HAPPY HOLIDAYS Y'ALL!

this is what the chris oberle blog site looks like translated through the internets....coooooool....have an awesome holiday + a happy happy new year all!!!!!!!!

with love, rita

amazing SNOWBOARD donation!

This brand new bad A$$ 2008 Burton Vapor 159 snowboard described as “A SHRED STICK OF SUPERNATURAL POWERS” was generously donated by Burton through Chris' great friend, WAIDE. The board was auctioned on eBay + was a great success, making $680 in support of Chris, how totally awesome!!!!!!! Thank you to Waide for this amazing donation, such a great idea + what a totally lucky person who will be enjoying this spectacular board.

all my best, rita

Extremely proud- not surprised

Chris it was great watching you walk- totally amazing, and we would like to thank Anna for filming such an awesome sight!!! Of course Chris, as your family, we are always proud of you. You never cease to amaze us with your hard work and strong will to overcome any obstacle that might come your way. Everyone is looking forward to having you home for Christmas!!! As you know Chris you are always in all our prayers.
Love Your Family,
Dad, Mom, Monty, Roe, Tim, Shawna, Eric & Carman

WOW TRUE CHAMP!!!!

So amazingly good to see you do those swanky moves Chris! You are such a champ!!!!
Keep it up and I am sure we will all do swings at your fourwheelfriend pretty soon.
Miriam, Filippa, Elise and Ry all send their warm thoughts your way. I hope you get to move back soon and into your sweet jucuzzi with a bunch of friends, I like that idea! Wonder where it will be...Silverlake? Downtown? I can see tha blinking lights from the disco jacuzzi with 8 dirty architects drinking SamAdams.

with a lot of energy and love.
Sigrid

BID NOW on BURTON Vapor 159 Snowboard

2008 Burton Vapor 159 snowboard
Retail value is $1,000.00 + TAX!!!
BID HERE!!
bidding closes this SUNDAY, DEC. 9!!!

This brand new 2008 Burton Vapor 159 snowboard has generously been donated by Burton through Chris' great friend, Waide. It is still in the factory Vapor sleeve with all the paperwork. If you are not already up on the how bad A$$ this board is you might want to take the time and check out the specs below. The peel off sticker on the top sheet might give you a clue:

“A SHRED STICK OF SUPERNATURAL POWERS”

This board features the very limited gold edition top sheet. Retail value is $1,000.00 + TAX!!! Good luck bidding and Happy Holidays! This board was generously donated to the Team Oberle fund. All proceeds from the sale of this board will go directly to Chris

If your board weighed nothing, would riding become effortless? Would anything you imagine suddenly seem possible? Would you become so light that you could float above, rather than on the snow? The most technologically refined snowboard on earth, the Vapor™ erases the line between mind and mountain, allowing you to ride any terrain with more control and ability than ever before.

FEATURES:
-New Vaporskin carbon-Drops weight, adds snap.
-Vaportech Alumafly core.
-New sintered N20 WFO base.
-Twin-like shape.

BID HERE!!
Burton: Vapor Snowboard - While Burton's Vapor snowboard has always been their lightest expert all-terrain board, this season the company kicked up the performance by replacing the former fiberglass components with a new VaporSkin Carbon that improves the snap and durability while shaving away unwanted ounces. You'll also appreciate the new speed of the Sintered N20 WFO Base, the fastest Burton base that won't demand extra care and performance waxes at the end of every snow day. The Sintered N20 WFO Base has a dual temperature wax impregnation process that holds wax better than previous base formulas. The Vapor retains Burton's proven Vaportech construction, a process that lightens everything--sidewalls, topsheet and resins--without compromising essential hardcore all-terrain durability. The Vaporskin topsheet membrane further reduces the weight while enhancing the overall feel for precision performance. Burton considers the Vapor at its best on groomed runs, but you'll also find exceptional potential in the halfpipe and park. Last season Burton added a range of sizes for more riders, and this season you'll find a new 150-cm. length--the shortest board in the Vapor line. While the Vapor comes in a 163-cm. wide version, we found that burly riders don't enjoy the same sort of pop and air as the lighter riders. If you weigh less than 200 lbs., it's a pretty safe bet that you can count on plenty of frequent flier miles.
BID HERE NOW!!

