so when I was 22 I decided to ditch my plans for Law School and check out the
plans for Law School and check out the
plans for Law School and check out the entertainment industry I just needed to
entertainment industry I just needed to
entertainment industry I just needed to know if it was for me so I left school
know if it was for me so I left school
know if it was for me so I left school said goodbye to my family in small town
said goodbye to my family in small town
said goodbye to my family in small town su st. Marie Canada yes they were having
su st. Marie Canada yes they were having
su st. Marie Canada yes they were having a heart attack and bought a one-way
a heart attack and bought a one-way
a heart attack and bought a one-way ticket to LA I didn’t know anyone but I
ticket to LA I didn’t know anyone but I
ticket to LA I didn’t know anyone but I didn’t care
didn’t care
didn’t care I knew it’s what I needed to do that’s
I knew it’s what I needed to do that’s
I knew it’s what I needed to do that’s where I met the Caesar family I was
where I met the Caesar family I was
where I met the Caesar family I was hired by a nanny agency to do
hired by a nanny agency to do
hired by a nanny agency to do babysitting work for them we clicked
babysitting work for them we clicked
babysitting work for them we clicked immediately I just fell in love with
immediately I just fell in love with
immediately I just fell in love with them they became my la family if I ever
them they became my la family if I ever
them they became my la family if I ever needed anything I called them and trust
needed anything I called them and trust
needed anything I called them and trust me their phone rang I was just a kid
me their phone rang I was just a kid
me their phone rang I was just a kid right and broke and alone fast-forward
right and broke and alone fast-forward
right and broke and alone fast-forward 22 years later I spent 11 of those years
22 years later I spent 11 of those years
22 years later I spent 11 of those years in LA then spent a few years in Victoria
in LA then spent a few years in Victoria
in LA then spent a few years in Victoria BC and then settled into beautiful
BC and then settled into beautiful
BC and then settled into beautiful Collingwood Ontario life has moved on
Collingwood Ontario life has moved on
Collingwood Ontario life has moved on marriage children divorce the scissors
marriage children divorce the scissors
marriage children divorce the scissors and I always kept in touch they were a
and I always kept in touch they were a
and I always kept in touch they were a part of my tribe but you know how it is
part of my tribe but you know how it is
part of my tribe but you know how it is we could go years without seeing each
we could go years without seeing each
we could go years without seeing each other or even talking but no matter what
other or even talking but no matter what
other or even talking but no matter what there was always that connection and I
there was always that connection and I
there was always that connection and I knew we were always there for each other
knew we were always there for each other
knew we were always there for each other last year January 27 2016 I saw a post
last year January 27 2016 I saw a post
last year January 27 2016 I saw a post on Facebook from Andy the husband he was
on Facebook from Andy the husband he was
on Facebook from Andy the husband he was pleading for his wife’s life Randy had a
pleading for his wife’s life Randy had a
pleading for his wife’s life Randy had a genetic kidney disease the very same one
genetic kidney disease the very same one
genetic kidney disease the very same one that kills her father when she was only
that kills her father when she was only
that kills her father when she was only 2 now both of her kidneys were failing
2 now both of her kidneys were failing
2 now both of her kidneys were failing and she needed a new kidney the doctors
and she needed a new kidney the doctors
and she needed a new kidney the doctors at UCLA told her she had one month to a
at UCLA told her she had one month to a
at UCLA told her she had one month to a year to find one that had been three
year to find one that had been three
year to find one that had been three months prior because it was a genetic
months prior because it was a genetic
months prior because it was a genetic disease nobody in her family qualified
disease nobody in her family qualified
disease nobody in her family qualified and her husband was on medication so he
and her husband was on medication so he
and her husband was on medication so he couldn’t help my god like my heart sank
couldn’t help my god like my heart sank
couldn’t help my god like my heart sank I had no idea time was running out and
I had no idea time was running out and
I had no idea time was running out and Randy was dying I needed to help her I
Randy was dying I needed to help her I
Randy was dying I needed to help her I knew I could
knew I could
knew I could in my mind I knew I was the person to do
in my mind I knew I was the person to do
in my mind I knew I was the person to do this I had spent my entire life taking
this I had spent my entire life taking
this I had spent my entire life taking excellent care of my health in my body
excellent care of my health in my body
excellent care of my health in my body what better way to make use of that so
what better way to make use of that so
what better way to make use of that so right away I called up Andy and I’m like
right away I called up Andy and I’m like
right away I called up Andy and I’m like Andy oh my god why didn’t you tell me
Andy oh my god why didn’t you tell me
Andy oh my god why didn’t you tell me why didn’t you ask me and he was like um
why didn’t you ask me and he was like um
why didn’t you ask me and he was like um what like yeah of course I’ve got to she
