Kidney donor Michele Love tells Nestor her story of giving life and invites you to Sante for the National Kidney Foundation Serving Maryland and Delaware on May 8th at The Baltimore Museum of Industry.
SUMMARY KEYWORDS
national kidney foundation, sante, kidney, maryland, baltimore, people, eat, kidney disease, love, year, wife, talking, event, miracle, exhibit, food, friends, maryland crab, giving, chesapeake
SPEAKERS
Nestor J. Aparicio, Michele Love
Nestor J. Aparicio 00:01
Welcome home we are wn S, T A and 5070, Towson, Baltimore and Baltimore positive. I’ve had fun with these PacMan scratch offs are given away on the Maryland crab cake tour because I’ve been able to like on the video do my little PacMan thing. I don’t know what I’m gonna do on it so I don’t allow me to do Donkey Kong next year if they do that. Also homerun riches, our friends at the Maryland lottery giving me these to give away we’re gonna be a green mount station and Green Mountain bowl. We’ve done the crab cakes on a lot of places and I’ve done it in a bowling alley and I’m a big duck pen guy. That’ll be Wednesday up in Hampstead. We’ll be at the Carroll County in the afternoon before the Orioles take on the angels and we’re gonna be talking about the horse racing industry. But David Richardson also gonna be talking to the casino industry also gonna be talking about baseball and Dundalk and all sorts of things. in Hampstead that’s on Wednesday, Friday we move to fade Lee’s and Lexington market. We’ll be down there live from two to five Luke will be talking to baseball and I will have Pac Man giveaways as well as our friends at Jiffy Lube multi care and liberty pure solutions, keeping my water really really clean. I don’t even have a sponsored glass I gotta get a Liberty pure clean water glass is what I need to do. We’re doing all sorts of charity stuff. We did a couple of Super Bowl I did dogs and cats this week for black tie and tails with our friends at Baltimore humane but an event that I’ve been involved with for a number of years and have a lot of friends in the kidney space National Kidney Foundation, and sante and it’s kind of a weird thing to say it’s it’s sort of like sound like Santa Claus to me back in the day when they do it but they don’t want to spring it sante. It’s giving back for kidney disease. It is May the eighth It is Wednesday night from 630 to 930. It’s one of my favorite rooms. I did a American Cancer Society event there back in December emceeing the event at the Baltimore Museum of industry. They have a wonderful exhibit there for where my dad worked at Bethlem steel and steel workers and people from the east side of town that built things. And in the absence of the Key Bridge at this point, another reason to get down to Baltimore Museum of industry but the number one reason is because of kidney disease and people saving lives and people donating kidneys and people having their lives saved. We did a turn with the National Kidney Foundation had a beautiful guest during our couple of Super Bowl back in February. And one of the things that I love about Baltimore positive I get to meet new people and cool people. Michelle love is our guest. She had an interesting thing happened 10 years ago, my wife had leukemia 10 years ago this time. So it’s a 10 year anniversary in our lives for some awful things and also some miracle my wife still in the other room right now engineering and living her best life. And it’s one of the reasons I do things like sante in the National Kidney Foundation. Mama mish is our guests. They tell me I’m alive when you mama mish Michelle love you have a great name. And a great look. I love you know when I go silver. I’m going with you man. I got the long hair roll in here. I’m ready to roll. How are you? Welcome.
Michele Love 02:48
Oh, great. Thank you so much. Thanks for having me. I am doing wonderful. I am super excited about the Sante event. I am in it in a different arena this year. I am managing the event this year. Usually I am a vendor. But this year, they have asked me to manage it.
Nestor J. Aparicio 03:07
I feel like I’ve met you. I mean, I’ve eaten your if you if you fed me at one of these events,
03:12
yes, yes. We have been a vendor there for the past few years. So Mama mesh had a big station, and we had too much food. But we had a lot of fun. A lot of fun. And you know, of course the Kidney Foundation is near and dear to my heart, as I am also, as you probably know an altruistic kidney donor. Well,
Nestor J. Aparicio 03:32
let’s let’s talk about this because like I’ve Deke Cass, former president in the Ravens was a kidney donor. We honored him in an event when my wife was battling and got better. And just people that magnanimously give and I have to I have to hear your story. When I yeah, my wife is a leukemia survivor, she said to bone marrow transplants, a man of Germany saved her life twice. Who were friends with and I text with him this morning. He texts me when there’s soccer news or things happening from over Germany. You are that person in the relationship? You are the giver?
