There’s an obvious SKIP in Irene’s step this evening ….

After visiting the dedicated team at the UCSF Blood Center, Irene met with nephrologists, Nisha Bansal and Stephen Gluck for the initial consultation of whether or not to pursue a kidney transplant. Both doctors previously treated Irene when she was hospitalized at UCSF.

You may also recall that Dr. Gluck initially approved Irene’s transfer to UCSF from Dominican Hospital in May of 2007 when she had been officially declined because of a mis-diagnosis.  A previous medical team at another hospital had identified Irene’s renal failure but wanted to discharge her and treat the matter as outpatient.  We obviously didn’t agree with that conclusion or recommendation and mobilized an army of people who began making telephone calls, one of which was made by our friend, Dr. Alan Buchwald, and answered serendipitously by Dr. Gluck @ UCSF.  If Dr. Gluck had not agreed to receive Irene and transfer her to UCSF, resulting in the diagnosis of Primary Amyloidosis, most likely, she would already be in Heaven.

Reminiscing for another moment, Dr. Gluck literally held Irene’s hand during the kidney biopsy at UCSF, giving her momentous consolation at a critical time in the process.  Unbeknownst to him, Irene was repeating the words of Jesus to herself, “I will never leave you nor forsake you”.  Irene remembers that occasion as if it was yesterday, referring to Dr. Gluck in that moment as the very “Hand of God”.

Upon seeing Irene, Dr. Gluck was excited and exhibited rare emotion, beholding her glowing persona and buoyant optimism …. and recalling her three month colossal challenge in patient @ UCSF approximately 20 months ago.

Both Doctor’s Gluck & Bansal enthusiastically support Irene fully vetting the kidney transplant option.  We’ll be scheduling an appointment with the UCSF Transplant Center and will be working alongside the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS).

We’ve got a lot to learn on this next step of the Amyloid journey.

Kidney transplantation, or renal transplantation is the organ transplant of a kidney in a patient with end-stage renal disease. Kidney transplantation is typically classified as deceased-donor (formerly known as cadaveric) or living-donor transplantation depending on the source of the recipient organ. Living-donor renal transplants are further characterized as genetically related (living-related) or non-related (living-unrelated) transplants, depending on whether a biological relationship exists between the donor and recipient.

There’s an obvious SKIP in Irene’s step this evening …. and for good reason.

Thanks for praying …. and for caring.

Caminando con F&ecute;

Dave