I went to Yosemite National Park for the weekend with my dad, Joe, and two brothers, Dan and Greg (in the order seen below) and their two sons, Matt and Joel.  On Friday afternoon we drove to Glacier Point to enjoy the spectacular views.  On Saturday, while my dad remained at base camp, the rest of us trekked to the top of Yosemite Falls, a 3.9 mile 3,000 foot switchback trail with a very steep grade.  It took 6 hours to make the roundtrip trek.

Dan, his son Joel, my dad Joe, then Greg’s son Matt, Greg, and Yours Truly

Irene had a very unusual few days.

At dialysis on Friday she had an excruciating cramping episode in her left calf.  She is NOT looking forward to tomorrow’s treatment.

Fires in the region later in the day and over the weekend made national headlines.  Jocelyn is in New York/Connecticut, JoAnna in S. Cal, I was at Yosemite National Park and her two sisters (Carmen & Jane) who normally stay with her were also traveling.  Fortunately, she had a good network of friends in the region.  Shirley Churchill invested 2 hours with Irene on Saturday morning working with her on physiology techniques and Sue Martinez took Irene to lunch.  Phyllis Cauwels and Colleen, Greg’s bride, called Irene to check on her.  Irene also spoke with JoAnna several times.  Jocelyn called from NY, and, had she been home, she would have been under mandatory evacuation because of the fires.  The fires are now 90% contained.

It was a whirlwind weekend.

This coming Thursday Irene will see Dr. Damon at UCSF and the stitches should be removed from the fistula procedure.

Caminando con Fé

Dave

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A friend of ours, Megan Igno, is studying to be a nurse. Megan recently wrote a report on Amyloidosis for her biology class and used Irene’s journey as a basis of her report. We include it here for your perusal: Kappa Light-Chain Primary Amyloidosis Associated with End Stage Renal Disease and One Patient’s Journey.

Megan’s work has received kudos even from some of the doctors involved in Irene’s diagnosis and treatment! Thanks to Megan for making us a part of her educational experience!

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One of Irene’s favorite artists is CeCe Winans, www.cecewinans.com.

Last Saturday evening it was a JOY to behold Irene dancing with enthusiastic rhythm, JOY and liveliness to the song “It ain’t over” ….!!!!!!!!!  My only regret is not having a video camera on her!!!!!!!

So you got a bad report
And it doesn’t look good to you
Put a praise on your lips
This is what you gotta do
Speak to your situation without hesitation
God gave me this revelation just for you

(bridge 1)
It ain’t over (It ain’t over)
No matter what you’re going through
It ain’t over (It ain’t over)
God’s gonna work it out for you
If you can believe
It ain’t over
Trouble don’t last always
It ain’t over (It ain’t over)
It ain’t over (It ain’t over)

So you gave it all you had
And you still came up short
You been faithful through it all
And you answered the call
Keep your eyes on the prize
Don’t give up the faith
God has a plan for you
That’s why we say

It ain’t over (It ain’t over)
Weeping may endure for a night
It ain’t over (It ain’t over)
Joy’s gonna come, joy’s gonna come
It ain’t over
If you just believe in the morning
It ain’t over (It ain’t over)
It ain’t over

(bridge 2)
Whose report will you believe
God has spoken
Will you receive
Oh, it ain’t over (It ain’t over)
It ain’t over (It ain’t over)
It ain’t over (It ain’t over)
It ain’t over (It ain’t over)

It ain’t over (ooooh yeah)
Said it ain’t over
Saints hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on
If you just believe it ain’t over (It ain’t over)
It ain’t over (It ain’t over)

(bridge 2)

Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Listen (It ain’t over)
Said it ain’t over (It ain’t over)
Trust me (It ain’t over)
I know for myself it ain’t over (It ain’t over)
Oh it ain’t over (It ain’t over)
I believe it ain’t over (It ain’t over)
It’s just getting started (It ain’t over)
You gotta believe it ain’t over (It ain’t over)
I believe (I believe He’s got better things for me)
I believe (I believe He’s got better things for me)
I believe (I believee
Tell yourself I believe (I believe He’s got better things for me)

Oh yes, it ain’t over
This is just a test of your faith
(It ain’t over)
Won’t

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