Robbie's encore

September 14th 2025
At this time, 4:00 AM, thirty days ago, I was thirty minutes into my double/bilateral lung transplant surgery. It would change my life so much in eight and a half hours that it is beyond compare. I went from walking 6 to 10 feet on four to six liters of continuous oxygen and having to take a break to walking 170 feet the day after surgery. Last night, after dinner, I walked ten blocks totally unaided.

On my 1st lung function test since transplant (9/12), I got 100% of predicted FEV1(Forced expiratory volume in one second). A difference of 414% better than my last one. My FEV1/FEC is now 84 from the teens that it has been for years. The PET scan, MRI, and CT scan all came back clear. Overall, they said I was doing remarkably well for someone as sick as I was for as long as I was.

Much thanks and love to my young donor, the amazing UCSF medical staff, and our ever-loving Creator, who has always looked out for me even when I was at my worst.
I must also thank so many of you who inspired me by sharing your daily trials and troubles, donated financially to my recovery time so that I can do so peacefully, knowing my expenses and my family's are covered instead of constantly worrying about it, and sharing this beautiful, amazing moment now. :) 💚🫁✌️

In 2005, while liiving in San Francisco for 6 months I found this beautiful church by getting lost and needing to use a restroom. It only had between 12-20 members at the time which was sorta surreal as it is huge inside. Its members were from every walk of life and the group of them got together to worship, share a good word, with fellowship and food afterwards. They started each service with Communion.
The interior of the building is dark with huge Redwood open beam ceiling and all wooden construction. It is lit up by large, beautiful, multiple stain glass windows.
After going there for a couple weeks they gave me a very nice Bible signed by all of them. Unknowing to them it was my birthday that day.
While writing this I recalled that the church had a separation between the pastor of the church and the trustees of the church with the pastor leaving and many of the members following him. Across the street at the dog park there was a fake concrete Bart Station entrance made for the movie "The Pursuit of Happiness." Starring Will Smith. It remained there until 2016 when the City demolished it. I will try to go there this Sunday and get some interior photos to share. Monday will make twenty years from the date they gifted me the bible.
Dates: constructed 1906
This Mission Revival church stood on the southeast corner of Noe Street and Duboce Avenue across the street from Duboce Park in 1909.

I don't know who you were or why you passed, but you donated a beautiful pair of young lungs that I shall treasure as the most priceless gift they are. Thank you ❤️🫁💚

https://helphopelive.org/campaign/19918/