slow walking

its been sometime since i added to the blog. i am finally taking steps. i have a pair of leg braces that keep my knees from buckling when i put weight over each leg. i am able to lift each foot by using my obiques and the muscles that run down the side of my back. it is difficult and my right leg is much easier to lift than my left. but hopefully in time they will be equal and require less effort to move. in the beginning, the trainers had me use a walker to take steps, but now i am using hand crutches. they are unstable, but if i can master them, they will be much more versatile. maybe in time i can learn how to take steps with ski poles - that would be pretty great.
i am looking forward to getting out of therapy and back to my life. i should be able to return, again, to work as soon as the 26th of dec. so, i am looking for a place. then, soon, i hope to begin the modifications to my home - nothing substantial. the necessary parts will include a ramp at the front deck, an accessible bathroom, wider doorways, lower storage for the kitchen, and an eight-person jaccuzzi tub for the front deck with built in stereo and cooler.
i am looking forward to winter and am curious how my chair will do in the snow and ice. should require some new skills. i am close to mastering getting up and down curbs and some short stairs. also i can descend long stairs pretty easily as long as there is one handrail. for sure, my chair has received quite a few new dents and scrapes. i hope it last me the seven years that the insurance companies require before allowing funds for a new one. i am trying to find a cheap, beater chair for doing everyday chores. in the meanwhile, i just need to be alittle more careful. and, who knows maybe researchers will discover that, so far, elusive procedure for repairing spinal chords. and we will have a huge fairwell party for my chair, where everyone gets three swings at my four-wheeled friend. you will all be invited.
best, chris.

Jaw Dropping

Chris,
You really take my breath away. Please check out this video. It shows Chris' victory, that we all share. Chris worked long and hard to get to this point, it takes all of his concentration and the use of his upper body to access any movement from his lower body. He practices every chance he gets and has far surpassed the expectations of his doctors in India.

We are all so proud of you CHRIS!!!



Much love,
Anna

Fabulous Pretty Sally Wine offer in support of CHRIS!!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!
http://www.prettysally.com/
in preparation of the great holidays to come, i wanted to share with you this absolutely brilliant idea + wonderful offer in support of CHRIS OBERLE this holiday + for years to come! this is a great gift for you, your family or friends for the holidays + even in the new year! i have personally tasted their wines + they are truly excellent (see wine critics reviews below). ALL orders will directly support Chris!

Rosalie + Dan Cornew, importers + partners of the Pretty Sally Vineyard, a premium Australian winery near Melbourne, first formed a friendship with Chris through an architecture project he did for them in Tahoe. They have generously donated their wine in the past 2 auctions in support of Chris + the overwhelming success of their wines items gave them the idea to create "CHRIS' CELLAR"...where EVERYONE who orders is a winner!

**Dan and Rosalie will contribute 20% of the wine purchased by Chris' extended community of family + friends towards a fund to help Chris finance his recovery through "Chris' Cellar".**

TO ORDER, simply fill out the special order form posted on their Pretty Sally website:
http://www.prettysally.com/where_to_buy.html
from the Home page, click "Where to Buy "
Make sure to use the Promotion code "OBERLE" to access this special order form.

*shipping UPS takes from 1-2 weeks going ground + in California it takes 1-2 days going ground!
------------------------------------------------------------
WINE INFORMATION:
The Pretty Sally wines have garnered the attention of wine critics, as they are a great example of the "cool climate style" of Australian wines. They are very much Australian in that they have strong berry fruit but also have the finesse, silkiness and additional aromas + flavors found in Southern French wines.

Below are some of the reviews their wines have been awarded, most notably by Stephan Tanzer, from International Wine Cellars, highly respected among wine buyers for being impartial + very critical:

2007 Pretty Sally Estate Sauvignon Blanc ($22.50)
"Greenish straw. Energetic, anise-accented pear, green apple and peach aromas offer verve and depth. Light in body, with gentle but insistent acidity; the fresh citrus and pit fruit flavors are subtly complemented by herbs and talc-y-minerals. more fruity than herbal and utterly delicious. "90 pts. IWC Tanzer.

2006 Pretty Sally Estate Rose ($15)
Orange-pink. Ripe raspberry and cherry aromas are complicated by an exotic peach accent. Plush, round and slightly sweet, offering a creamy array of red berry and pit fruit flavors. A riper, fleshier style of rose, finishing with sweet red fruits and good length. More a food than aperitif style. 88 pts IWC Tanzer, 87pts Wine Spectator. "This is a terrific pink..."Leslie Sbrocco

2004 Pretty Sally Cabernet Shiraz ($17)
"Bright ruby. Youthful, focused nose offers cherry, red currant, rhubarb and candied licorice. Firm, juicy and complex, offering a striking blend of red and dark berry fruits accented by bitter chocolate and minerals Finishes with good length and sweetness...90 Pts: IWC Tanzer".

2003 Pretty Sally Estate Cabernet Sauvignon ($21)
Dark red. Rich, spicy cherry on the nose, along with dark chocolate, vanilla and oak accents. The flavors are of dark berry and oak-spicy notes of pepper and clove. Has a well balanced structure with a very strong finish. Tannins are ripe and well integrated. 90pts/Exceptional,Gold Medal: BTI. Leslie Sbrocco 90 pts.

