r/sanfrancisco • u/sanriolover1208 Outer Sunset • 7d ago
To whoever called 911 when I was having a seizure on the N Judah
l wanted to take a moment to say thank you to whoever was on the N Judah earlier this afternoon and called an ambulance when I was having a seizure. They even went out of their way to text one of my friends to inform them of this.
I don’t know who you are, but I really appreciate you looking out for me and getting me help. If you happen to see this, thank you from the bottom of my heart.
EDIT: I am absolutely moved by all the overwhelming support and kindness I’ve been receiving from everyone, especially as someone who was born and raised in SF and is still fortunate enough to work and live here. I cannot thank you all enough.
I’m doing ok, just feeling pretty exhausted. I’m planning to take a sick day to rest and follow up with my neurologist at UCSF. I’ve seen her before, but since I had been seizure free for over 12 years, I was only following up as needed.
Thank you all again for the kind words and well wishes. It truly means a lot to me.
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u/Sure_Fly_5332 7d ago
It wasn't me who called, but I was there when they called up until the EMT's arrived. I left behind a jacket I was wearing, to protect your head from hitting things. If it didn't get lost in the hustle you can have it, consider it a gift. I think it will fit you just fine, we looked about the same size.
I'm assuming you went over to UCF Parnassus? If so I am sure you will, or already have, gotten good treatment.
Good luck to you, I am glad you are ok!
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u/sanriolover1208 Outer Sunset 7d ago
Thank you so much. I am so touched by all the people that were there to get me medical attention although I was unaware since I was unconscious.
I ended up hitting my forehead and it’s a bit bloody and bruised but nothing too crazy. Yep, I got sent over to UCSF. Their care is exceptional so I know I will be ok. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
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u/sanriolover1208 Outer Sunset 6d ago
I am sad to say that it was not with me. I asked my care team from the ER and even the EMTs that brought me in. Nothing 😭 I would love to buy a replacement for you, so please let me know what jacket it is and I would be happy to rehome it for you!
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u/Sure_Fly_5332 6d ago
Don't worry about it. I'll just consider it a gift to you, and to whoever has it now.
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u/Candid_Milk_9804 5d ago
Check Muni lost and found. You'd be surprised all the things they hold on to. Bikes, wallets, meds etc...
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u/Formal-Photograph511 1d ago
That is where the ucsf campus exists , correct? You know this hospital is a wonderful creation if displaced Jews from the holocaust who fled to the us, and in their traumatize state they still figured out hiw to make a non profit, charitable organization thrive. Probably one of the best medical facilities in the us. I went thrrrbsd child because my mom worked there and so the emitter had cheap land that covers me. I woukdbsidndbthe whole day in the clinic to be seen for a half hour because we first lived in sf but then in Sonoma so I’d be there her whole work dy, even if I had step throat. Then later in life a friend needed something done to his eyes. He had no money, they kept him in a cheap/ free bed and provided the surgery he needed to prevent blindness. I think there is a documentary I watched recently about it. And did you know during the big 1989!? Earthquake, the tiers that were sccesjbke vis elevators to each other moved so much that they could bio linger get staff to both sides and they had to change the method of operating. My minored labor and delivery w rig a gaping home and some of the hospital barricaded off and inaccessible!
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u/joshuaxls Alamo Square 7d ago edited 7d ago
OP, I almost never tell this story. I got off the train once in Truckee and was with my mom and sister and we were waiting on an Uber to my place in west Tahoe. I looked at my sister with crossed eyes and fell on the tracks with my first seizure. My mom and my sister were panicking like nuts, I’m very thankful and lucky two good samaritans were there. Young Mormon kids, they jumped in and pulled my body off the tracks and then went above and beyond to console my panicking family until the paramedics arrived. It’s so nice to know there are truly, truly good people in the world.
