Sam is getting a kidney transplant

Hey, everyone who's reading this. I'm writing to ask all of you for help on behalf of my dear friend/brother Sam Pinola. Sam has been waiting for a kidney transplant since the onset of a rare autoimmune disease that resulted in a total loss of kidney function. Sam was hospitalized in April 2020 and has dealt with the debilitating effects of dialysis three times a week since then. Sam has beaten the odds and is getting his kidney transplant tomorrow, November 16th, 2022. I realize all of this info may surprise some of you, so I'm sorry if this is how you've found out about Sam's situation. I'm going to keep this as brief as I can. If you know me, you know that's not my strong suit.

I don't know where to start talking about Sam. He has been in my life longer than he hasn't. My relationship with him is beyond old friendship. I have a lot of stories that start with, "So this one time Sam and I were...." or I can answer a question with "this is something Sam might be able to help me with." I'm sure some of the folks reading this have similar experiences. Sam has been a mainstay in a lot of people's lives because the dude is active in a lot of things. Maybe he made a record or demo for your band. Maybe you played a show with him and he was super personable and told you why he liked your band? Did he do sound for your show? Maybe he just showed up to be supportive (with his son Booker, pictured). Maybe you've seen him out and about at a park, pool or any of the innumerable places he frequents with his son (who he possibly beamed about). Did you meet him when he was in the Boy Scouts? (He may have shown you his Eagle Scout card). Maybe you crossed paths with him in the woods in Centre County. Of course there's a chance you're reading this and you don't know him. If you know him or not, here's what's important.

In the 30 years I've known Sam, he has been there whenever I needed him. I've seen him do the same for others time and time again. He is family to me. I know I said that already, but I repeat myself for emphasis. I'm asking everyone who reads this to please give some financial support as he recovers from his transplant. The last two and a half years have been a huge emotional and financial drain. His life has been effectively in a holding pattern hoping he would get a kidney transplant. Disability payments are not something anyone can really live on. If you have never checked, disability payments are at least a 30% pay cut. Sam has persisted through all this, kept his head up, and stayed afloat. He has been fortunate to have Karen (Booker's mom) with him to help provide the care Booker needs and a mosaic of friends who helped keep his house in relative order. I don't want to take the focus off Sam's needs, so I'll keep the thank-you-list short.

It takes months to recover from a kidney transplant. The path to this point has been painful, and even though Sam is turning a corner, it's not over. I humbly ask anyone reading this to help my dear brother with a safety net, so he only has to consider his self-care during the surgical recovery. Thank you for taking the time to read this. Any help you can extend ensures my deepest gratitude.