what like yeah of course I’ve got to she
what like yeah of course I’ve got to she can have one of mine so he referred me
can have one of mine so he referred me
can have one of mine so he referred me to the UCLA website where I had to
to the UCLA website where I had to
to the UCLA website where I had to officially applied to be a donor be
officially applied to be a donor be
officially applied to be a donor be assigned a coordinator and then begin
assigned a coordinator and then begin
assigned a coordinator and then begin the process of determining if I was
the process of determining if I was
the process of determining if I was eligible only 17% of all people who
eligible only 17% of all people who
eligible only 17% of all people who apply to be donors actually get accepted
apply to be donors actually get accepted
apply to be donors actually get accepted so while I was waiting to hear back from
so while I was waiting to hear back from
so while I was waiting to hear back from my coordinator I spent hours and days
my coordinator I spent hours and days
my coordinator I spent hours and days doing as much research and learning as
doing as much research and learning as
doing as much research and learning as much as I could yes I wanted this to
much as I could yes I wanted this to
much as I could yes I wanted this to happen but it also had to be good for me
happen but it also had to be good for me
happen but it also had to be good for me my kids in my life so as I had expected
my kids in my life so as I had expected
my kids in my life so as I had expected if you’re healthy and they only accept
if you’re healthy and they only accept
if you’re healthy and they only accept extraordinarily healthy people you can
extraordinarily healthy people you can
extraordinarily healthy people you can live a very happy healthy and long life
live a very happy healthy and long life
live a very happy healthy and long life with only one kidney as a matter of fact
with only one kidney as a matter of fact
with only one kidney as a matter of fact most kidney donors live longer than the
most kidney donors live longer than the
most kidney donors live longer than the average population maybe it’s because
average population maybe it’s because
average population maybe it’s because we’re healthier in the first place
we’re healthier in the first place
we’re healthier in the first place or maybe it’s because doing something
or maybe it’s because doing something
or maybe it’s because doing something good makes you happier therefore live
good makes you happier therefore live
good makes you happier therefore live longer so I really trusted UCLA they had
longer so I really trusted UCLA they had
longer so I really trusted UCLA they had a great world-renowned reputation I felt
a great world-renowned reputation I felt
a great world-renowned reputation I felt safe with them so my decision was made
safe with them so my decision was made
safe with them so my decision was made up as long as my family was ok with this
up as long as my family was ok with this
up as long as my family was ok with this I was going to do it so I proceeded to
I was going to do it so I proceeded to
I was going to do it so I proceeded to share my decision with the people I love
share my decision with the people I love
share my decision with the people I love you know giving them as much information
you know giving them as much information
you know giving them as much information I could putting them or their minds at
I could putting them or their minds at
I could putting them or their minds at ease making sure I had their support all
ease making sure I had their support all
ease making sure I had their support all the people in my life rock like truly
the people in my life rock like truly
the people in my life rock like truly even if they were afraid they knew I
even if they were afraid they knew I
even if they were afraid they knew I would never make such a big decision on
would never make such a big decision on
would never make such a big decision on gut feeling alone yes my gut may have
gut feeling alone yes my gut may have
gut feeling alone yes my gut may have prompted this but I substantiated that
prompted this but I substantiated that
prompted this but I substantiated that knowing with thorough research caring
knowing with thorough research caring
knowing with thorough research caring and a highly competent team of medical
and a highly competent team of medical
and a highly competent team of medical professionals so the first round of
professionals so the first round of
professionals so the first round of tests came back yes we were a match I
tests came back yes we were a match I
tests came back yes we were a match I couldn’t believe it of course I knew it
couldn’t believe it of course I knew it
couldn’t believe it of course I knew it was gonna happen but I was so excited
was gonna happen but I was so excited
was gonna happen but I was so excited Randy was going to get my kidney and
Randy was going to get my kidney and
Randy was going to get my kidney and then she would be healthy again may be
then she would be healthy again may be
then she would be healthy again may be healthier than ever
healthier than ever
healthier than ever we would be like sisters in fact we were
we would be like sisters in fact we were
we would be like sisters in fact we were such a match as close as sisters the
such a match as close as sisters the
such a match as close as sisters the only way we could have been closer as if
only way we could have been closer as if
only way we could have been closer as if we were twins
we were twins
we were twins I don’t know pretty cool I do want to
I don’t know pretty cool I do want to
I don’t know pretty cool I do want to point out though that I had already
point out though that I had already
