Sunday, May 1, 2011

For Now, Words Fail Me

YET AGAIN, A LIFE-CHANGING MOMENT

The day I have been thinking about, hoping for, and pursuing tirelessly has come. Utilizing letter-writing, emailing, phoning, and outright pestering, I was united with the family of the donor of my heart and kidney. Our emotional day has been chronicled elsewhere, including Facebook, KPIX, KNTV, and several East Bay newspapers' Sunday editions. While we were told that news media would be present, we had no idea that our family-to-family event would be their main focus.

DETAILS TO FOLLOW

Please permit me to more fully process and share at a later date not only the momentous happenings on Saturday, but also some additional amazement experienced earlier today. To answer a few of the mysteries, I can say that my donor was Ruben Bernal, a 21 year-old resident of Union City. Last February, Ruben was enjoying a late-night BBQ at the home of a relative when an as-yet unknown individual or individuals opened fire from a moving vehicle. Ruben suffered grievous injuries and was taken to Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley. There he was declared brain-dead and placed on a respirator.

Ruben was a registered organ and tissue donor. He figured if the worst were to happen (which most young people think never will), he would want his organs used to save someone else. In his circle of friends, this was an unusual concept, but he had determined and done it on his own. And horribly for Ruben, his many friends, large family and fiancee, the worst did occur early on the morning of Saturday, February 6, 2010. And on Tuesday the 9th, he was taken off respiratory support and pronounced dead.

I will organize my thoughts and feelings, and share more of this truly mind-boggling story very soon. I ask you all to take just a moment to reflect on a person described to us as full of life, humor and love. It humbles me that he had to die so I could rediscover my own life, humor and love. Muchas gracias, Ruben.

Bob/Irv
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)
RJ/Bob/Irv is a 61-year-old beloved husband, father, uncle, brother, motor racing fanatic, and Livermore resident who received a heart and kidney transplant in February of 2010. Bob's recent years have been defined by his health, which forced him into early retirement. Unfortunately, many of his days were spent in a dialysis center or at various medical appointments, primarily due to his living with diabetes for over 40 years. Numerous were panic visits to various Emergency Rooms all over California for treatment of chest pain. But now no more dialysis and no more late-night dashes to UCSF! The main focus of Bob's family, friends, and doctors has been a prompt transplant, so that he can get back to traveling with his Sweetie, driving fast cars, enjoying great music and laughing with his friends. This blog will function as a way to communicate with all interested parties and to keep everyone informed. And hopefully it can serve a great purpose also, in making people more aware of the importance of organ donation and how each life saved has a positive effect on dozens of related friends and relatives.