Bean from KROQ here: Please help me get the word out!

[bean9]

Some of you might have heard that I am donating a kidney to long time L.A. radio man Scott Mason. Scott
has been at KROQ since 1979 and for the past several years has been the head of West Coast Engineering
for CBS Radio. He's a real stand-up guy. I am sure many of you know him.

I am happy for the opportunity to raise awareness about the plight of those on the organ donation waiting
lists in this country. It's insane that folks are dying (a lot of them) while perfectly usable kidneys, hearts,
livers and lungs are being wasted and buried, or cremated.


If anyone is interested in reading more about Scott Mason's and my surgery, coming up on the 13th, here
is my post on kroq.com:

http://kroq.cbslocal.com/2012/11/01/kroqs-bean-on-why-i-am-giving-up-a-kidney/


You say you don't read? Here is my appearance on TMZ Live from Friday:

http://www.tmz.com/videos/0_g4on6ajj/


Miss Tom Leykis? The Professor had me on Friday also. Here's that audio:

http://soundcloud.com/bean9/clyde-tombaugh-tls-nov-02-2012


Or, I am fine if you ignore all that and just go to OrganDonor.gov and sign up to be an organ donor, living
or dead. And please give blood.

And if any readers are in the position to help spread the word on the air, or online, to encourage others to give
this topic some thought, I would really appreciate it so much.

Thank you.

Bean

 

[HerbNero]

No.

 

[chrocket87]

Bean,
You are a class act and your selfless act is another reason why I only listen to your morning show.

 

[EngrFred]

I was an Engineer at CBS Radio in Los Angeles for nearly ten years. For the last five of those years I had the privelege of working with the KROQ Morning Show. For the entire ten years, Scott Mason was my boss. Under Scott I also worked with KLSX/KAMP, KCBS-FM, KRTH. and KTWV.

Scott was the best boss I ever had in my thirty-five years of Radio and TV Engineering experience. He is just a straight-up, decent human being who always treated me with respect and dignity. Of course we occasionally had our differences of opinion as to how a job ought to be done. But the end result was always a good solution, balancing quality, scheduling, and budget.

Unfortunately in February 2011 my career came to an abrupt and unplanned end when, like Scott, I was diagnosed with kidney failure. Mine was related to a rare cancer of the bones and blood marrow. Later last year after getting out of the hospital, I moved to Northern California, my original home. Thanks to radiation treatments, chemotherapy, and dialysis I am clinging to life, but it's honestly not much fun.

There is a glimmer of hope, in the form of a wonderful lady named Deidre, who has volunteered to be a "Living Donor" and give up one of her kidneys for me. The truth is, almost anyone can live just fine with one kidney. And, should a Living Donor ever need a transplant, he or she automatically goes to the front of the line for a donor kidney.

I cannot receive the transplant unless and until my cancer stays in remission for at lease a year. Right now, that doesn't look too likely. But, there's always hope. Miracles do happen.

Please listen to ny friend Bean and consider kidney donation, if not as a Living Donor then at least after your death. The pledge can be made through the DMV and will be noted on your Drivers License, just in case you are in an accident.

Meanwhile millions of us will stay on dialysis, which keeps us alive, but in its own way also slowly kills us, even as the doctors who own the dialysis clinics get wealthy beyond their wildest dreams.

 

[david]

Hi Bean,

First, let me state that I am thrilled you are an occasional poster (and frequent reader of these boards (LA and Seattle radio discussions) and cool to learn that you also consider yourself a P1 radio listener, like many of us here. Being a consumer of a product, and not just a manufacturer of it, gives one a customer's perspective - and you obviously excel at producing a wonderful AM drive show, to which I and my wife have been loyal listeners since you arrived onto the LA airwaves from AZ many moons ago.

Like many, I have found yours and Scott's transplant story to be enlightening. I remember Scott's many years of hosting early Sunday AM issues oriented talk on KROQ in the 1990s, which was so out of format for the station, but so cool to see the quality of discussion Scott engendered. That show provided some insight into the person he is, and his interest in transportation (one of my favored topics). Too bad that such public affairs programming is no longer mandated to the degree it was then.

I also want to let you know that your decision has inspired me to raise this issue with my extended group of friends, and we have begun to delve into this. Judaism is typically progressive and liberal on issues in general, especially issues such as this that deal with life and preservation. As such, I have been seeking out more information, after learning of your decision on Thursday’s air. You may be interested in this site (below), which I was pointed to during my research, since you plan on discussing and encouraging organ transplants on the air upon your return to AM drive at the end of this month (hopefully):

What is the Jewish view on organ transplants? - http://www.jewishvaluesonline.org/question.php?id=35&cprg=/search.php?subcatid=46

I also want to call out HerbNero for the dismissive, and frankly rude note above. Like you, I seek from this forum lively and informative radio discussions, and find some people's condescending attitude towards those with a different viewpoint unacceptable, and probably more accurately, disgusting and unrepresentative of the freedom and enlightenment that we are all afforded in this wonderful country.

Much health and success to both of you in your upcoming procedure next week, and I hope this is just a launching post for future threads together.

 

[fybush]

I have known Scott for many years in a professional capacity, and have always been impressed with his dedication to top-quality engineering. I did not know about his health struggles. I am delighted beyond words that he has found a donor, and "in-house" no less. Best wishes to both of you as the transplant moves forward!

 

[HerbNero]

Bean revels in death, an evidenced by his regular segment "Beans death corner". I am not moved.

 

[EngrFred]

1. I meant to write "cancer of the blood and bone marrow."

2. I meant to write "kidney and other organ donation."

3. To HerbNero, I don't know if you're sick, or just a troll. Actions speak way louder than words. Either way, if I were really to express my sentiments toward you, the moderators would "hit the dump button" (and I bet you don't even know what that means).