2004 Pretty Sally Estate Shiraz ($25)
"Ruby-red. Smoky aromas of fresh blackberry, cassis and candied cherry lifted by sweet licorice and bright minerality. The flavors offer a compelling combination of power and focus; raspberry and blackberry notes build and sweeten through the finish but there's also juicy quality providing focus and vivacity. Finishes supple and sweet, with lingering flavors of dark fruit liqueur. A rather graceful style of shiraz, with impressive concentration...91 pts: IWC Tanzer". "Crisp acid and a simply amazing structure; not to be missed...Exceptional: Dan Berger".
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A VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU TO ROSALIE + DAN CORNEW OF PRETTY SALLY VINEYARDS FOR THEIR GENEROUS SUPPORT!!!

we welcome any + all ideas or collaborations in support of Chris! Thanks for checking this out, mmm mmm vino. please let me know if you have any questions.

with love, rita

ok well these are the pumpkins that the kids carved for halloween. joseph carved the von dutch skull one and the mustang emblem, madison did the scary lady face, brennan did the lil devil one and gunner did the pirate skull. they had fun doing them and they turned out pretty good. ok now the pics of the eclipse, well it looks as though josephs problems aren't quite over with cars :o) he called home friday night and said "i think we need to look for another car" I didn't know what he was getting at... i thought he had found some viper or something that he was joking about getting but then he said "i got hit" and of course with joseph you don't know if that is going to be followed up with "just joking, do ya have some money i'm hungry." but he wasn't joking, a guy ran a red light and plowed into the eclipse from the front bumper all the way to the back bumper, so it looks like its going to be totaled. he and the girl that was with him had just left starbucks and hot apple cider went all over the inside of the car and in josephs hair. so now it looks like we are going car shopping for the second time this year but this time for brennan, joseph is just going to have to pull out the mustang and drive it. we enjoyed the email you sent and hope to hear from you soon

tim and shawna oberle

Drum roll please…………

together with the amazing donations + fierce contributing bids, we collectively raised $20,000 for Chris!!!!!

to the elite group of DONORS + BIDDERS, THANK YOU!!!

There were spectacular auction items + the bidding was fierce, some of you were true champions (you know who you are!) + you can still visit the site to see how everything went down! www.chrisoberleauction.blogspot.com

Thank you all SO very much for your enthusiasm + heart, it was such a great success + I hope you all had as much fun as I did watching it all happen. It is truly amazing + Chris is beside himself with the outpouring of love + support to make a little of the impossible seem possible.

Please stay in touch with chris through this blog, where we will try + keep everyone up to date on where he is + what he's up to + any hopefully FUTURE EVENTS of all sizes, near + far! Your bids are what have made the next few months possible. Keep in touch!!

On behalf of chris + myself, I thank you again + again + again......

With overwhelming gratitude + love in my heart,
rita

P.S. a special shout out to all our fabulous donors: inSite, Quint Contemporary Art, Estudio Teddy Cruz, Jordan Crandall, Geoff Mcfetridge, GAIA Day Spa, jetBlue, Caleb Siemon Glass, Equinox Fitness Center, lee + mundwiler architects, OCMA, Trina Turk, LAXART, barbara bestor architecture, Love the Belly, notNeutral, Bernini's Bistro, Stuart Collection UCSD, LACMA, Active skate gear, shukai studio, NBC Universal, Benito Villanueva, Stephan Mundwiler, Michael Krichman + Carmen Cuenca, Lilly Mayback, Rosalie + Dan Cornew, Maria Siani, Lisa Tan, Balz Mueller, Jon Grant (Turley Wines), Sheila Burns, Mario Ybarra Jr., Lee + Stuart Posnock, Katherine Zabloudil, Les Lackman, Oberle Family + Joe Fleischer

LAST CALL FOR BIDDING!!

HELLO EVERYONE,

ITS THE FINAL STRETCH OF THE AUCTION, please click on the link to the right or below:
www.chrisoberleauction.blogspot.com
+ PLACE A BID IN SUPPORT OF CHRIS TO MAKE THIS EVENT A HUGE SUCCESS!!
thank you to all of you that have given your heart through spectacular donations + fabulous bids! keep them coming, every dollar counts, you have been amazing!!

BIDDING ENDS THIS WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 26 @ 8PM!

i will check back to let you all know the grand total of everyone's support!!!

with love,
rita

Going going...

Not gone yet! What incredible donations everyone has made!! Its so great to see how everyone wants to help Chris out however possible. Thank you!! Our fabulous auctioneer, Rita has put together a website -
http://chrisoberleauction.blogspot.com/
- if you haven't checked it out you should. So much really great stuff, but hurry its all over by 8pm on the 26th of September. BID, BID, BID!!

I also heard there was a garage sale put on by an old friend from tahoe, Wendy Mohr. Is that right, did you raise $3600? Tell us about it!

