As the end of the year approaches, senior class counselor Mr. Patrick Floyd would usually watch over his seniors’ grades and graduation requirements, but instead he must focus on his critical health issue.

“About 15 years ago, I had a biopsy where the University of Washington took a portion of my kidney and examined it, and diagnosed it as Alport Syndrome,” Floyd said.

Alport syndrome is a genetic condition where there is a progressive loss of ones kidney function.

Floyd, who had been on the transplant waiting list in Sacramento for over two years, learned in November that his brother-in-law had a kidney match. However, Floyd’s doctor informed him that Floyd would not be able to make it before summer without either a clinical purification of blood known as dialysis or a transplant.

“I’ve started to get to the point where I need to have [the transplant] as soon as possible. My brother-in-law set the date on April 14 to have the transplant, before summer comes,” Floyd said.

April 6 was Floyd’s last day, and he came to the staff development day to help former head counselor Mrs. Julie Poe take over his job for the rest of the year as Floyd is on medical leave.

“I was retired, so I came back out of retirement to work in [Mr. Floyd’s] place, and I worked with seniors last year, so I’m doing the same this year. I’m checking on students and making sure that they’re eligible for graduation, trying my best to help Mr. Floyd in any way,” Poe said.

Poe worked since the school opened and retired last June. Many seniors, however, are familiar with her.

“Mrs. Poe has been able to come in and pick up where [Floyd] left off and he has the seniors, so the main thing for seniors is to monitor that everyone is passing their classes to meet graduation requirements, and Mrs. Poe is definitely capable of doing that,” Roisin LeRoy said.

Leroy is the junior class counselor who has worked alongside Floyd.

Floyd is set to come back in the beginning of the 2015-2016 school year.

by MISSIE CARACUT