Hello to All our Friends and Family,
Today is Friday, September 23, 2016 and I am writing to give an update on this leg of Sam’s “Road to a New Kidney”. Today Sam had a scheduled check-up with his nephrologist at Froedtert’s Center for Advanced Care to go over the labs that were run last Saturday. Sam’s nephrologist, Dr. L, told us that Sam’s phosphorus and potassium levels are “slam dunk normal” and that his iron levels are sufficient for red blood cell production. His creatine is 3.92 which is virtually the same as it was two months ago (3.99). Dr. L mainly looks at these 4 numbers and hemoglobin levels to gauge Sam’s current status. Sam’s kidney function is stable at 20%. This is good news to us because his numbers are not indicating that his remaining kidney function is declining at this point in time. Dr. L showed us a line chart that plots Sam’s numbers from December 2015 (the first lab date in Froedtert’s system) to the current lab date of September 17, 2016. It is nearly a flat line that tells Dr.L that it may be another year before Sam would need a transplant. However, until he sees more points on the line chart (lab results) plotted every two months going forward, he cannot say for sure if it will be a year or two or more until a transplant is needed.

For now, Sam is feeling good and enjoying the time he spends working in the shop doing custom work on his and his friend’s motorcycles. Sam’s next goal to achieve is completing math modules to take the GED pre-test and then take the real test! Then he can apply for courses at Gateway Technical College for motorcycle/small engine repair.

I want to give a shout out to the excellent staff at Froedtert who have walked this journey with us thus far. Dr. L really cares about Sam and spends time talking to us and answering our questions thoroughly and in terms we can understand.
Thank you for your continued positive thoughts and prayers for Sam’s health. We are blessed to have such an amazing support system from friends, family and people we have never met yet have contributed to Sam’s fund and/or said prayers on his behalf.

Until the next update, we wish the best to you and yours.
Carol, Joe and Sam Connelly

1Chronicles 16:11 “Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!”