I'm certain that some of you have seen this, but I'm just as sure that many of you have not, and it really should be added to the JK – Just Kidneying archives for posterity's sake if nothing else.
On the morning of Friday, Nov. 18, 2011 – a date that will live in happy history for me as the date of my kidney transplant – I was lying on a gurney in a pre-op area of Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, flying high on that happy juice they pump into you to "relax" you prior to surgery, when my artificial bliss was interrupted by a complete stranger.
Unbeknownst to me, the Just Kidneying blog had become very popular in certain sections of Barnes-Jewish, including the hospital's public relations department. My unknown visitor was a PR person for the hospital who had heard I was in the complex for my operation and wanted to interview me for the Barnes-Jewish transplantation blog, "The Rare Gift".
Now? Right this very second?
Karen, who was interviewed for the video clip as well, had spent the night before with me in this cramped room, losing sleep with nervous anticipation, and like me had not enjoyed the benefit of hot water, deodorant or a mirror. At that moment, I gained an inkling of how celebrities must feel when they are asked for autographs or photos at the most inconvenient times.
But I have become such an advocate for transplantation, the Barnes-Jewish team and organ donation, I hardly could refuse such a request.
This was the result:
Needless to say, I think I've been better!
But as you know, all's well that ends well, and given how the surgery turned out it's been a long time since I've been any better than this.
Postscript: As we begin 2012 together, this post marks my 100th blog entry since I began Just Kidneying in September 2009. Pretty amazing for someone who never had any intention of ever writing a blog. As Bartles & Jaymes (remember them?) used to say on those wine-cooler TV commercials, "Thank you for your continued support."
