After bringing smiles to many, he needs prayers

LOLITA HARPER

It was a soggy night in May, and we were borderline miserable. The

straggling members of the Daily Pilot team were slowly making our way

around the muddy track at Newport Harbor High School for the Relay

for Life event.

Over the sounds of howling winds, drops of rain pounding our

jackets, and sloshing mud, we heard a cheerful voice from behind us.

“Hey, I know you guys. The Daily Pilot team, right?”

Promotions manager Lana Johnson, Tori Herman -- one of publisher

Tom Johnson’s daughters -- and I turned around to see who was crazy

enough to be that lively in the middle of a torrential downpour, and

we were met with the smiling face of Brian Slater.

Yes, Newport Beach paramedic Brian Slater, whose high spirits have

similarly touched numerous people in the Newport-Mesa community. The

same 51-year-old man who now fights valiantly at Hoag Hospital to

recover from a serious bodysurfing injury Tuesday that left him in

critical condition.

As I walked into the newsroom Wednesday morning, Lana Johnson met

me at the top of the stairs.

“Did you read about our friend?” she asked, tears brimming in her

eyes. “I am so sad. He was so nice. Just the nicest man you could

ever meet. I really wish him the best.”

Slater had us laughing around that track despite the dreary

conditions. He was singing and clapping, cheering us along the path.

His rendition of “Singing in the Rain” brought tears of laughter to

Tori’s eyes and mine and re-energized the usually vivacious Lana.

“I’m the bagpipe guy,” said Slater, who performed at the Relay for

Life event.

Even his comical roasting of my not-so-hot mug shot that runs on

the side of my column was uplifting. I remember him telling me that

he was also a photographer and that my picture was not at all

flattering.

“Well, it’s really not the best look, but at least you got away

from that slicked-back ponytail thing,” he said laughing.

Hey, it’s true. I am not photogenic. I wish I could accurately

remember the other funny jabs he took at me. You guys would get a

kick out of them. Laughing at myself really helped those hours around

the track go by much faster.

During those long two hours we all walked around that track

together, we got to see his wonderful personality. That he was out

there in the pouring rain in the middle of the night for a good cause

speaks volumes about his character. Early in the morning, his wife

was out there, also, further proving that Slater spirit.

Look at his life’s work as a paramedic -- a profession dedicated

to helping people. He is also active at Newport Heights Elementary,

his church and other events in the community, friends said.

Many people have been drawn to his vivacious character and have

flooded the lobby of Hoag Hospital. Dozens of others are keeping

Slater in their thoughts and hoping for a speedy recovery. Please add

Lana Johnson, this reporter and the rest of the Daily Pilot newsroom

to that list.

Along the same lines, friends of Susan Arakaleian, in whose name

Newport Beach residents threw a fund-raising party last week, want to

wish her a happy 48th birthday.

The earlier party was thrown because people did not expect her to

live until her birthday, on Saturday. She has surprised them all and

hung in there.

“Keep up the good fight,” her friends said Wednesday.

* LOLITA HARPER writes columns Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and

covers culture and the arts. She may be reached at (949) 574-4275 or

by e-mail at lolita.harper@latimes.com.