Happy Birthday, Samuel!

Today was Samuel's 16th birthday! For the third year in a row, Samuel's birthday happened to land on a dialysis day. For the third year in a row, the amazing dialysis staff went above and beyond to put together a birthday celebration for him. One of our beloved nurses, Jane, baked a scrumptious carrot cake and came in on her day off. The room was decorated and someone had arranged for the Wii game system from Baird 5 to be brought down to dialysis so Samuel could have some fun playing it. Jane and several other nurses took turns playing tennis, bowling, and cow racing with Samuel. It was great fun! Many folks stopped in to share birthday wishes and a piece of cake. Dialysis is not a great place to have to be on your birthday, but Samuel couldn't have asked for nicer folks with whom to spend his birthday.

Bill, Betty, Samuel, Jane, Dr. Ann, and Esther...just a few of the folks at today's birthday bash. Thanks everyone for making the day special!

In other news, Katie came down with cold/flu symptoms very suddenly this morning and Lydia has a sore throat. We're washing hands like crazy and praying that no one else gets infected - especially Esther whose immune system just got stomped on! Samuel wasn't feeling well this evening and missed out on his birthday dinner, but hopefully that is something different.

Well, I had intended to fill you in on all that has happened in the last week since Esther came home from the hospital, but I am exhausted and really need to go to bed. I'll try to write again soon.

Samuel's birthday wish was to get a new kidney. We didn't get "the call" today, but lots of people get belated birthday gifts, right? Let's keep praying that that kidney comes soon!