On January 14th, 2026, Sam Secord (my son) a dedicated Firefighter/Paramedic in San Luis Obispo County, underwent surgery at Stanford Medical Center to donate a kidney to his life-long friend and fellow Eagle Scout, Finn Israel. The surgery was successful, and Sam and Finn are now beginning their post-op recovery. Sam’s decision to become a living donor was inspired by Finn’s strength, his perseverance, his faith, and Sam’s appreciation and love for the Israel family. Sam is honored to help Finn in this way.

As Sam recovers from surgery, he will be unable to work for 8-10 weeks. During this time, Sam and his wife Amber will both lose wages they depend on to meet their monthly expenses. Sam will be able to use 'Sick Leave' to cover some wages during his absence, but he will be unable to generate all the compensation needed to cover their normal expenses. This GoFundMe campaign is a way to help Sam and Amber cover their mortgage payments, groceries, utilities, transportation, and other fixed costs while Sam is unable to work.

Asking for help does not come easy, but Sam and Amber sincerely appreciate your consideration and support. The fundraiser amount was carefully calculated to meet their budgeted living expenses for the 8-10 weeks Sam will be recovering. Any contribution, no matter the size, will make a meaningful difference for their family during this challenging time. Thank you for your thoughtful consideration in supporting Sam and Amber.