As for the gossip on Chris, he has been working non-stop for the last month. He has been spending his days hard at work in the office and when he's not there he's commuting down to Project Walk for his three times weekly visits. Also, up until two days ago, he spent all the rest of his free time studying for his oral architecture exam.

Now that his oral exam is out of the way, Chris has a bit of room to breathe. He is really devoted to understanding what the possibilities are as far as treatments for his condition. Its a lot of work and scary decision making, but he is doing a fabulous job.

Chris brother and sister, (Monty and Carmen) are coming to visit him in LA tomorrow (friday)!! I know Chris is going to be so happy to see them. He has all kinds of plans for them while they are here, including doing a workout with him at Project Walk. Then Chris' mom comes out the week after!!! How great!

Hope to see everyone soon,
Anna

San Francisco!

Chris and I went to SF to visit friends for celebration time! So fun!

North Beach Jazz fest.













Our hostess with the mostess, Chantal.













Yummy farewell dinner.

Tahoe Dreaming

Chris and I spent some real quality time in lake tahoe a couple weeks back. Chris' heart lives in tahoe and so do many of Chris' incredible friends.

Music and Bbqing in kings beach.

























Truckee music and dancing, that means mostly eating for me.



































Sunset swimming at whale beach.




Its great to be back in LA, but I already miss so many good times we had. Swimming at the boat dock with the doggies and friends, kayaking, bbqing, trails, dinner parties, and games. Also I keep expecting that everyone is going to keep showing up to check out snacks in the kitchen and help carry Chris up the stairs. All of the fun and friends has really helped to fill our souls with happiness. Missing you!

Back in LA so many more fun times and great friends await! Chris, you are really loved by so many beautiful people. Looking forward to spending time with everyone! I will be out of town off and on till Sept 12. Chris will be working hard, going to Project Walk and hoping to spend time with you.

Best to everyone,
Anna

Weekend Getaway

What a fun San Diego weekend! Rocky and Kim are such fabulous people always there to make sure Chris is on track with such positive energy and devotion.


Thank you for everything, Anna

back to work

hey everyone,
i am finally back to work. i finished my first week. my schedule goes: monday, wednesday, friday - work, and tuesday, thursday, saturday - Project Walk. thanks to all of you for making my recovery there possible. for work, i take the RAPID 720 bus line all the way into downtown, about 45 min - its easy, and when i go to project walk i commute with another para named joe and his girlfriend. i have held off on finding a place, for right now, and am staying with anna temporarily. i am doing this because i am seriously considering treatment abroad. the story goes: i met a girl named amanda when i was in colorado. when we met she was preparing to travel to india for stem cell therapy. fast forward - it has been over 2 months since my initial conversation with amanda, and she is back home in colorado. it turns out she responded really well to the treatment. in her time there, she experienced the following: full return of bowel and bladder function, movement and sensation in both feet, and the ability to move her left and right hamstring. for 15 1/2 years she had nothing below her waist. i think this is remarkable, and am considering (very carefully) the same treatment for myself. i have been in contact with the doctor, she has just opened her new clinic in new delhi. the doctor makes no guarantees, but is confident because my injury is so recent, that her treatment will enhance my bodies natural healing process. the therapy cost 25,000. i will receive stem cell injections/physical therapy 6 days a week for 2 months, and then will need to return to india for follow up treatment every 2-4 months, for a couple of weeks, for the next two years. the doctor has treated over 300 patients with various disabilities over the past 5 years and had some pretty amazing results. i would like to add that not one patient has experienced any ill side effects from her treatment.
however, the US spinal chord research community is very much against this type of treatment for many reasons, but mainly because it is unregulated, lacks any history of testing, and is without accountability. however, i have been unsuccessful in finding any treatment, or even a solid time line for future treatment in the US that would focus on repairing my spinal chord. so, i have been reading every article i can find, and talking with amanda in detail about the clinic. i am still undecided.
my reality is that i have not yet accepted my condition and am frustrated daily by my clumsy wheel chair lifestyle. still, i have met some really accomplished, athletic and determined people who are in chairs, some better, some worse off than me. for sure an inspirational group who make it much easier for me to have a positive outlook on life. and i am beginning to focus, seeing the things that really matter. i have no expectations for great returns in india, but that's OK because whatever the outcome i am sure to arrive on the other side of this experience, even if its sitting in a chair, with a smile on my face.
that is because thru this entire experience i have been fortunate to have a really great group of family and friends by my side ready, without any hesitation, to offer whatever they have, in a constant effort to make my life easier. thank you a thousand times for your generous donations , your homemade therapy devices, your arms lifting me in and out of the water, your care for my arthritic pup, your meaningful advice and your company when i need it the most.

if you would like to learn more about the doctor in india. her name is dr. geeta shroff. you can look her up online or just contact me and i will forward her info. please feel free to contact me with any comments, questions, or suggestions. i look forward to hearing from you.

i would appreciate any info regarding stem cell treatment. however, i am not interested in information outlining US protocals or clinical trial guidelines. i have a mountain of this info. the reality is, i am not eligible for a clinical trial right now, and at the rate the medical community is moving in regards to stem cell research it will be at least 5-10 years before there is this type of treatment available in the US. all info can be sent to coberledata@gmail.com, and if you are interested in looking at the info compiled the password is bruno123.

back in LA?

hi chris and anna! are you two back in town? hit me up!