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u/sanriolover1208 Outer Sunset 7d ago
Thank you for taking the time to share something like this with the community—I’m so glad you’re still here. I know that must’ve been so traumatic but events like these with good samaritans remind me there are still good people out there, despite how cruel the world has become.
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u/joshuaxls Alamo Square 6d ago
Sometimes, ironically, it takes a really dark moment or experience to suss out who is really a good soul.
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u/edu_c8r 6d ago
I think most people are good at this level - would help a person nearby in distress, pull someone away from danger, would call 911 to rescue someone and would expect emergency services to help. For the life of me I don’t know why the USA in particular is full of people who don’t want to pay any taxes to help anyone they can’t see right now. Or pay to ensure people can have healthcare to prevent some of these emergencies and major illnesses - that end up costing us all more in the long run.
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u/Hfhghnfdsfg BUENA VISTA PARK 7d ago
I hope you are getting the absolute best treatment. My ex has seizure disorder and Dr Tina Shie at UCSF has been amazing.
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u/sanriolover1208 Outer Sunset 7d ago
She’s actually my neurologist and is absolutely wonderful. Before establishing care at UCSF, I was under Kaiser’s care and didn’t have the best experience. I feel like I wasn’t really educated/informed about my condition and they overall weren’t as knowledgeable about complex cases like these.
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u/Hfhghnfdsfg BUENA VISTA PARK 7d ago
OMG I'm so glad you're seeing her! She is really amazing. My ex had shoddy treatment, kind of "one solution for everyone", until we found Dr. Shih. She has been a godsend and he is having far fewer seizures now.
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u/sanriolover1208 Outer Sunset 5d ago
I thought of you today friend! Dr. Shih added me onto her schedule within the next few weeks.
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u/Zakal74 7d ago
My girlfriend had a seizure on a crowded 38R once. She was in the very back window seat and I was struggling to get her on the ground on her side. Some random guy just stepped right up and asked if I needed help, which I definitely did. I lost track of him in all the panic but I sure wish I could track that guy down and thank the heck out of him.
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u/sanriolover1208 Outer Sunset 7d ago
I hope she’s ok now. I’m pretty bummed because the last time this happened was in 2014, so 12 years ago. I was 16 at the time.
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u/Zakal74 7d ago
Sorry to hear that! That has to be so frustrating. She finally got on a medication, Zonisamide, that resolved it about 10 years ago. Those pills are my favorite thing on Earth. They were getting more frequent and every time it happened was the most terrifying moment of my life. The first time it happened I was convinced I just saw her die and almost started chest compressions.
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u/sanfranciscolady Sunset 7d ago
Sounds like you love this person in a way we all should hope for. Best wishes for her health and your future together!
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u/Chef__Goldblum Richmond 7d ago
That’s not me but I’m glad you’re ok.
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u/Choice-Blacksmith-52 7d ago
Glad you made it out alright, seizures are scary as hell especially in public. I used to ride that line every day and people can be really quick to look away but there are good ones out there. Hope you're resting up now
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u/sanfranciscolady Sunset 7d ago
OP, do you need anything? Do you have local support?
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u/sanriolover1208 Outer Sunset 7d ago edited 7d ago
All of these comments keep coming in and I am truly grateful for not only this sub, but the Reddit community as a whole. Everyone has been so kind and empathetic towards me and I cannot emphasize enough how much I appreciate it.
I’m OK for now, my forehead is just bloody and scabbed. I just got discharged thankfully but unfortunately I can’t drive for the time being. I wonder if they’ll revoke my drivers license but I’m hoping not. Thankfully it doesn’t really affect me since I don’t drive because I just take the N to work (I also work at UCSF), but I got my license mainly because I just didn’t want to be without one lol.
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u/sanfranciscolady Sunset 6d ago
Oh hunny. I’m so sorry. That’s really scary and traumatic.
If you send me a DM I’m happy to facilitate a hot dinner delivery or drop off. I used to volunteer for Lasagna Love, sometimes you just need someone to bring you a hot dish!
