Recently, Bonine Raitt was at the Greek Theatre in Hollywood. She told a story about a friend of hers who was the donor family of organs that had been donated. The heart recipient has reached out to thank her for her precious donation and her friend put her ear on the recipient so she could hear her son’s heart beating once again. Bonnie Raitt was so moved that she wrote a song about it.
There once was a world that had lost its way. Everyone was moving so fast that they forgot to look around. People didn't seem to notice one other. Some were blinded by their consumerism, others distracted by pleasure. Some idolized work and worried about the next big thing. Many sought power, wealth or fame. And everywhere, it seemed, people shared one common problem: All that should matter in life, didn't quite matter enough. People shared the fragility of their own existence. But then, a wakeup call came...via the smallest of messengers: a tiny bug or coronavirus from a land far away called SARS-CoV-2.
When I was young and diagnosed with juvenile diabetes, I was told that I would be lucky to see my 50th birthday and strangely the transplants would occur just one month away from that birthday. Now 15 years later after receiving a heart, kidney and pancreas (which was transplanted the following year), I'm doing great. My journey has been one that could not have accomplished without the love and support of so many folks along the way.
Back in my physics class, I always remembered a famous quote stated by Isaac Newton: “To every action, there is always an opposing reaction.” You might wonder what this quote has to do with the world of organ donation and transplantation. The truth is organ availability rates are a complex and delicate process. They can be affected by a variety of societal factors that can and do occur. They are directly tied to death rates. Therefore, as death rates increase, more organs become available for transplantation. Talk about your mixed bag.
Three transplants saved my life and have given me the time and good health to play the sport I love the most. Golf can be infuriating, without a doubt, but it does lend itself to pondering the big questions as you walk from hole to hole (and try to make your way out of a sand trap, too).
In those long walks on the course, I have contemplated this question: what’s rarer? A triple transplant, or three holes-in-one?
“And what does your father do for a living?”
Twenty fathers sitting in a circle, on the brightly colored rug of a preschool classroom, twenty squirming toddlers in their laps.
A reflection on riding the Donate Life Rose Parade float, one year later.
A meditation on gratitude past the national day of thanks.
I was recently on a flight to Atlanta for business and I found myself watching one of those Mission Impossible movies – you know, Tom Cruise, fast cars, tall buildings, and espionage? I do not want to date myself, but I fondly remember the original Mission Impossible, the television version with Peter Graves. (Full disclosure: I’ve never been a fan of the series, as I’m more of a James Bond kind of guy.) Tom Cruise and his team are on their heroic mission to save the world. They undertake one action sequence after another using their daring wits, flirting with constant danger, utilizing elements of disguise and technology to ultimately complete the mission. It does get pretty confusing along the way. I’ve heard it’s been referred to as “Mission Incomprehensible” by some. However, if you’re looking for an escape, this one works as well as any.
For the Stavis and Fabing families, the end of October carries special meaning. Eleven years ago, Brice Fabing--talented, young, and compassionate--lost his life. In his passing, Brice added "hero" to his legacy. The Fabing family, in their support of #DonateLife, saved many people that day.
A few words on the passing of a business partner.
This weekend, my documentary film “Source of Hope” competed at the New Hope Film Festival. When I created Source of Hope a few years back, I never dreamed that it would resonate with so many folks. Making the film was rooted in a simple intention: I wanted to share my story.
As I get older, I find myself having to contend with health issues never dreamed of before.
Since I didn’t anticipate living much past 40, I certainly didn’t think about problems of old age—getting to old age was too big of an obstacle itself! Then, the miracle of a triple transplant and #DonateLife reset the clock for me, and now…now I see that aging has its own bumps and bruises.
Jim speaks with Morgan Stanley investors about steel and the future.
Jim talks skeletons, closets, diabetes, and acceptance.
Jim, the PARAGON STEEL team, and the Stavis and Fabing families will be walking to honor donation and transplantation at the upcoming Donate Life California 5k this weekend. There is so much joy when families come together to connect through giving and living! #DonateLife
Worrying has always been something that I’ve had an aversion towards. An endemic annoyance that keeps you awake at night, worrying prevents you from enjoying the better parts of life itself. Yet, it is interesting because everyone has their own threshold when it comes to this act. For some, they can worry over just about everything – whether it will rain, or about how bad traffic will be. While others it seems never worry about anything, letting each day unfold as it may. Most of us fall somewhere in the middle of this continuum.
I always used to be searching for calm waters, yet it seemed that my life was a series of waves on top of waves. Some waves are the kind you can swim through, while others can literally overwhelm you. I remember one time when I was a teenager my friends and I wanted to experience "The Wedge" in Newport Beach, a body surfing Mecca. We were young, full of energy with a a void of fear and common sense. The Wedge had no lifeguards, just warnings telling swimmers to swim at their own risk. This sounded perfect to us and into the surf we went.
On Valentine's Day (and #NationalDonorDay), this heart transplant recipient has a few thoughts about what's really in a heart...
Thank you to Nataly Tavidian, KEYT and KCOY, for the compassionate coverage of our day honoring Brice Fabing on the Rose Parade Donate Life Float.
