It’s been a rocky fall for this Maynard family.  After the delay with Sam’s transplant, Skip fell off the top of the stack of hay and broke 3 ribs.  We decided (Terri, Samuel and Grace) to come home for a couple of weeks to Idaho to regather as a family and rest.  It was a glorious time together although a busy one.  During our home stay, Sierra hit a patch of ice skidding off the road, flipped the car twice, totalling it, and walked away from it unharmed.  Praise the Lord for His protection in both cases!

Here we are back in San Francisco…. back at Family House and back to the plan.  But plans change.  The plan to list him as Active on the deceased donor list has not changed and we hope to hear today that that has happened.  He is top of the list at UCSF for his blood type and the doctors believe he has a good chance at a quick transplant.

The plans that have changed is the fact that one of Sam’s numbers is steadily increasing and adding toxins to his blood and body.  The nephrology team here believes it is in his best interest to start Samuel on dialysis soon to clean out his blood and increse his chance for a successful kidney transplant.  Although this is what we’ve tried to avoid, God has directed our steps down this path.  

The process of preparing him for dialysis includes a short surgical procedure to place a catheter tube under the skin in his chest.  This catheter will be the line that they hook up to the dialysis machine.  He will be going into the hospital Wednesday (23rd) evening and the procedure is scheduled for Thursday.  He will remain in the hospital another 2-3 nights.

Please keep Samuel in your prayers.  This is very scary for a young boy and for his family.  Pray for peace and joy during this waiting period.  Thanks for praying and walking this road with our family.