Column: The Crowd: I, like a growing number of Americans, need a kidney transplant

Information on the subject of organ transplant remains, for the most part, a mystery for the average person.

A mystery that can be disturbing, even scary — something out of the realm of science fiction. But the reality is quite the opposite.

Transplant science and medicine have been saving lives for decades.

Procedures worldwide are common today and in many nations outside of the United States, practices and procedures are significantly more advanced.

Some experts express frustration that our standards remain behind the level of scientific advancement.

In spite of this, doctors in the U.S. are performing life-saving transplants on hearts, lungs, livers, kidneys and more.

The kidney transplant is perhaps the most common, and with numbers of patients rising dramatically nationwide, it remains, perhaps, the most in demand.

It is also a procedure that can be accomplished safely with the participation of a living donor. Other transplants must come from deceased donors who have generously opted to extend the lives of others beyond their own.

Human beings can live full lives with one kidney, even less. We are given two. The reasons one may decide to donate to save another person’s life are very personal. Many do so out of love for a family member or friend. Others donate to strangers out of a strong humanitarian value system, while others do so out of spiritual or religious conviction.

Regardless of the motivation, the deed is a selfless one. Many donors often comment that it is the most important act they have ever experienced.

On May 13, some 400 people were invited to an evening reception and concert at Balboa Bay Resort in Newport Beach to learn about life-saving transplants and to meet and hear the testimony of individuals who have donated and those who have received the gift of life.

The evening was created by Balboa Bay Club and Balboa Bay Resort family owner Carole Pickup as a method to spread the word that I need a kidney.

Her generous underwriting of the party — and it was a party full of positive vibes and celebration — brought together a broad cross-section of O.C. community, from youngsters to seniors to share in the information provided by medical doctors including nephrologists Eric Wechsler and Kambiz Vahabzadeh.

Also, sharing a very personal story was Dr. Colleen Coleman, an anesthesiologist at Hoag Memorial Presbyterian Hospital who recently donated one of her own kidneys to a fellow Hoag doctor in need.

For the past five years since being diagnosed with kidney failure, I have kept my plight quiet.

Pickup encouraged me to tell the world, and so it was her generosity and sincerity that brought Newport together for one night to spread the word. And spread it we did.

Joining in the experience were some remarkable people.

Angels baseball legend Rod Carew, 71, stood tall and told about his heart transplant donated by a young Stanford athlete.

Television star Peter Marshall, 91, shared that he has been living a full life on ¾ a kidney for 30-plus years.

Bill Mauerman told the crowd his life was saved in January by a team of doctors at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles with a heart transplant. And a lovely young woman named Neke Cox talked about donating her kidney to a close friend. Those were only a few of the testimonials.

Guests arrived at 7 p.m. for an elegant hors d’oeuvres reception in the Grand Ballroom of the Balboa Bay Resort.

Many came expecting to be at a fundraiser only to be told, no donations required or expected.

Pickup stated: “This is an awareness-raiser.”

Guests were ushered into the ballroom at 8 p.m. to find a classic nightclub with tables covered in black linens and topped with silver-shaded candelabras.

Waiters served shrimp and seafood martinis, Kobe sliders and sliced beef Wellington. Speakers talking about organ transplants followed as the large crowd sat in rapt silence taking it all in.

The serious message was followed by a concert featuring the Jerry Mandel Swingin’ The Standards Jazz Band, including some outstanding musicians under the talented music director Ron Kobayashi. I fronted the Mandel band as vocalist for the night — a personal passion. It was a joyous experience.

The crowd danced with no room to spare on the floor.

Julia and George Argyros, Patti and Jim Edwards, Maralou and Jerry Harrington, Ann and Bill Dennis, Viki and James Coufas, Sally and Randy Crockett, Ernie De Massa and Patricia Marshall, Marilyn and David Wooten, Diana and Chris Miner, Gail and Ron Soderling, Ellen and Jim Rose, Cindy and Robert Harrell, and Pam and Larry Parker were all front and center celebrating the positive spirit of the event.

Also on hand to support the evening’s message was former Hollywood starlet Kathy Thompson and husband, Jerry, high profile attorney Darryl Tschirn and his lovely wife Susan, top real estate producer Alison McCormick and husband Kimo McCormick, with elegant mom Marion Pickens.

Lido’s Kate and Wayne Heck were there, as were Gayle and Tom Hollbrook, Kathy and Noel Hamilton of Wells Fargo Private Wealth Management, Jean Wegener, executive director of Serving People In Need (SPIN), and Mary Anna Jeppe from the Decorative Arts Society (DARTS).

My family came to support me en masse.

In from Los Angeles joining my wife Cathie were mother Gerrie Kaplan, aunt Bobbie Spero, daughter Alexandra Pfeifer, daughter and son-in law Sabrina and Alex Chazen.

Son Ryan flew in from Seattle with a troop of guests. Close cousin Stephen Silver flew in from Wilmington, Del., and close pal Lionel Crotin flew in from Montevideo, Uruguay.

Also on hand were Craig and Eve Kaplan, Linda Freedman, Sandy Chakmak, Tania and Steve Spero and Rodger Spero.

Special thanks go to BBC management, including Malcolm Smith, Aaron Trent and Melanie Hertrick, for a superb effort putting on the event. And a very special thanks to best pals John and Ann Wortmann and daughter Devon and son John Jr. for always supporting me unquestionably.

Also raising a glass were Nora Jorgenson Johnson, Lee Healy, Mary Roosevelt, Sharon and Jaime McKinnon, Pamela Selber, Liz Maxon, Adrienne Brandes, Tom Johnson — publisher of Stu News Newport who received a donated kidney from his brother — Phyllis Sapsouitz, Bill and Jean Mauerhan, Madeline and Len Zuckerman and Pickup’s family, including Devon and Kevin Martin, Todd and Natalie Pickup and former husband Dick Pickup.

The large crowd danced until the music subsided. Many commented that they had never had a better time and felt so positive about what they had learned.

Alison and Kimo McCormick commented: “On Monday we are both going to the DMV and listing ourselves as organ donors.”

That’s what it’s all about.

B.W. COOK is editor of the Bay Window, the official publication of the Balboa Bay Club in Newport Beach.