White Pages Columbus Ohio

The man who wasn't there

Special story by Ramzy Nasrallah

If you’re looking for happiness, the fifth floor of Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus isn’t the best place to spend your free time. It will put a hole in your heart. Kids aren’t supposed to get this sick. It’s too soon. It’s not fair.

Over the past several years I’ve spent a lot of time in too many pediatric hospitals, not on account of free time or personal tragedy - thankfully - but because of my other job that has required me to do so. It’s a job that often exposes me to the kind of heartbreak that makes days like the ones where a beloved Ohio State football coach resigns feel like a paper cut by comparison.

On Friday, Nov. 17, 2006, I was on the fifth floor of Nationwide Children’s finishing up rounds with a couple of nurses when the televisions mounted to the walls all simultaneously interrupted afternoon programming for breaking news: former Michigan head coach and OSU assistant Bo Schembechler was dead. His heart, which had betrayed him for decades, finally gave in for good.

It’s not as if Michigan wasn’t on anyone’s mind in Columbus already that week; the Michigan game was less than 24 hours away. Ohio State was undefeated. Michigan was undefeated. For several weeks, there had been an inevitability that both teams would make it to their Nov. 18 meeting with unblemished records and nationally ranked first and second respectively, setting up the biggest meeting in a rivalry defined by big meetings.

On that particular Friday, the hospital scrubs with Big Bird and Dora on them were not seen in the building. All of the uniforms that day reflected the only colors that were on anyone’s mind. The clinicians and visiting adults on the unit, all decked out in scarlet and gray, were shocked and transfixed to the screens. Bo was dead. The Game was one sunrise away. I was surrounded by sick kids hooked up to machines. My eyes immediately welled up with tears. It was too much.

Lost amidst the noise of Central Ohio television anchors reading their respective scripts over each other, there was the ding of the elevator bell and the sound of its doors opening and closing. Then, Ohio State defensive back Antonio Smith walked onto the unit and immediately stopped to take in the news of Schembechler’s passing. Seconds later, quarterback Troy Smith followed him onto the floor.

Smith and Smith walked together from bed to bed, visiting each child who had previously been watching their blood exit or re-enter their bodies. The conversations were quiet and seemingly oblivious to the numerous adult eyes that were following them around the room. From a clinical standpoint, I was taken by how well they knew the drill with this patient population: Don’t sit on the bed. Try not to touch anything. Smile. Be positive; it’s part of the uniform.

Columbus Socialite: What's in MARK MATTHEW WARD'S BAG(S)!

Happy Hump Day! Today I read in Cosmo magazine 50 things that we should have not stopped doing with #1 being "Listening to the Spice Girls". This actually made me laugh and remember when yes, I really did have a Spice Girls poster in my bedroom closet. HA! I'm going to re-post the entire article later this week as I'm sure you'll all get a few chuckles out of it. But with that, it also said to always celebrate Hump Day as well as Sunday Funday. This stylish lad has everything from the hottest items to the best bag. I was fortunate enough to meet Mr. Ward during my days working at The New Albany Classic Invitational Grand Prix & Family Day . (This year is marked for Sunday, September 25 and it's an amazing event with even a better cause of benefiting the Columbus Coalition Against Family Violence which you should all attend.) I do not carry a brief case, back pack, or a gym bag to work like some guys. I carry a Coach black messenger bag with a really cool bright cobalt blue interior with lots of storage. I bought the messenger bag at the Coach factory store in Jeffersonville and I got a great price on it. It is an awesome messenger bag for a well dressed young professional. Several people who see the bag at work, want it or asks where I got it. Now to my other bag. (Yes, I have two bags). My LL Bean boat tote with black trim has MMW embroidered on it...I am so preppy, I know! This bag is my food for work. Some guys carry those dorky looking nylon lunch bags, mini coolers or a plastic grocery bags with lunch in it. Not this guy. I put my red LL Bean lunch bag in my boat tote . I am a big follower of five small meals during the day and portion control. This helps me control what I am eating to maintain the body I work so hard for and want.