Pictures

Well here they are pictures of Boss, Joseph's new dog.

Boss

Well it's been a while since we posted anything on here. I didn't get to talk to you when you called the other night, Tim just said good-bye and hung up!! Oh well, I suppose you heard that Joseph has a new dog, I know you were against it but you should know that I don't listen very well. So we have a little 4 pound yorkie that is Madison's, so what would be a good dog to get for Joseph... hmmmm oh how about an alaskan malamute!!! I must have been half asleep when I agreed to this... you know how kids are they wait for their parents to doze off then ask them questions! but seriously he is a good dog, he's just really playful cuz he's a puppy. Joseph named him Boss... after the Boss 302.I will post pictures this week of him for you. The kids are starting back to school this week, madison to jr. college and joseph will be taking collision and repair and drafting at hutch high!! brennan has to get back on a normal schedule... he sleeps during the day and is up at night... gunner just says he hopes he doesn't have the nun for his teacher :o) she is nice, I think it's just him not wanting to go back to school. well like i said i will post pics later.... take care and hope to talk to ya next time you call :o)

Shawna

muscle beach cheer

like billy mentioned, we all went out to venice beach for some sun, swim + a powerlifting competition at muscle beach (we watched our dad compete) + had a great time!! chris loved being in the ocean, as we all did, there's nothing like hanging out with great friends + having an awesome picnic on the beach, what a spread it was! looking forward to going to the beach again when we're all in town. so much fun!!!!
with love,
rita

Surf Team News

Chris came out to Venice Beach on Saturday, July 21. We spent the whole day at the beach and also enjoyed a power lifting contest at Muscle Beach. Kipling, Rita, Anna, and I were stoked to join Chris for a swim in the ocean that day. It was sweet for him to get back into the surf and feel the power of the ocean for the first time since the accident. He really enjoyed himself and I was so happy to be there to witness the big smile on his face when he surfaced after a wave broke right on his head.

So far, the Surf Team has $320 a month ready to go, with more pledges hopefully on the way! The organizers would like to start payments by August 1st, so if you're signed up, please make your first payment. Our surf team is shaping up to be a powerful super-team, an 'uber-team for oberle'. If more of us chip in, we will make an even bigger difference in helping fund Chris' recovery program.

Chris is looking forward to getting back into the water very soon. I will keep you updated! I'm looking into locating the right personal flotation device for him. Chris is in touch with some amazing athletes and he is learning about the possibilities of taking a surf kayak or surf board into the ocean in the future... more on that soon. He'll be ripping the waves before you know it!

If you haven't signed up and would like to chip in, please let me know how much you can pledge and make a first payment. Every donation helps, however small! If you’d like to talk story, shoot me an email.

I'd like to hear from any other teams 'in honor of chris oberle' out there.

mahalo,
bill

Joe and his Mustang

Here are a few pictures from the car show in Great Bend. Joseph and his 1970 Mustang!! He won runner up in his class. He was sooo excited. Joseph drove it out there and NO problems :o) now we just have to get it painted and to my knowledge that is about it... well no, he wants new wheels, oh and get his stereo installed, oh and .... I don't think he will ever be "done" with this car. There is always something to add to it to "improve" it... but thats okay he is enjoying it. You will have to have him take you for a ride in it when you come back. Well take care.

icecreams

i was lucky enough to share some coldstones with Anna and Chris yesterday. i am absolutely floored by these incredible people with tremendous and boundless will... i am so happy to be in and around LA this summer and hope to share more icecreams and time on the beach, too.

Tahoe Baby Tahoe

Hey Christopher,
Didn't know if you'd check your message here or on your phone first, but I got the go ahead on the house we talked about. Oh yeah, and thanks for the advance notice......(Chris calls me and says, "by the way, Anna and I need a place to move in by this Saturday...) CLASSIC....... Can't wait to see you guys. Safe travels.
Les

Donations

I want to thank everyone so much for all of your caring, interest, time and donations. You have made it possible for Chris to start getting some of the things he needs and programs he wants to take part in.

I have set up a fund in honor of Chris for all of your wonderful donations. This way everyones gifts will be tax deductible and those people wanting to help out with fund raisers will be given assistance.