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u/Hfhghnfdsfg BUENA VISTA PARK 6d ago
Hey I am the one who mentioned your neurologist in the other comment. I just wanted to tell you, my ex did lose his license for a while, but he was able to get it back after he had been seizure free for a couple of years.
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u/sanriolover1208 Outer Sunset 6d ago
This is a silly question, but do you have to hand over your physical card? I’m assuming no right?
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u/Hfhghnfdsfg BUENA VISTA PARK 6d ago
No, but if you were ever pulled over by a cop the license wouldn't be any good. And they won't let you renew the license when the due date comes around. They would give you an ID instead.
My ex got a letter in the mail. They were informed by the hospital and he was never told until he got the letter from the DMV that they had pulled his license. Dr Shih helped him get it back.
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u/sanriolover1208 Outer Sunset 6d ago edited 6d ago
Thank you for your insight, I appreciate it so much. I’m fine with having it suspended, my only concern was that they would take my physical card because how would that work if I need to present it at places that require a form of identification.
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u/Hfhghnfdsfg BUENA VISTA PARK 6d ago
I think my was-band got told in the letter from DMV that he could still use his license as an ID but it was not valid for driving. When it was up for renewal, he had to get an ID instead of a license.
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u/sanriolover1208 Outer Sunset 4d ago
So sorry to keep bothering you about this! My license is up for renewal in 2029--are you saying I won't be eligible for renewal then?
I'm really hoping Dr. Shih is able to help me get it back. To be fair, I don't drive much because we're in SF, but I feel like getting my license was a huge accomplishment in itself, esepcially given the circumstances.
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u/Hfhghnfdsfg BUENA VISTA PARK 4d ago
All I know is that my ex was reported to DMV directly by the hospital. He had to go a certain number of years without a seizure before he was eligible to get his license back.
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u/sanriolover1208 Outer Sunset 4d ago
The same thing happened to me too. I’m hoping Dr. Shih can help me get it back 🥲
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u/Hfhghnfdsfg BUENA VISTA PARK 4d ago
Aww, I'm sorry. I sure if you go a few years seizure-free , you can get your license back.
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u/Neither-HereNorThere 6d ago
If you ever do decide to give up your drivers licence make sure to get a California Identity card from the DMV. A friend did not do that when he gave up his license and had many headaches dealing with various businesses and agencies that insisted on ID with an address on it.
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u/duckfries 6d ago
Thanks you also, OP, for not being angry with a Good Samaritan for calling an ambulance because of the possible extra costs. Believe it or not, I’ve heard of seizure victims, who are angry afterwards because, “it was just a seizure, I have them all the time, and I didn’t need an ambulance.”
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u/sanriolover1208 Outer Sunset 6d ago
Do people really get angry over that? That’s crazy.
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u/duckfries 6d ago
Yes, sadly, because apparently it can be very expensive and insurance doesn’t always cover it. But no Good Sam should ever be criticized for making that potentially life-saving call!
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u/ReporterFit7298 6d ago
Several years ago, I fainted on BART a couple of hours after donating blood and not rehydrating enough. BART called the SF Fire Dept paramedics. My Blue Shield of CA insurance (for which I paid tons of money, being self employed) didn’t cover it because the ambulance was out of network. Insane. After that, I understood why some people opt not to have someone call an ambulance on their behalf.
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u/duckfries 6d ago edited 6d ago
Exactly. But BART isn’t going to wait around and let you decide. Imagine it if you had been having a stroke, and ended up with brain damage or dead because BART didn’t call.
Edit: typo7
u/ReporterFit7298 6d ago
I don’t begrudge BART at all. BART employees were great (as were my fellow passengers). I just thought it outrageous that SFFD - of all services - was out of network with a major insurance company in the area. And ever since, when BART is delayed for a medical emergency, I have great empathy for the affected person.