04:09
Yes, yes. I am a reverend and Reverend love. And I am very faith based. Everything in my life is all about God. And in this particular situation, I knew that God had put it on my heart years before the donation that I will be doing this one day. And New Year’s Eve 2014. I was in church writing in my journal about what’s been going down for the year. And one of the things going down was the Lord put it on my heart, the kidney was going to be donated. Lo and behold, within 24 hours, I was on Facebook saying Happy New Year to everybody. And a good friend of mine had posted that she had a good friend from college and her dad was be positive. I am be positive which is rare. And I answered the call. And within 24 hours I was speaking to of the family of the gentleman who needed a kidney. And the rest is history. It happened on July 1 2014. And we call it the miracle Kidney Day. We are very close with his family. They live in New York City on Staten Island. And
Nestor J. Aparicio 05:16
transplant was June 26. The 14th It
05:20
was the same year, same week. Yes, same week. That was miracle week, then I’m thinking my wife’s
Nestor J. Aparicio 05:27
blood type is be positive, her donors blood type was be positive. Now that doesn’t have to be the case. You can do a transplant with a different blood type. It made it easier for my wife to not have to change her literal blood type and for DNA. Um, she’s a DNA twin, but we use the hashtag be more positive to keep her alive, which begat Baltimore positive, which is why we’re Baltimore positive. So how about that? I
05:56
that is, oh, that’s God. I love that. It’s, it’s the whole thing was a life giving life, giving love giving hope. And that’s why I love the National Kidney Foundation so much, because that’s what they’re all about. And no, the person you donated the kidney to. I did not, but I do now. We are very close. We celebrate every year we did Miss COVID, the year of COVID. But we’ve celebrated and this year we’re doing a big shebang, because it’s 10 years. And Sal is amazing. He is He was a little older when I donated the kidney. We did the whole process at St. Barnabas in New Jersey. And the man who started the live donor program at St. Barnabas. He said if I put the two of you down on my desk, you know your makeup, your genealogy, your bloodwork and all that good stuff. He said it’s the same person.
Nestor J. Aparicio 06:58
Is that crazy? Yeah, well, the genetic match thing and the relationship thing blew my mind during all of this and you know, as a public service for my wife, and for their ghosts, my hero. Get on the registry. If you’re young, if you’re good looking if you’re if you’re healthy, especially if you’re male, you know, on the registry side, but these miracle stories, you know, they blow me away and when you come to sante will make, you know, you’re not the only miracle in the room. That’s the crazy part is these things gather more miracles. And my wife goes red says I’m a transplant survivor. Oh, I’m gonna translate. Yeah. And and it becomes this miracle network and a National Kidney Foundation works hard to put that together.
07:41
Yes, I agree with you. I absolutely agree with you. And they have been. It’s been a really amazing experience. Being a vendor at the Sante. What do
Nestor J. Aparicio 07:51
you mean, tell me about your food, Mama missions, homemade dishes, that rhymes. That’s clever. I like that. Where is Hyde, Maryland? I’m looking hy d s. Where is that? That’s
08:03
in Baltimore County. It’s near Kingsville. But I don’t know if you know this, but I retired on December 24. From the brick and mortar. So we have gone into a new season. I have written a book. And and we’re getting ready to launch the book and do some events with food, faith and fellowship. That’s our motto. Bringing people together, bringing hope bringing life and the kid the whole kidney thing is all part of it too. So we’ve had a great run at that spot. Seriously, it was a God thing to close it to move into something new. And the new that we’re moving into is sante being part of it. I wasn’t sure what I was doing. After I retired. I knew I was writing a book. But they approached me. And I said yes, absolutely. I will help you guys. And so we’re kind of journeying into a new season. But what kind of food a homemade
Nestor J. Aparicio 09:02
Oh visit to make me one thing, like like, and if you don’t know my palate, I eat almost everything. I’ve been all over the world. I eat things, right? I haven’t learned to eat with chopsticks. 15 years ago, I’m really I eat with them all the time. Now. I’m like sort of obsessed while I’m missing a finger. So I’m gonna throw a nice curveball back in the day when I was a kid at my finger. You know, I lost it in a lawnmower. It’s long story, but I couldn’t eat chocolate. So now that I have chopsticks, I’m ready to eat any. I’m stepping up my game everywhere. So tell me what you’re gonna make for me. I mean, if it’s meatloaf, fine, I’ll eat it. But what are you going to make for me? I
09:34
will probably start off with making you are famous Chesapeake crab chicken salad sandwich, which is amazing. Okay, it’s beefsteak tomatoes, Maryland tomatoes, Maryland crab meat, shrimp. No shrimp. Sorry chicken. No, no, we do put shrimp in it. I’m sorry. We did put Trump in it. And like
Nestor J. Aparicio 09:54
it already. Oh, it’s so good. Doesn’t need bacon or anything. It’s probably the way it is. Yeah, it It’s 100%,
10:00
Maryland. And then we top it with our old baby potato salad. Which is phenomenal to these two things sold greatly in
Nestor J. Aparicio 10:08
our cafe. Never heard of OB potato sale. That’s a pretty good idea.