Donations can be given on-line, by phone, or by mail. Checks should be made payable to

NTAF Southwest Spinal Cord Injury Fund
Memo: In Honor of Chris Oberle

Please send them to

NTAF
150 N. Radnor Chester Road, Suite F-120
Radnor, PA 19087


online:
www.catastrophicfund.org

phone:
800 624 8399

This is a great way for all of us to give to Chris. The money raised here can only be used towards Chris' recovery. Additionally, if anyone is wanting to help Chris by having a fund raiser, NTAF is available with ideas and assistance. (More information about deductions can be found on their website, and they are very helpful on the phone.)

Thank you so much again. Your generosity is making the world of difference to Chris.

project walk

I finished my first week at project walk, and met alot of really great people. The trainers there are patient and very focused on getting something from my legs. Also, the other patients have been helpful with tips on living in a wheelchair. One of the tips: use an office chair in the rooms that your wheelchair will not fit in, was so obvious and will be very useful. Whatever my outcome from Project Walk, I am sure to leave there much stronger than when I arrived, and for sure if I am to be active again I need to be alot stronger and more balanced with my upperbody.
I am staying with Anna right now, while I try to find my own place. She has been great. I rely on her for getting everywhere. We stayed at Anna's parent's place in La Jolla over the weekend, so that I could be closer to Project Walk, and it was very relaxing we watched the "Copa" and went swimming in the pool. I was able to take a short breath before, this weeks, massive pile of paperwork, doctor search, medical supply hunting and apartment and car finding. It has been almost three months since the accident and I am just now getting to a place where I can start catching up with everything. The help I have received from everyone has been so helpful, I am not sure how I would be getting by and receiving more training without it.
Thanks again everyone.

Just sayin Hi

Well I just wanted to say "hi" and ask how you're doing? We took Madison and got a laptop for her, I will let her tell you what she got. Over the weekend Tim and Joseph started up the mustang!!! They are on a time crunch because the car show is this weekend- they aren't entering it but they want to be able to drive it out there. Joseph will be updating you on the experience of restoring a car!! So be ready for another "book". I will have him post pics of it... next time you're here he'll have to take you for a ride in it. well take care- we're thinkin of ya!!

Shawna

every Hot Dog BBQ counts!!!

hey everyone,
i've just returned from an awesome lunch + wanted to share with you all about the great hot dog bbq that chris' friends, andrew todd (from 5design) + katie ten broeck (from rios clementi hale studios) just had in the backyard of their house this afternoon to sadly celebrate their departure from los angeles + collected donations for chris. it was a great success + they collected $690 for chris that friends + both offices contributed!! amazing. thank you all so very much for your generosity, it really means a lot, especially katie + andrew for putting a great bbq together!! guys, you will truly be missed so much, but hopefully you'll come back to visit!
with love,
rita

Dinner at LALA's

Chris flew from Kansas to Los Angeles yesterday and invited some friends out to dinner. It sure is nice to see you back in town. Thanks for organizing dinner last night, Chris. The pancreas was tasty. I can still taste it today. Let's get together again very soon.

Preparing to leave

Tonight as Chris is preparing to depart Kansas for California I want to let everyone know what a GREAT time we had with Chris during his time here with us, and we hate to see him leave. Chris helped build a deck at his parents house, which of course turned out fabulous!!!We went on the bike trails around town that enabled Chris and all of us to get out and exercise, Chris and his nephews even took in a movie!!! On Saturday he attended his high school reunion and visited with old friends, it was fun. He helped his sister pick out paint color and gave her advice on her home improvement project.We enjoyed the Kansas weather, and even got Chris to grill hamburgers and hot dogs for us. Like I said it has been great having Chris home again, we hate to see him go, but are looking forward to him coming back again!!! Chris your an inspiration to all of us- stay strong- stay focused- and know that we all love ya!

Your Family

Play play

An old patient of Craig invited us all to spend the day at their lake for a day of kayaking and bbqing. It was such a great time, with Chris' friends and family who had just arrived.














Chris' great buddy Tom, pestering him as usual. He has plans for Chris coming out east to do a bike race with him in a few months.


Here Chris is back from an effortless paddle around the island. I could barely catch up to him..


Looks like I am going to have to start training too.

Work work

We all know that Chris cant sit still, so just a bit of a recap of what Chris was up to in Colorado:


Here he is popping a wheelie through an obstacle course. Yeah, impressive.

Chris spent a lot of time at Craig breaking records and doing stuff they had never seen before. Here's the tuck that Chris plans on winning time trials with..




We are definitely going to need to find him new challenges!

Anna is a Goddess

I just spent a few days down in socal with Anna... she rocks!! Anna is a fountain of love energy and hope for everyone, especially Chris. We should all be so lucky to have someone like her, but of course, Chris deserves nothing less... This blog blows me away too, I look forward to meeting everyone in real life sometime, in the meantime, keep it up, all our concerns and attention and love are making a difference! Chris welcome back to LA and I really hope to see you later this summer either in SF or down there! xoxo Jen

Bada Bing Cha Ching!