point out though that I had already decided that even if I wasn’t a match I
decided that even if I wasn’t a match I
decided that even if I wasn’t a match I would still give one of my kidneys so
would still give one of my kidneys so
would still give one of my kidneys so that Randy would have one they have
that Randy would have one they have
that Randy would have one they have what’s called a paired kidney exchange
what’s called a paired kidney exchange
what’s called a paired kidney exchange program basically it’s like an organ
program basically it’s like an organ
program basically it’s like an organ pool where I give my kidney whoever that
pool where I give my kidney whoever that
pool where I give my kidney whoever that matches they get and then Randy gets one
matches they get and then Randy gets one
matches they get and then Randy gets one so it’s pretty cool okay so enter May 11
so it’s pretty cool okay so enter May 11
so it’s pretty cool okay so enter May 11 2016 5 a.m. UCLA Medical Center two of
2016 5 a.m. UCLA Medical Center two of
2016 5 a.m. UCLA Medical Center two of the strongest and most competent medical
the strongest and most competent medical
the strongest and most competent medical teams in all of North America surgical
teams in all of North America surgical
teams in all of North America surgical teams in all of North America two
teams in all of North America two
teams in all of North America two patients who had travelled a long
patients who had travelled a long
patients who had travelled a long journey of 22 years alongside and apart
journey of 22 years alongside and apart
journey of 22 years alongside and apart from each other soon to be sharing more
from each other soon to be sharing more
from each other soon to be sharing more than an organ side-by-side we were doing
than an organ side-by-side we were doing
than an organ side-by-side we were doing it no part of this day could have
it no part of this day could have
it no part of this day could have happened without every single player
happened without every single player
happened without every single player playing their part I knew I was exactly
playing their part I knew I was exactly
playing their part I knew I was exactly where I needed to be I knew we would ace
where I needed to be I knew we would ace
where I needed to be I knew we would ace this I would go back to my kids in
this I would go back to my kids in
this I would go back to my kids in Canada and Randy would go back to saving
Canada and Randy would go back to saving
Canada and Randy would go back to saving people’s lives as a cardiac critical
people’s lives as a cardiac critical
people’s lives as a cardiac critical care nurse and we did we aced it we were
care nurse and we did we aced it we were
care nurse and we did we aced it we were rock stars as a matter of fact the
rock stars as a matter of fact the
rock stars as a matter of fact the surgeon who put my kidney into Randy
surgeon who put my kidney into Randy
surgeon who put my kidney into Randy came over after the procedure to
came over after the procedure to
came over after the procedure to introduce himself he said I just have to
introduce himself he said I just have to
introduce himself he said I just have to meet the owner of this superstar kidney
meet the owner of this superstar kidney
meet the owner of this superstar kidney no I’m serious listen T it may start at
no I’m serious listen T it may start at
no I’m serious listen T it may start at working before he had even finished
working before he had even finished
working before he had even finished putting it in it was like it just needed
putting it in it was like it just needed
putting it in it was like it just needed to get to work yeah classic zubaba yeah
to get to work yeah classic zubaba yeah
to get to work yeah classic zubaba yeah anyway it’s really cool
anyway it’s really cool
anyway it’s really cool so this is our akin me I asked them to
so this is our akin me I asked them to
so this is our akin me I asked them to video the procedure or to let me watch
video the procedure or to let me watch
video the procedure or to let me watch it live but I had us too late next time
it live but I had us too late next time
it live but I had us too late next time so I got home I was only in the hospital
so I got home I was only in the hospital
so I got home I was only in the hospital for two nights and Randy was there for
for two nights and Randy was there for
for two nights and Randy was there for about six or seven here we are the day
about six or seven here we are the day
about six or seven here we are the day she got home from the hospital less than
she got home from the hospital less than
she got home from the hospital less than three and a half months earlier I heard
three and a half months earlier I heard
three and a half months earlier I heard my friend was going to die but we didn’t
my friend was going to die but we didn’t
my friend was going to die but we didn’t let that happen we all came together and
let that happen we all came together and
let that happen we all came together and made this happen instead now Randy is
made this happen instead now Randy is
made this happen instead now Randy is working long 12-hour shifts as a nurse
working long 12-hour shifts as a nurse
working long 12-hour shifts as a nurse at a hospital walking five miles a day
at a hospital walking five miles a day
at a hospital walking five miles a day and doing yoga truly amazing what I have
and doing yoga truly amazing what I have
and doing yoga truly amazing what I have learned from this entire experience is
learned from this entire experience is
learned from this entire experience is we need each other
we need each other
we need each other Randy needed me her family her friends
Randy needed me her family her friends
Randy needed me her family her friends and the entire surgical team could not
