63 Comments
User's avatar
Luann Hill's avatar

http://givesendgo.com/b_needs_a_kidney

I set this up for my husband after seeing the requests. 😊 I do want to share that since his condition is 100% service connected all medical expenses for him and a donor are covered by the VA. Any money donated will help cover incidental expenses we will have during his transplant recovery. He will need to spend up to 6 weeks post surgery near the transplant hospital, either in Portland or Chicago.

Thanks for outpouring of prayers. It is such a blessing to have his story shared on a platform such as this!

Thanks,

L. Hill

Expand full comment
John Canzano's avatar

Thank you Luann. He helped so many others...

Expand full comment
Jean Southworth's avatar

Blessings to you, dear Luann. I'm so glad that Brandon's medical care is fully covered--as it should be. And thank YOU for your role as a war-time military spouse, something which requires much more than most people ever imagine. (My husband is an Air Force veteran but served during peace time.) I trust that John will keep us up to date with his progress.

Expand full comment
John Canzano's avatar

We will stay on it.

Expand full comment
Mark Waldroop's avatar

I just called the number in the email and spoke to Sharon Kreitzer with DOVE - Living Kidney Donation for Veterans.

She provided a wealth of information regarding the donor program. If anyone is curious, please call the phone number that John shared and Sharon can explain more. There is a website also -- dovetransplant.org.

John, thank you for sharing this story. I will find out more about how to help. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Brandon and his family, hoping that he finds a kidney donor ASAP!!

Expand full comment
John Canzano's avatar

Always the extra step. Good on you Mark.

Expand full comment
Grant's dad's avatar

In times like this, to hell with rivalries, Where is the go fund me information????

Expand full comment
Kent Crawford's avatar

right on GD!!!

Expand full comment
Heather's avatar

Thank you so much for sharing my brother’s story then & now John ❤️

Expand full comment
John Canzano's avatar

Always Heather. Always.

Expand full comment
Jean Southworth's avatar

Very nice story, John. I'll say a little prayer for Brandon today.

Your piece reminds us of the joy and fun associated with past games between OSU and UO, in this case the ability of our military people to bring a piece of home alive while working in danger zones. You can't put a value on such things.

I know the Civil War is supposed to continue in some capacity, but it will never be the same. These two soldiers could never rally their military friends into participating in such an event overseas like this today. With such a ridiculously uneven playing field, future Civil Wars will simply be opportunities for embarrassment of Oregon State and surely come with a heavy physical toll of injuries on top of that.

It's just another casualty of what's happened since August.

Expand full comment
Anne Ballin's avatar

I would hope we could see what the Civil War was, put it aside for a moment, and concentrate helping Brandon find a kidney. This is way more important.

Expand full comment
Kent Crawford's avatar

Thoughtful and insightful comments Jean!

However, as a Beaver alum, as I believe you are as well, I hope that your comments are inaccurate. We should have a very clear window by this time in 2025.

Expand full comment
Jean Southworth's avatar

Thank you, Kent. I hope I am wrong, too, but sadly I have little hope on this one. And generally I'm a person full of hope. We'll see, I guess.

As far as my alum status... yes, sort of. I attended two years at OSU and then completed my BS at OHSU, so technically I'm an alum of OHSU, not OSU. At least I think that's how that works?

Met my husband at OHSU: a Duck grad. Yes, really. He's the best person I know. Also one who happens to agree with me on everything I've ever commented on here, no joke.

All our kids are OSU grads, some with graduate degrees from there, too. I've attended more Mom's Weekends than I can count.

Expand full comment
Kent Crawford's avatar

Thanks and I love the detail, Jean! We will count you as an OSU Grad!!! U of O is a fine university. My youngest son graduated from U of O. My grandmother graduate from OAC in 22, my oldest son graduated from OSU in 2013 and his older sister now works for OSU and my oldest granddaughter is a soph and will graduate in 26. I lived in Southern Cal for too many years to dislike the Ducks anymore. My archrival is now USC and that annoying irritation was just deepened as they signed my all-time WBB fav, Talia. Although I think this was a great move for Talia personally and athletically.