10:12
I have to bring you some. I definitely bring you some guy
Nestor J. Aparicio 10:16
than an old baby but I hear I’ll hear I you know, if it says Chesapeake Bay, I’m old but you know, I do crabcake tour. So like I at some point, I’m sure. I’m looking at you and I’m thinking I’ve heard your accent. I think you probably made a crab cake or two in your day.
10:28
Oh, yes, I am Maryland, Maryland, homegrown.
Nestor J. Aparicio 10:32
I love to hear this. Michelle love is here. She is a kidney donor. She’s part of the National Kidney Foundation. I want to get her buddy out to the website and let everybody know kidney md.org. It’s at the Baltimore Museum of industry. I’ve already plugged that go down there. Make sure you’re checking out that Bethlem steel and the whole steel worker exhibit that pays tribute to my father and people like that National Kidney Foundation serves Maryland and Delaware. Its signature event it is May 8 from 630 to 930. It’s the biggest event of the year. It’s right downtown. It fights kidney disease. You’re gonna learn a lot, eat a lot, see a lot, do a lot. There’s an awards competition, Photo Booth raffle silent auction. A lot of times we did like the event where we eat all the food and have to be the judges. Like it sounds like a great idea until you start mixing everybody’s food all together. But if they if called upon. I’m willing to do this gastronomically because I love food, including your Chesapeake chicken salad thing that you gave me it’s made me hungry but I’ll plug all the places Atlantic food spirits. I love Atlanta if I know those folks, they’re awesome. Atlas restaurant maybe they’ll bring their data mashed potato bar. Blew my mind. We’ve done them there five Atlantic, but I know who they are. They do a mashed potato bar, Atlas food. Bethany’s bakery party venues they’re delicious pharmacy brewing. I’ve been up there on the crabcake tour. Little Havana log cabin chocolates Lord Baltimore hotel where I broadcast for three years back in the 90s. You’ll find that on the 25th anniversary documentary, more crunched pretzels, muddy tea Natasha’s just brittle. I’ve had that it’s delicious. I had her on last year talking about National Kidney Foundation. Not as cookie jar raspberry moments, Sagamore spirit, you know it’d be tasty. State Fair. I’m wearing to stay fair shirt.
12:17
Evan, you’re giving it boba boba is going to be there honey.
Nestor J. Aparicio 12:22
That means glassy Katerina is going to be there. The local Tito’s vodka, classic catering people. There’s a leukemia story there as well with Addy. So a love to those folks. Tito’s vodka, they love animals so I love them. Union craft brewing. We’ve done the show there McCormick and company and signature food sponsors. It’s all there for the National Kidney Foundation doing vital research anything you want to say about nkf because you’re putting this event on Asante so I’ll let you take the table here for this Michelle love and Mama mish but this is I mean, this is a great night. I don’t know what else to say. And it’s an affordable night. There’s usually a good music and good people and it’s a party and it’s springtime and it’s down on the water. You can walk outside and there’s free parking and there’s a royal farms across the street. Perfect.
