The Ordway Saved Our Day

OAKLAND OFFICE BUILDING CTDN EVENT WAS AWESOME!

After what by any standard was a crappy start (details forthcoming, maybe), we successfully got our little info table ready to go (an hour early) in the lobby of The Ordway, 1 Kaiser Plaza in Oakland. This beautiful office structure's facilities management (not part of Kaiser Permanente ) were providing all its tenant employees with a most gracious and informative Health and Transportation Fair. Outside the glass walls of the lobby where we were located was a farmer's market, adding to the festival atmosphere. Around Ordway were other high-rise offices and a church as well, but the spaces in between were beautiful and restful amidst all the serious business going on upstairs.

Despite a load of logistical problems, including the absence of assistance and supplies, we did a remarkable job. Thankfully, Cheryl put her work aside for the day to accompany me, and with the unexpected no-shows it was a most fortunate decision. In our matching Donate Life Ambassador T-shirts, we made a most attractive and approachable couple, in my opinion. We displayed brochures on donation, the Donate Life Walk (register NOW, please!!), and the premiere of The Power of Two (order your tickets NOW, please!!) , both happening the same momentous September day.

But by far the most significant and meaningful item we had on the table was the 2010 In Honor and Remembrance book, opened to the page featuring my donor, Ruben Bernal. Even those attendees who rejected our offer of information ("I'm taking it all with me when I die") were visibly moved when we brought Ruben's incredible gift and his family to their attention. The sight of me standing there, outwardly a picture of health, had a massive impact. There were congratulations, amazement, and, yes, a tear or two. Some told us "my fellow employee told me about you, I had to come down" which again was a very cool thing to hear.

Two organ recipients stopped by, both with incredible stories (all the stories are) and long-term health with their new organs. Ol' RJ even got a warm hug outta the deal....I'm sure you can appreciate the power of something like that for BOTH parties. Oh, by the way, I got a hug from our cashier at Trader Joe's the other day when she saw "UCSF Heart and Lung Transplant" on my hat. Pays to advertise, y'know? I have a special place in my heart (!!) for TJ's and this reinforced it tenfold.

Upon dropping by the Lake Chalet for a late lunch on the wharf, we spoke with two ladies nearby who volunteered to snap a picture with the beautiful Lake Merritt view behind us. Seeing our shirts, one of them told us her stepfather was a liver transplant recipient. Organ donation stories are everywhere, each mind-boggling in its own way. All in all, a most worthwhile end to a day that started out very shabbily.


OK, SO WHAT ABOUT THE REST OF THE MONTH SINCE MY LAST POST?

To say the last month has been eventful would be a gross understatement. We had ups, downs, hospital experiences, broken ribs, upturned meat cleavers, and phenomenal avoidances. But with apologies (to those who give a flying wang), I will have to catch that stuff up in another session, very soon. I thank you profusely for your anticipated patience.

Bob/Irv