Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Time Sure Goes By Fast

Great Grandma Douglas and Little Markie
Great Grandma Salvato and Little Markie


I can't believe I haven't written on my blog for weeks. Time does go by fast.
On September 26th it will be two years since heart transplant. Wow did that go by fast! I'm so blessed to be hear enjoying life. To think two years ago I only had 30 days to live. Does that put things into purspective. I had my first big heart test on August 18th. Thank God everything was perfect. Dr. Sandy Warren said everything looked good to him. The test was to see how the heart handled stress. Because my nerves in my new shared heart are not connected to me I don't feeol stess in the heart or what's really weird is that I would never feel a heart attack. No nerves! They gave me a drug infusion and raised my heart beat to 154. The heart reacted perfectly and then came down when the drug was lower. Felt weird laying perfectly still and having your heart go up to 154 beats and having it feel like it was going to come out of your chest. Weird! On September 7th is the next round of big tests, heart biospy, right heart carterzathion, clinic, xrays, labs and who knows what else. Mom and I will be staying in San Jose the night before and I have to be at Kaiser at 7:00AM on Tuesday. Then we have to race back to Santa Rosa for chemo at 5:00PM. What a day that will be. I will do anything to protect my beautiful new heart.




New pictures of Little Markie are at the top. He will be 5 months old on September 6th. 5 months sure has gone by fast. I get to watch him every Monday. We have such fun. Just Markie and Nana. I have been taking him for walks to the park. He loves it. Especially watching the kids playing on the play structures. His little head moves from left to right and back again just watching them. Its so cute! I love looking into his eyes. He has the most beautiful blue eyes. He seems to just stare at you with those deep blue eyes. It's such a moment when he just lays there still and looks into your eyes. A moment that takes my breath away!




This weekend is Labor Day and we will be at the trailer all weekend. What fun! We have our big party on Saturday with a DJ. The park provides all the food and we only have to bring a dish to share. Lots of food, music and fun all night. I can't believe Labor Day is already here. Like I said time sure goes by fast!




I also wanted to mention the North Bay Heart Walk for the American Heart Association. I looking for donations of at least $25 and or come walk with me on September 19th. at Howarth Park, Santa Rosa. They will have food, music, drinks and games for the kids. Come and support my team "Team Moment In Time". To donate look up the website http://www.northbayheartwalk.org/and click on to find a team "Team Moment In Time". It will be a fun day for all.
Have a wonderful weekend!

Love,

Debbie


Wednesday, August 11, 2010

TEAM MOMENT IN TIME

COME JOIN MY TEAM! TEAM MOMENT IN TIME FOR THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION "HEART WALK" ON SEPTEMBER 19TH.

I NEED AT LEAST 10 VOLUNTEERS TO WALK WITH ME AND FUNDRAISE. MY GOAL IS $1,000.00. THAT'S ONLY $100 PER WALKER. HELP ME RAISE MONEY FOR THIS WONDERFUL ORGANIZATION.

THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION CONTINUES TO SUPPORT RESEARCH TO FIND CURES FOR HEART DISEASE AND STROKE. WITHOUT THEIR SUPPORT WHERE WOULD I BE. THEIR SUPPORT HELPS GRANT MONEY TO RESEARCHERS LOOKING FOR CURES TO MANY DISEASES AFFECTING THE HEART. MY BEAUTIFUL SHARED HEART BEATING INSIDE ME WOULD NOT BE BEATING TODAY WITHOUT THE RESEARCH TO PERFORM A HEART TRANSPLANT. I HAVE A SECOND CHANCE OF LIFE BECAUSE OF THE DONATIONS TO THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION.

VISIT MY PERSONAL WEB PAGE AND SIGN UP TO WALK OR DONATE TO HELP REACH OUR GOAL. THE WEB SITE IS www.northbayheartwalk.org. GO TO THE LINK FOR FIND A TEAM AND PUT IN OUR TEAM NAME : TEAM MOMENT IN TIME.

IT IS GOING TO BE A FUN DAY FILLED WITH FOOD, DRINK, PRIZES AND MUCH MORE! BRING THE KIDS TOO! LOTS OF GAMES TO BE PLAYED.

COME AND MAKE THOSE MOMENTS THAT TAKE YOUR BREATH AWAY!!!!

LOVE,
DEBBIE

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Exciting News!!!

I'm so excited about my next moment in time. Through all the moments in time since my illness, I have always wondered "why me". I don't wish this upon anyone, believe me. But why. As you know, in May I was a model for the American Heart Association Red Dress Fundraiser. I was so honored that they asked me to participate. I am especially honored today experiencing my next moment in time.

Ashlee from the American Heart Association and I met last week to discuss how I could help spread the word not only about heart disease but Amyloidosis. I will be speaking at fundraisers and most importantly I will have my own team to fund raise for.

Last August, my friends and family were very generous in supporting the fundraiser to raise money to purchase Jamae and Jazmin's headstone. It was a special moment and believe me when I saw the headstone for the first time it took my breath away.

I know there are alot of special causes out there today and everyone is asking for donations, especially in this economy. This organizations need our help. Without the American Heart Association research and development would not be at the level it is today. They also support the "START!" program. This program encourages everyone to walk or do some type of exercise at least 30 minutes a day.

My mission in the work I will do for the American Heart Association is to get the word out not only about Amyloidosis but to be healthy. I believe if I was not working out twice a week with my personal trainer, doing Jazzerise and Pilates and walking, that I would not have realized there was something wrong. It would have been too late for me and I wouldn't be here today writing this post. I recovered quickly from the heart transplant and stem cell transplant because I was in good shape. After these procedures and still today, I am working out with my personal trainer and walking. If I can do this "why can't you". You never know when an illness will strike and to be in the best shape as possible will help you recover. Take care of your body. Live to enjoy every moment. That is my message!

So I need everyone's help. Not only for fundraising but to walk with me on September 19th here in Santa Rosa at Howarth Park. It will be a fun day for all. Fundraising is important but your support in walking for this cause is also important.

I also need help to name our team. I would like to include the words "heart" and "moment" if possible. I thought of the name "Team Moment in Time". What do you think? I have to register ASAP, so the name of the team is very important. Thanks for your help.

I had chemo today and received my numbers for the month. Two months ago my lambha light chain count went down to 80. I was so excited. Then the next month they went up to 124. Oh that was not good. Even so, when I received a telephone call from the specialist at Stanford asking why. I told her I was sick and only could do one treatment of chemo that month. So today, the number was 129. Slightly up from last month but consider stable. That is why this disease is a rare and fatal one. You never know when it just goes hay wire. I will probably be on chemo the rest of my life unless i can stabilize the numbers to their lowest point closer to normal count of 26. I pray for this everyday. Other than the normal aches and pains associated with my disease, chemo and the drugs I take, I'm doing good. I am watching my grandson, Markie, every Monday and enjoying him so much. He really knows who I am and that makes me feel so good. I thank God and Jazmin's family for giving me this time with my new grandson.

Remember to make every moment one that takes your breath away. I try to do so everyday.

Love,
Debbie