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u/DuckFat24 5d ago
I didn’t mean to imply that you would have blamed BART. You are a reasonable human being.
But sometimes the ridiculous insurance schemes around emergency transport and services leave patients responsible for huge bills.
Good Samaritans can’t be expected to know the insurance status of an unconscious person when they make that 9-1-1 call.2
u/erroneous_lightbulb 4d ago
Thankfully California has a law against that now- you can only be charged the in-network rates for ambulances. I'm sad they didn't make that happen earlier so you could have been spared those extra charges
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u/asterkd 5d ago
some folks with epilepsy have seizures that don’t require any immediate medical care because they stop on their own, and if they wind up in an ambulance every time that happens it gets very expensive very quickly. just another example of the abject failure of our healthcare system
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u/Aggravating_Bat3618 7d ago
Glad you are ok. Us seizure survivors gotta stick together!!!
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u/sanriolover1208 Outer Sunset 7d ago
I’m really bummed. My last one was in 2014 and ever since then I’ve been seizure free until now. So I’m trying to hang in there.
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u/Aggravating_Bat3618 6d ago
Best of luck to you. Thankfully, I’ve never had one in public.
I have Central sleep apnea which does contribute to Grand Mal seizures, and they basically happen nocturnally. The worst one was the first oneand that happened while I was lying in bed.
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u/Substantial-Tip-7587 6d ago
I have high end of moderate central apnea, 29 events when I had my sleep study. 30+ is severe. Since getting my new Bi-PAP, I have had worse nights with way more incidents.
I had no idea it could cause seizures. I have been getting CNS crises instead where diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen saturation get scary low. I was stuck in a skilled nursing facility a few months ago because they got so bad.
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u/Aggravating_Bat3618 6d ago
I also have epilepsy/seizure disorder. The meds help control it and it’s 99% successful. I can’t do the CPAP, so I just have to remember to stay healthy and stress-free. There’s just a little switch and my frontal cortex so I have to watch my moods and my health now more than ever before. My sleep number is like 80.
Also, I found that recently that my biological grandfather had Parkinsons. I’ve always been a twitchy person, so I do worry. As long as I stay on my program, I’m not too worried about having another seizure, but it’s always kind of in the back of my mind. Back of my mind, get it? Lol
Really sorry you had to go through that. I’ve only been hospitalized twice, but that’s only because I told my partner not to take me to the hospital. I can just deal with it.
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u/life_experienced 6d ago
I'm so sorry this happened to you, but it's heartwarming to know that there are good humans everywhere.
I had a minor heart attack in the airport last week and the Southwest manager stayed with me, called 911, found my phone, and stayed on the phone with my daughter on and off all day. I just sent her a note and gift, since I know who she was, but it will never match the gratitude in my heart.
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u/sanriolover1208 Outer Sunset 6d ago
I hope you’re ok! That must’ve been so scary, especially in such a large public setting. I’m so glad we were both able to have some support doing these health crises.
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u/life_experienced 5d ago
Off to Stanford for testing! Another thing to be grateful for because this particular testing is not done many places.
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u/therapymademeworse South Beach 7d ago
Thank God, you’re okay! What a frightening experience! 😧
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u/sanriolover1208 Outer Sunset 7d ago
Thank you so much. I just remembered but the last time I had a seizure was actually in summer school in 2014. I still remember I fell unconscious the way I did on the N but I woke up in the wellness center with a bunch of people asking me standard questions like where I’m at, the current date, etc.
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u/First-Distribution-6 7d ago
I’m sorry you had another, that was a good run! I have a kid with epilepsy and I’m glad someone was there to help you and you weren’t injured. I hope you get some rest! 🫶
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u/sanriolover1208 Outer Sunset 6d ago
I hope your child is doing okay now! I know saying that it’s scary from a parent’s POV is an understatement. But know that you are doing a great job!