and the entire surgical team could not
and the entire surgical team could not have done this without me I was one
have done this without me I was one
have done this without me I was one small but necessary part of this much
small but necessary part of this much
small but necessary part of this much bigger machine so I’m not here to say
bigger machine so I’m not here to say
bigger machine so I’m not here to say you should go out and donate a kidney of
you should go out and donate a kidney of
you should go out and donate a kidney of course if you can and you want to go for
course if you can and you want to go for
course if you can and you want to go for it like it’ll change your life forever
it like it’ll change your life forever
it like it’ll change your life forever but what I am saying is there are tons
but what I am saying is there are tons
but what I am saying is there are tons of things that we can be doing and we
of things that we can be doing and we
of things that we can be doing and we can be sharing the point is we cannot do
can be sharing the point is we cannot do
can be sharing the point is we cannot do this alone on a micro and a macro level
this alone on a micro and a macro level
this alone on a micro and a macro level we have gone too far on insisting on
we have gone too far on insisting on
we have gone too far on insisting on this independence it’s like this hyper
this independence it’s like this hyper
this independence it’s like this hyper independence from infancy to elderly
independence from infancy to elderly
independence from infancy to elderly we’ve become obsessed with it and it’s a
we’ve become obsessed with it and it’s a
we’ve become obsessed with it and it’s a faulty system even when we try to force
faulty system even when we try to force
faulty system even when we try to force independence our natural need our
independence our natural need our
independence our natural need our natural desire and our natural wiring
natural desire and our natural wiring
natural desire and our natural wiring drives us to come together according to
drives us to come together according to
drives us to come together according to the Smithsonian National Museum of
the Smithsonian National Museum of
the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History coming together is what
Natural History coming together is what
Natural History coming together is what has supported us over millions of years
has supported us over millions of years
has supported us over millions of years to withstand and survive challenges and
to withstand and survive challenges and
to withstand and survive challenges and life-threatening situations maybe that’s
life-threatening situations maybe that’s
life-threatening situations maybe that’s why I had a second healthy kidney so I
why I had a second healthy kidney so I
why I had a second healthy kidney so I can ensure Randy’s survival and
can ensure Randy’s survival and
can ensure Randy’s survival and therefore ensure the survival of her
therefore ensure the survival of her
therefore ensure the survival of her future patients
future patients
future patients we all have something that someone else
we all have something that someone else
we all have something that someone else does not have something that can support
does not have something that can support
does not have something that can support our tribe if we choose to you know maybe
our tribe if we choose to you know maybe
our tribe if we choose to you know maybe you you live next to an overwhelmed
you you live next to an overwhelmed
you you live next to an overwhelmed single parent and you can offer to mow
single parent and you can offer to mow
single parent and you can offer to mow her lawn for a day or for the season you
her lawn for a day or for the season you
her lawn for a day or for the season you know maybe you can make some homemade
know maybe you can make some homemade
know maybe you can make some homemade meals or share your leftovers with with
meals or share your leftovers with with
meals or share your leftovers with with someone who is elderly or alone you know
someone who is elderly or alone you know
someone who is elderly or alone you know maybe you’ve got an extra room in your
maybe you’ve got an extra room in your
maybe you’ve got an extra room in your house to rent out to accommodate this
house to rent out to accommodate this
house to rent out to accommodate this rental shortage hey if you’d like to
rental shortage hey if you’d like to
rental shortage hey if you’d like to walk dogs offer to walk your friends dog
walk dogs offer to walk your friends dog
walk dogs offer to walk your friends dog you know there are so many things we can
you know there are so many things we can
you know there are so many things we can do these things may not seem like big
do these things may not seem like big
do these things may not seem like big things to you because you have them but
things to you because you have them but
things to you because you have them but for the person who doesn’t they are huge
for the person who doesn’t they are huge
for the person who doesn’t they are huge what do you have two of that maybe you
what do you have two of that maybe you
what do you have two of that maybe you don’t need but someone else does what
don’t need but someone else does what
don’t need but someone else does what can you share starting today if you’re
can you share starting today if you’re
can you share starting today if you’re lucky maybe you too can be one small but
lucky maybe you too can be one small but
lucky maybe you too can be one small but very necessary part of a much bigger
very necessary part of a much bigger
very necessary part of a much bigger magical machine I hope so
magical machine I hope so
magical machine I hope so [Applause]
”
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