A huge thanks to everyone who made Chris' party a success! Checks are still rolling in from the silent auction.... all in we will have cleared $12,000!!! The music was awesome, raffle + silent auction items were sweet and everyone had a great time. Wish you could have been here Chris, we'll just have to do it again, you have a lot of good friends.

The Haudenschild's have plans in the works for another party for Chris in the LA area later this summer. Check back for details.

Pics from Hacienda

HI EVERYONE...... Well I was able to figure out how to post pictures finally. Thank you all for your help. We sure did wish you were here with us Christopher. You are one loved boy my friend.

SCI Support - THANK YOU!!

hello all,
i just wanted to share with you this brochure that gives you a general idea about SCI + what your continued + generous donations, funding, love + support, including the most recent fundraiser event in tahoe (which made more than $10,000 for chris!! you guys are amazing!!) + the sponsorship program headed by rocky woods, goes towards! if you can't see the images here, i got this brochure from the website anna posted + you can take a look at it online at:
http://www.transplantfund.org/documents/Brochure%20SCI%20for%20patients.pdf
thank you again for all your love + support!!! we look forward to chris coming back to california + i know he's looking forward to seeing everyone here!!
with love,
rita

Chris Oberle Foundation

Dear lovers and supporters of Chris (all of us!!),

It is so heart warming to be a witness to all the positive wishes and support that have been pouring out from everywhere for Chris, myself and my family. I want to thank everyone for the incredible success of the fundraiser and all the wonderfully generous donations. It will fulfill many of Chris' needs and hopefully in time be enough to allow Chris to make the best possible choices that will enable him to lead a strong and healthy life.

I am working on setting up a non-profit foundation for Chris so that all donations will be tax deductible, including the ones from the fundraiser. I intend on using the National Transplant Assistance Fund and Catastrophic Injury Program to help set it up, if anyone has a better suggestion or has been working on it please let me know.

http://www.transplantfund.org/Catastrophic/index.cfm

They are also an excellent recourse for raising funds, so if anyone chooses to put together an event for Chris or wants ideas for what to do and how to do it they can easily find them here. The foundation will allow him to use the funds for all his needs that his insurance wont cover.

Thank you again to everyone,

Anna

Keeping Busy

Chris made it into Hutch a little after 3 a.m. Saturday morning. He has been spending time with his family, and has visited with some friends. Saturday morning Chris woke up to a large group of family friends that had gathered to build a deck with a ramp at his parents home. Of course Chris isn't one to sit back and just watch... he grabbed a cordless screwdriver and began working. The deck looks GREAT!!!! It was nice to have everyone together again. We will try and post some pictures later.

The Oberle's

Where in the world is Kansas?

This last week was a crazy whirlwind of packing, getting gear, work, play, and planning. We got everything mostly sorted out, but there is still piles of paperwork, cars, apartments and gear to get.

About a week ago, Chris did a hand cycle race in Denver, competing against everyone who wanted to enter. He got third place, now hes famous all over Craig and in the community. During his last week, Chris got busy. One morning he got up at 4:30 to bike to downtown Denver from the hospital for bike to work day. He was with five hard core hand cyclers and on the 24 mile ride he passed a bunch of them. That night we went to this great lake and went kayaking. He is obviously not letting anything get him down.

Chris is in Kansas right now basking in the love of family and friends. It seems as if he plans on staying there a week or so. Then he is coming to LA and I plan to scoop him up to get an apartment, a car and check out Project Walk. If Chris likes Project Walk (so many of us are hoping for this, it is a fabulous place for him to get into top shape with his new body) he will probably spend a week there. It's in Carlsbad, and the program will have him spending a couple hours a day working out, and the rest of the time free. Carlsbad is a beautiful area close to LA and San Diego, we plan on spending time with friends (let us know if you are around!), relaxing and enjoying southern California to its fullest.

Afterwards, Chris wants to take a trip up to Tahoe to spend time with much missed friends, and to grab Bruno (thank you all for watching him). We have big plans of kayaking and checking out the rim trial. We hope to road trip a bit, hot springs, Napa Valley, SF (yes!!)... any suggestions? please join in! Then back to LA to see what comes next.

looking forward to it, Anna

great party

what a great party at the hacienda.....chris and anna, we missed you guys...great you called on the phone!......we'll do it again when the gang is all in tahoe.....

everyone enjoyed ben and the band..... beautiful acoustic guitar and vocals .....and still got to visit a lot 'cause the music wasn't overpowering....perfect.

thanks to eric, dave, tom, and all the people who put the raffle and auction together...what a cool thing that was...and also fun 'cause it involved folks from all over the place .....

chris, everyone's so glad that you are up and at 'em....and that energy spreads to all of your friends....

how's the weather in kansas?

