43 Comments
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Charles Creighton's avatar

John - these are the kind of essays that make me a subscriber. Keeping it real. Thank you!

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Karl Sonnenberg's avatar

Exactly what I was going to say in a comment.

But thanks to both Brandon and Darren most of all,

I will cheer for both teams, my son went to UO and two daughters to OSU, (but this year I'm partial to those still in the PAC-"12")

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Jim Roakd's avatar

John’s articles are the best

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Cheryl Aker's avatar

Thanks for this story, John. Hopefully Brandon will have a long and healthy life.

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Patrick Seymour's avatar

Awesome story John. I remember that picture from way back in the day. As a son of a veteran, this is powerful. Thanks for what you do.

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James Bailey's avatar

“Who helps the helpers?”

This weekend, may we all find a helper in our lives and appreciate them.

Thank you John.

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Todd M's avatar

Great story John. Keeps the whole sports thing in perspective…just entertainment, not to be taken so seriously. Thanks again John.👍

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Don Essig's avatar

Great article, John! How about next year when the Beavers play in Autzen, we can find a place for Brandon and his family to sit in the press box? Maybe the AD box or another donor. We can talk about it sometime.

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Dennis Miller's avatar

The voice of Autzen!! How OLD are you??!! LOL

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Barry Schweigert's avatar

Thanks John. I too remember that photo. My son was in a similar situation. Along ways from home but still a Duck 🦆 fan. It truly was a great way to escape the situation he and his soldiers were in. Just found out he can come back to Eugene to watch the MD game on Veterans Day weekend. 🦆🦆

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J. Horvath's avatar

John, That was not just a nice column, it was a powerful story about airmen, essentially US Soldiers who have worked to save others' lives in the past and perhaps even now. Thank you for informing us. Well done! I would be disappointed to lose to the Beavers, but I would hate to have lost this former airman and former emergency room nurse. God's schedule of provision is timely, but not always our schedule. In this case, the intersection was perfect. Thanks to the family from Georgia; I can't imagine their loss and attitude. Thank you, and I remain VR,

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John Smith's avatar

You always have a timely feel good story that reminds us all that tomorrow’s outcome really isn’t that important. Thank you!

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Brad Weekly's avatar

Love. Just love ✊

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Jim Roakd's avatar

I have had two very different experiences regarding kidney donor. The first is with a very close friend whose sister needed a kidney transplant. She asked her brother if he would be tested for a match. He declined. Now I don’t want to be cut open but to me there is no decision to be made if any of my brothers or sisters needed a kidney. I am there for them. I was very disappointed in him.

Let me contrast that to something that happened in my home. I have annual parties at my home inviting my friends since grade school. Of course the wives accompany their spouses.

There are two wives that are not friends with each other and have only met at my parties.

Ramona is talking to several other wives regarding her health and needing a kidney transplant.

Her and her husband had been searching for a yet to be found donor.

Kathy interrupted the conversation to tell Ramona that if there was a match Ramona could have one of Kathy’s kidneys. She was not joking around it was a sincere offer to a woman Kathy had probably met no more than 10 times in her life. Kathy became my hero that night.. thank the

Lord that there are Kathy’s in this worldly world

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David Hopkins's avatar

Thanks John for bringing us back to reality. So sad for the person who passed away and their family but thank them for helping this man live. This is what life is all about!

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Stan Elliot's avatar

While I always enjoy your sports perspectives, it is stories like "An Airman. A kidney. A second chance" that grab my heart. Thanks for sharing!

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Clyde Carrick's avatar

Once again, you have hit a home run linking the power of sports and compelling human interest. Keep up the great work 👍 👏 💪.

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David Gulickson's avatar

the Human Touch remains paramount

GO DAWGS

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Al's avatar

Thanks John for reminding us of one of the three most important factors of life: Health, Family and Happiness. Little else matters frankly. Each of us has our own journey as well. Having lost a wife and daughter to health issues many years ago was mine. Stories like yours today warm the heart and also remind that helping others not only benefits those who recieve but may delay the time when our own tomorrows cease to come.

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