Samantha Hall, a 10-year-old from Torrington, is facing a medical emergency as she remains in dire need of a kidney transplant.
As her mother, Heather Ellis, will tell you that Sam is like any other girl her age in many ways.
“She loves all animals. She’s sweet and she’s gentle,” says Ellis.
But last year Samantha started feeling tired and weak.
By March 2013, she was in the hospital with pancreatitis, and not long after, doctors diagnosed her with kidney disease.
The diagnosis meant Sam, as her parents call her, needed a new kidney. It would be tough news for anyone, let alone a 10-year-old.
Sam says she is “kind of scared, but not too much.”
Her kidney function is at less than 10 percent now, so she needs dialysis and already underwent surgery dealing with dialysis tubes.
But her father, Dan Hall, has launched an aggressive effort to find live kidney donors.
“Hopefully, just finding the best match possible – healthy donor and getting the dialysis started,” says Hall.
Support for Samantha in town has been significant, including a fundraiser at her school and others planned for February, including a pasta lunch, raffle and truck show Sunday at Sons of Italy in Torrington.
“As far as community-wise, it’s just been huge,” her father says.
To volunteer a kidney contact:
Coleen E. Smart, BSN, RN, at csmart@hartfordhosp.org
The family’s website in support of Samantha: http://www.helpsamgetakidney.org/
Fundraising website: www.gofundme.com/samhall
Upcoming Fundraiser:
Feb. 25, 2014: Pasta dinner put on by Sam’s school, $10 for adults, $7 for children 12 and under. Contact: Lori Pagano 860-489-2300