Cardiosmart contest

Wow, I was blown away by all the nice comments I received in the cardiosmart contest.  Thanks to all my friends that voted and left a special comment for me and for all those that also shared the link with friends and had friends vote.  That means so much to me!  We gave it out best!  I didn't win in the end.  I came in 2nd but the most important thing is my story inspired a few people to start taking better care of their hearts!  I also had some private messages from women with the same heart condition that had given up hope of getting any better.  My story gave them hope!  That's what it's all about.  If you are a regular reader of my blog, check out my new facebook page that I have set up. It's dedicated to education about heart disease, posting inpsiring stories, pictures, healthy recipes, etc.  Here's the link.  I'd love to have you join my page!  https://www.facebook.com/livingwithchf?ref=hl

Finalist in the Cardiosmart contest on facebook.

Please help me out!  I entered a contest with cardiosmart and shared my story of my journey with heart disease.  I have been chosen as 1 of 6 finalist.  I could win a trip to San Francisco and be honored by the American College of Cardiology.  In order to win, I need votes.  If you are reading my blog and are also on facebook, please take a moment to go to this site and then find my story.  Click like under my story and post a brief comment.  I get a vote for your like and a vote for your comment.  Please keep it one comment per person though.  I want to win but I want to do this honestly.  Here is the link.  Thanks in advance!  Get out and do something good for your heart today!  https://www.facebook.com/messages/#!/photo.php?fbid=10151193108102669&set=a.10150322112747669.351089.47257822668&type=1&theater

Sweet anniversary

Wow, I haven't updated my blog in a while! Well, today marks 11 years since my diagnosis with heart failure and cardiomyopathy. Just 11 years ago today I found myself in ccu at Middletown Hospital being told I needed a heart transplant to survive. That was IF I made it thru the weekend which doctors were not hopeful. What a journey this has been. God is so faithful. It is so good to go back and see where I was on June 21st 2001 and to look back over the years and see how God was making provision for me in his timing. I had met my husband just 8 months prior to my diagnosis. God knew I would need him and he sure provided a special person to go thru this journey with me. I'll never forget the day Steve looked at me in that hospital and told me with tears in his eyes that he would give me his heart if the doctos would permit it to save my life. Now, that is love! I learned so much about him during this time and truly saw a man that could stick with someone thru anything. So, we got married one year later on my one year heart anniversary so today also marks my 10 year wedding anniversary to the love of my life and my best friend. We chose to celebrate life by remembering it and by making this also the day to remember our wedding day. Talk about 2 different emotions! I can remember when I was in the hospital being told I probably would not survive and I really had no fear. God gave me an incredible strength that truly was a miracle in itself. Because I had no fear and always believed God was going to heal me, my family was more at ease. Peace seemed so strange to my doctors and nurses! My world should have been falling apart but God gave me sweet peace. The song that kept going thru my head at the time was "There is Joy in the Lord." It's been an incredible journey with ups and downs along the way. I've been worked up for transplant now twice and each time God chose a different way for me. There is so much power in prayer. Never take that for granted. Pray, pray, pray. Even when you don't see results....PRAY! 11 years after my initial diagnosis I am at my strongest. My heart is normal size and my EF is now 48%, which is just 2% below normal. I do not get tired. I work out...HARD and I feel great. There is no explantion to this other than God performed a miracle for me. I will never take that for granted. So, today I celebrate. I celebrate all I've been thru and what it has taught me and because this experience brought me closer to God than I would be if I had not had the experience. This experience changed my life for the better and I would not trade it for the world. Can I say it's all been fun....No, I have had my struggles but God has been with me the entire time. He has blessed me with a wonderful family and allowed me to marry my very best friend and love of my life. Today I celebrate all that he has done. He has done great things for me. Now, it is time for me to do great things for him.

Just a few facts on Women and Heart Disease for Heart Month

Under age 50, women’s heart attacks are twice as likely as men’s to be fatal.

71% of women experience early warning signs of heart attack with sudden onset of extreme weakness that feels like the flu - often with no chest pain at all. Medical professionals are challenged to respond to women's milder symptoms, acting with insufficient guidelines.

Nearly two-thirds of the deaths from heart attacks in women occur among those who have no history of chest pain.

42% of women who have heart attacks die within 1 year, compared to 24% of men.

Dance Party Friday

On Friday, February 1 on National Go Red for Women day, I was given the opportunity to share that heart disease is the number 1 killer of women on Local 12 WKRC Dancy Party Friday with Bob Herzog. Exercise has been a big part of my recovery so doing this was a lot of fun. Kerry and Paul, 2 of my zumba instructors came along to help me out and Kerry even made a shirt for Bob to wear. Bob was crazy as usual but we got the word out about Heart disease in women and that exercise is important in taking care of your heart. Click on the title to see the video of Dance Party Friday. I had a blast doing this and so thankful I was given an opportunity once again to do something I am so passionate about.

On Saturday, February 4th I participated in a Go Red casting call for Go Red for Women in hopes of being chosen a spokeswoman to represent the cause for 2012. This has been something I have wanted to do for many years now. Just being able to share my story once again in hopes it helps someone recognize the signs and symptoms of heart disease and to take action is a real blessing to me. Enjoy the Dance Party video and Love your heart!