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u/First-Distribution-6 6d ago
Aw, thanks so much! Almost 3 years seizure free. So grateful we live near such great healthcare. 💜
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u/latteintheam 6d ago
SF will always have my heart. There are many kind, considerate people who care for others. I left my heart in SF!
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6d ago edited 5d ago
[deleted]
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u/sanriolover1208 Outer Sunset 6d ago
I hear you. I’m happy to have my driving suspended temporarily since my health is a priority, I just don’t know why a part of me is afraid of letting go of the physical card if I have to.
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u/DanciePants12 6d ago
You can get a state id card, that’s the same form factor as a DL, and will almost definitely need to if you find yourself no longer eligible to drive.
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u/sanriolover1208 Outer Sunset 6d ago
Do they require you to change it back to an ID? I’m hoping that’s not the case and they just suspend it for a few months once I recover.
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u/vera_moon_ 6d ago
I’m so glad you’re alright! My mom is epileptic and I saw her have numerous grand mal seizures in public long before I knew what they were (I think I was around 5 years old the first time I saw her have one). It’s scary, even when being equipped to handle them! In any case I’m so sorry this happened to you and I’m sending all the healing energy your way, it’s always in our most vulnerable moments that kind of support is the most valuable 💗
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u/sanriolover1208 Outer Sunset 6d ago
Thank you so much! I hope your mom is doing okay now—it is never easy to see a loved one have something like this, especially at such a young age. Saying that it’s scary is an understatement.
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u/foglandia123 6d ago
My nephew had a seizure on BART and people on the train with him until he recovered. No hospital trip needed but people around him were incredible. Glad you are okay!
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u/sanriolover1208 Outer Sunset 6d ago
I hope your nephew is okay now! It’s definitely scary considering my last seizure was in school all the way back in 2014. And this was my first time experiencing it as an adult and also on public transportation. I was actually on my way to BART too.
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u/SlimShadowBoo 7d ago
Thank goodness for someone taking action. That person was your guardian angel today. I hope you feel better soon.
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u/Yuvaleee 6d ago
Omg I’m so happy you’re okay and that there are good people in the world. I had a seizure before so I completely understand what you went through. Do you know what caused it?
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u/sanriolover1208 Outer Sunset 6d ago
I hope you’re okay now! The thing is, I have no idea. Even the previous ones as a teenager were unknown, which was honestly so scary. I was 14 when I had my first one, I fell onto the bathroom floor and was brought to the ER.
During that time, I feel like I wasn’t really educated or informed on what could’ve caused it. I was also with Kaiser at the time which I do not like, just because I also feel that they are not good at handling complex issues. I now have UCSF insurance and a wonderful neurologist, so hopefully I am able to narrow down what might’ve caused it!
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u/Substantial-Tip-7587 6d ago
Most Kaiser Neurologists in San Francisco are awful and definitely cannot handle any complex issue.
So glad you have better care now! 😊
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u/ShockEmAll 6d ago edited 5d ago
Bless all of you lovely humans! Thank you so very very much for warming my💞heart as you all have today..The world we live in stands a chance🌏💯!!
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u/PrivacyIsDemocracy 6d ago
Wow, we found at least 2 helpful bystanders that happened to also be Redditors. Amazing.
Glad you are OK!
Someone who knows the procedure should vote this post for "Best of Reddit" or whatever it's called.
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u/Formal-Photograph511 5d ago
I used to take the Judah from my best friends in the sunset as a child to go to the skating rink, the coop, the swimming pool, and to Polly Ann’s ice cream . I lived in the Richmond, she in the sunset so we would meet in the polo fiekds
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u/Ready-Amphibian-9097 3h ago
EXCELLENT! THAT is what WE SAN FRANCISCANS do and how WE ROLL!
Be well!
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u/sanriolover1208 Outer Sunset 7d ago
This person also went out of their way to text one of my friends to inform them of what was happening. I’m pretty sure my phone was unlocked because I was texting my friends before I went unconscious, which is why they had access to my phone.