I always enjoy your posts Jean!!!

Expand full comment
John Canzano's avatar

You are right Kent.

Expand full comment
Dan Ohlson's avatar

Touching...just what I needed to get a down day turned around. Thank you for this reminder of how we need to pay things forward. Cheers!

Expand full comment
John Canzano's avatar

Perspective is powerful. Thanks Dan.

Expand full comment
John-Henry Cottrell's avatar

Reading this reminds me of why I am so interested in college sports. I actually started watching religiously after I left the Marine Corps because I thought it would help me connect with my future workers and help build new friendships.

Instead I found it helped me overcome the struggles of moving from military life to civilian life, and Also helped with the mental struggles residual to a combat zone. College sports helped me reach inner peace... The comradery, teamwork, the communal emotions of victory and defeat.

Expand full comment
John Canzano's avatar

Thank you for the perspective.

Expand full comment
Kent Crawford's avatar

thanks for sharing this comment John Henry!

Expand full comment
Bob M.'s avatar

Packing for deployment is a weird thing. Now I was in the Air Force in the early mid-80's so I didn't pack for a combat zone, but I've known many who have and have been told it's pretty much the same. You usually don't know how long you'll be gone (extensions are common, even peace time), but you have limited space and /or weight. These choices say a lot about these guys.

Great story John....

Expand full comment
John Canzano's avatar

Such a great point. Thank you Bob.

Expand full comment
John-Henry Cottrell's avatar

Iraq and Afghanistan had FOB that were quite permanent, but in the middle of the combat zone. So much easier to pack. Such is urban warfare.

Expand full comment
David Gulickson's avatar

Righteous work and words, Mr. Canzano

GO DAWGS

Expand full comment
Bob Best's avatar

Dear Sir, Free country we live in. Sometimes self- analysis comes with that

Please re consider placing "Go Dawgs" on every comment. That Stands-out as rather obsessive. Thanks for considering

Expand full comment
David Gulickson's avatar

To quote Frank Zappa; “whatever happened to all the fun in the world…?”

GO DA…ah, fuggetaboutit

Expand full comment
Lance Martin's avatar

Like Frank it seems to have passed away.

Expand full comment
Kent Crawford's avatar

Man, no truer words have been spoken recently, Lance!!!

Expand full comment
chris oleary's avatar

Wow John! Great job spreading the word!

Expand full comment
John Canzano's avatar

Thanks Chris.

Expand full comment
AndyPanda's avatar

Great, and thought provoking, story on many levels.

Expand full comment
John Canzano's avatar

Thanks Andy.

Expand full comment
Michael Bishop's avatar

Good article mate. Never mind the fact that Iraq and Afghanistan were another of two dark and sinister failures at the hands of the US led coalitions. Hegemony at its finest. Deplorable really from a world view in the rear view mirror. I hope a suitable donor match is found and quickly. It’s to bad we couldn’t have a state of the art organ harvest program for all the convicted lifers in this country. Just sign the box and we’ll do the rest and they can “give back” what they stole, etc. Bon Apetite

Expand full comment
Jim Roakd's avatar

My opinion is that Dennis should have been made aware of the potential of cancer due to his exposure toAgent Orange and told he should have year check ups cause he was high risk

Expand full comment
John Canzano's avatar

I'd love to know more.

Expand full comment
Bob M.'s avatar

It was a different era. For some deployments you weren't sure you were going to even get mail. Even FOL's (same as FOB only often a foreign base) you weren't sure what you would get or what to bring.

But again, we weren't going into direct combat, just "in case" deployments, so I can imagine it's a lot more nerve wracking going into a hostile zone, which makes packing weird in another way,

Expand full comment
John Canzano's avatar

Thank you Bob. Good stuff.

Expand full comment
Brad Weekly's avatar

Prayers from the bottom of the world.

Expand full comment
John Canzano's avatar

Well put...

Expand full comment
Timothy James George's avatar

God Bless Brandon! Thanks for spreading the word. 219

Expand full comment
John Canzano's avatar

Thank you Timothy.

Expand full comment