Heart Month

Monday I was given the opportunity to tell my story to Liz Bonis from Local 12 WKRC in Cinnati. Liz Bonis was awesome and did a great job putting my story together. Click on the link if you would like to see a little bit of my story. Click on the title Heart Month to see the video. The story aired on February 1, the beginning of heart month. I hope this helps other women to recognize that shortness of breath and fatigue can be symptoms that something is going wrong with your heart and take it seriously. This was a wonderful experience for me and I encourage anyone else that has a story that could help others to do the same and share their story. You never know how many lives you may touch or change by doing so.

Celebrating Milestones and counting Ebeneezer stones!

The best thing that ever happened to me was heart disease. My heart break brought me back to God. It brought me where I needed to be. My heart break allowed me to get to know God better. To truly taste and see that he is good and get to know his character. It brought me to the end of me. It made me understand I've got nothing to bring but empty hands. Nothing to hide and nothing to prove. Heart disease brought me closer to God and it has been worth every bit of pain I've endured. I would not trade what I've been thru for anything this world has to offer me. This world will leave you empty, but God never will.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011 marks a very special milestone for me in my journey with heart disease. Doctors at first said I wouldn't live thru the weekend, but God had other plans. Then doctors said I have 4 1/2 - 5 years to live, but God had other plans. This year I celebrate 10 years since my diagnosis with congestive heart failure and cardiomyopathy. I also celebrate my 9 year wedding anniversary to my best friend, Steve. We chose to get married on that date just one year after my diagnosis to celebrate life and to give that date even more of a special meaning to us. What a ride it has been. I am extremely blessed to be where I am today. My path hasn't been easy, not at all but it's been good....so good. I've had many struggles and challenges over the last 10 years. Lots of unknowns and uncertain tomorrows. With all the struggles came tremendous blessings and opportunities I would have never had if not for the path I've been placed on while on this earth. When I was diagnosed with heart failure and told I had 1/16th of my heart actually working and that I would never survive without a heart transplant, it was then my faith was really put to the test. If was then I had to find out, was Christ really enough? Was he really all I need? From the very beginning, I can honestly tell you that yes Christ was enough. He was always with me. Always comforting me. Always giving me joy. I always knew I was in his capable hands and I knew something good was going to come out of everything I went thru. God truly can turn your struggles into an awesome ministry for you if you allow him to do so. I've been given a platform to share the love of Christ because of heart disease that I would never have had otherwise. I am amazed at what he has allowed me to do and grateful for every opportunity I'm given to share my story and to tell others about Christ. When doctors said there was nothing else they could do and that I would never improve, God showed he's still on the thrown reigning in grace and power. What man says is impossible, is possible with God. I'm so grateful to be where I am today with a heart function that is just 2% below normal and with my heart back at normal size. God literally touched my heart and reshaped it, remolded it and gave it strength for me to carry out his tasks. This is why I live. For his glory. I will forever be grateful and humbled by what he has done for me. Each day I give thanks and pray for discipline to be obedient to what he calls me to do every day. I see so many people struggle with what they believe God's calling is on their life. I believe each day he will guide you and let you know what he wants you to accomplish for him that day. Pray for discipline and take time to listen. I have people often times say to me that exercise is why I'm where I am today. I have to stop them and tell them....no it's not. It was prayer that got me where I am today. yes, I have to work in partnership with God and do what doctors tell me I need to do but there is no doubt in my heart where my healing came from and it was only because I had a touch from the masters hands. I did nothing to deserve this but he chose to bless me and I am so thankful. I've looked back over the last 10 years and I've seen how he has been with me every step of the way. He put certain people in my life, doctors, etc at just the right time. He supplied every single need I had before I even had the need. He was working on my behalf behind the scenes and I see all that now. Those are my ebeneezer stones. I can name them all but won't bore you with that but there are many. Take the time to go back over the last 10 or so years of your own life and count the times God made a provision for you before you even knew you needed it. You will be amazed. It's important to remember those. I am extremely blessed. It's really true what the Bible says about rejoicing in your struggles. They are what make you stronger and they are what helps you get to know God. I can honestly say heart disease saved my life and save me from myself. Thru it all, I have grown. I have learned more about God than I ever would if things had been smooth sailing the last 10 years. He not only reshaped my physical heart but also my spiritual heart. I have a heart for people that I would not have had without my struggles. This song by Josh Wilson sums up what I'm trying to say. I hope the words touch you too. It's call Fall Apart.

Why in the world did I think I could
Only get to know you when my life was good
When everything just falls in place
The easiest thing is to give You praise

Now it all seems upside down

‘Cause my whole world is caving in
But I feel You now more than I did then
How can I come to the end of me
And somehow still have all I need
God, I want to know You more
Maybe this is how it starts
I find You when I fall apart

Blessed are the ones who understand
We’ve got nothing to bring but empty hands
Nothing to hide and nothing to prove
Our heartbreak brings us back to You

And it all seems upside down

‘Cause my whole world is caving in
But I feel You now more than I did then
How can I come to the end of me
And somehow still have all I need
God, I want to know You more
Maybe this is how it starts
I find You when I fall apart

I don’t know how long this will last
I’m praying for the pain to pass
But maybe this is the best thing that
Has ever happened to me

My whole world is caving in
But I feel You now more than I did then
How can I come to the end of me
And somehow still have all I need
God, I want to know You more
Maybe this is how it starts
I find You when
You will find me when I fall apart