incredible fireworks display from a small watercraft just offshore.  This year we celebrate in San Francisco…not exactly our first choice, but we’re where we are supposed to be at this appointed time…

My mom and dad came to UCSF today… and I was even able to sneak them in for a very quick visit with Irene… the first in a long time that she has been able to have visitors…

Irene had 3 hours of dialysis today; they took off a whopping 4 liters of fluid…

She is lucid and smiling…I enjoy seeing her feeling so much better…Dr. Stephen Gluck was tending to Irene in her room this morning;  we’re forever grateful to him for first receiving Irene during the onset of this disease before it was even diagnosed.

We’re also eternally grateful to Dr. Alan Buchwald, who was the “Fairy GodFather” as Irene calls him, because he was the first doctor at Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz to diagnose the Nephrotic Syndrome, the symptoms leading to the Primary Amyloidosis diagnosis.  Dr. Buchwald went beyond the call of duty doing work during his “off hours” and day off to assist and coach us as well as make the initial call to Dr. Gluck at UCSF.  What amazing commitment to people…they care so deeply…!!!

Obviously still very fragile, the next step for Irene is to consume some liquids beyond water (i.e. broth or herbal tea) and not feel nauseated or experience other side effects.  Please pray to that end…

Many of you are still donating blood and platelets; the need is still very significant and we thank you so much!!!!

As we celebrate our country’s freedom tomorrow, our family is grateful for the community surrounding us and thinking of us in so many wonderful ways…may God bless YOU this 4th of July holiday!!!

Dave