13:11
You are funny. It is festive. And there’s a silent auction. There are some amazing items in the silent auction travel items, jewelry items, gift baskets from many, many, many, many companies around the state of Maryland. There is exhibits, there is food, food, food and more foods sweet savory drinks, there’s some specialty drinks. We do have a sante drink this year from thirsty. Yes, we have a BJs pub and Perry Hall will be serving. And we have the whole evening is just excitement. And there’s some some kidney folks, some people who have battled kidney disease and have actually conquered it and are going to be there to talk about their story. There’s folks like me who are donors. There’s folks like you who are recipient, your wife, who’s a recipient, it’s just crazy how God just brings everybody all together for an evening of food face and fellowship. And as as we journey through the whole evening, the exhibits. I mean, you were talking about the Baltimore Museum of industry. The whole location is fabulous. And I mean, every time I go down there I
Nestor J. Aparicio 14:18
do, like really it really is. I mean, it’s
14:21
a transportation. Did you look Did you ever go on the transportation exhibit? With the old cars in the train? Oh, it’s, it’s fabulous. There’s many photo opportunities. There’s raffles there’s a huge orange wheelbarrow cheer. I mean, all the things that put the go into making this event successful. Also go into make this event full of joy. There is joy everywhere. People are excited and you said it. It’s spring you’re on the water. Let’s grab a little drink. Let’s grab a sample. Let’s grab some yummies. Let’s catch up. Let’s enjoy what the National Kidney Foundation is doing which is It provides transportation. It provides care. It provides relief funds it provides if someone is suffering with kidney disease, the National Kidney Foundation offers so many programs and support for these folks. And that’s the
Nestor J. Aparicio 15:19
White House. This is a full time gig man. Yes, like, yes. You know, yes.
15:24
And it’s it is so hard on a human body. I know when I met Sal, he looked gray and tired and worn out like he was going to give up. And when I met him, I could feel that energy coming from him. Do you know what I’m saying? That he was just like, maybe this will work? Maybe it won’t. And then when the pieces started coming together because being a live donor, it’s it’s a blessing, but it’s not. It’s you have to do some things medically, physically, mentally, but once you get through the process, I mean, we went through the process in March and April and donated the kidney in July. So it’s
Nestor J. Aparicio 16:05
10 years later he will he be Asante with you. I’m
16:09
worth working on that now. We’re trying to get him here to sell live to Staten Island, New York.
Nestor J. Aparicio 16:16
All right. We’ll get him down here not too far. We can get it down here. Come on. Well, we’re working
16:19
on that now because I would love to have him and his wife here at because they are just trained
Nestor J. Aparicio 16:24
on a plane. They go on a bar. Oh mama miss. She’s here. She has saved lives in the past and will in the future. If and our friends at sante it’s a big evening, my wife and I are usually there. I think we’re going to be there maybe at 630 to 930 at the Baltimore Museum and my wife had been down to the museum industry and a couple of years since we lived downtown. We moved out to the to the burbs about two years ago so it’ll be a beautiful evening. A lot of fun a lot of music, a lot of food a lot of drink more than that a lot of survivors and a lot of hope it’s 125 hours a person very affordable evening, come on down and do a good thing. It helps fund vital research for the end kf and the National Kidney Foundation. I will come eat some of your Chesapeake whatever it is just sprinkle it on well you know if you sprinkle in love I’ll eat it and he loves in your name. So right absolutely
17:17
everything all the time. And I will make sure we get you some I will have some for you.
Nestor J. Aparicio 17:23
I feel like an idiot because I’ve probably been to heights Maryland 100 times without realizing its heights Maryland. When you say Kingsville I’m like oh, I know what that is. It’s like Nottingham I lived in Nadina Whitemarsh it’s not Nottingham, it’s White Marsh. Alright, Mamma Mia is joining us here our friends at the National Kidney Foundation. My shout out to Karen as well for setting that up and always having us be a part of everything. It’s sante and, and a big shout out to everybody that makes the National Kidney Foundation run here locally and otherwise, because I’ve got lots of friends and lots of tentacles all over the place on that. I am Nestor. We are WNS da of 1570, Towson Baltimore talking about saving lives and baseball and football drafts and really important stuff. Stay with us.