MANY THANKS

I just wanted to thank all the wonderful people who made Chris's Fundraiser such a success. (Geez Chris, I didn't know you had so many friends)
Between the music, the food, the comedy of the raffle, and the people, it was just amazing. I left with such a nice high and such a wonderful feeling ( and maybe the pitchers of margaritas had a little to do with that too). I have pictures I'd love to put on here but have no idea how. Can someone help me with that?? My e mail is lbruening@sbcglobal.net. Maybe send me uploading for dummies. Thx

another recovery blog

Hi All,

A friend told me about this site, it is done by a cyclist who was injured by a drunk driver in Santa Rosa a few years ago -- her boyfriend was killed in the same accident and it got a lot of press. Anyhow this website is pretty amazing as she has made a huge recovery from brain injuries as well as coping with spinal cord injury.

http://www.jillmason.com/

FINAL June 27 AUCTION LIST

JUNE 27, 2007 AUCTION ITEMS!

Below is the FINAL list of items for auction for Chris Oberle’s fundraiser on the 27^th in Tahoe. If you will not be making it and would like to bid on any of these items, you can! They are all totally amazing, take a look + please share with family + friends you think would be interested! again thank you all for your wonderful donations!!

-> Email or call Tom Zikas (tom@tomzikas.com - 530.546.7458) with your maximum bid by 4:00pm Wednesday the 27^th

please note: unless indicated, you will be responsible for the cost of shipping the item payable to the person supplying the donation.

______________________________________________________________________
Two day rafting trip for twelve on the American River - South Fork -
Jennifer and Dave Schiessl

Value $2400
food and camping not included.

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"Local Motion" - Photo by Peter Spain

Value - $450
16” x 20" Custom matte and wood framed - non-glare glass

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"Bali Bicycle" - Photo by Tom Zikas

Value - $275
Printed on canvas + stretched and gallery wrapped - 21.5" x 14.5"

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"Yesteryears" - Painting by Shawn Carney

Value - $400
Birch finish ply panel - Acrylic wash, aerosol and ink - 48" Tall x 24" wide

________________________________________________________________________
"Tahoe Panorama" - Photo by IJ Valenzuela

Value - $400
Printed on canvas + stretched and gallery wrapped - 10" x 40"

________________________________________________________________________
"Aig Du Midi" - Photo by Mike Eadington/HMI

Value $700
Printed on canvas + stretched and gallery wrapped - 48" x 48"

________________________________________________________________________
Jeremy Jones pro model snowboard – Jeremy Jones

Value - $550
Rossignol 162cm - 07/08 model - not yet released.

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Summer in La Jolla, CA – Chris and Eloisa H.

Value - $ 1,500

2 persons
3 days, 2 nights in beautiful private home
In a cabana next to pool and tennis court, sauna and Jacuzzi. Beaches a few minutes away. Breakfast and lunch included.

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6 Day Hiking Trip in the Grand Canyon - July 16th to July 21st - Anthony + Maria Siani
Value $1,800

Starts in Phoenix, Noon - July 16th
North Rim to South Rim Through the Gorge
Two Days + Two Nights at Phantom Ranch
All Meals - All Lodging - All Transportation
One Spot Only
guided by Anthony Siani, who leads a group on this hike yearly

________________________________________________________________________
Tahoe Daves Skis & Board - One season ski or snowboard lease -

Value - $150
Includes boots, bindings and boards.

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Fishing trip for 4 With Captain Chris on Lake Tahoe. - Captain Chris Wichman

Value $360

______________________________________________________________
"Angel Rising" - Photo by Gary Kaufman

Value - $300
Framed - triptych (series of three photos) - 23" x 13"

________________________________________________________________________
Gift Certificate for Library Alehouse in Santa Monica, CA - Les Lackman

Value $100
Menu and the excellent beer and wine selections can be found at www.libraryalehouse.com

________________________________________________________________________
2003: Macauley Vineyard Napa Valley: Cabernet Sauvignon - Uncorked at Squaw - Kali Kopley

Value $75
This wine has a deep reddish-black color and black cherry, espresso bean and dark chocolate aromatics. The black stone fruit and mineral flavors have a balanced acidity and a sweet tannin backbone. Enjoy now and for the next 10-14 years.

Winemaker
Kirk Venge
Vineyards
40% Beckstoffer
To Kalon 60% Star
Alcohol
14.6%
Barrels
100% French Oak, 75% new
Cases
580
________________________________________________________________________
1/2 case (6 bottles) - Pretty Sally Estate Rose

Value - $115
Shipping will be included in this item

______________________________________________________________
1/2 case (6 bottles) - Pretty Sally Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2003

Value - $175
Shipping will be included in this item

______________________________________________________________
1/2 case (6 bottles) - Pretty Sally Cabernet Shiraz

Value - $125
Shipping will be included in this item

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