An Overdue "Thank You"!!

Over the past two months I have received some gifts from some very special and kind people in the CHD Community. I have also received SO much support, love, and friendship from MANY others in the CHD Community. SO here is a post to say “Thank You” to those people and a general “Thank You” to everyone else! I WISH I could say “Thank You” to EACH and EVERY one of you PERSONALLY!

The first one is a “Thank you” to Anne Marie for sending me this CHD sweatshirt and CHD Magnets (which I don’t have a picture of.)

“Thank You for thinking of me Anne Marie! It made me smile!”

A “Thank You” to 43yr. old CHD (Tricuspid Atresia) survivor, Steve, for sending me this really cool CHD Coin!

This is the Front of it.

This is the Back of the coin.

“Thank You SO much, Steve! You’re so thoughtful!”

And a BIG “Thank You” to Heart Mommy Tamara Lemus!!
A month ago on a Saturday I came home early in the morning (7am) to find a brightly colored box with Hearts on it from her! I just got done having a rough week and was going into another rough week with finals and moving to California. This was the best pick me up! Made my day and made me cry!

I sat down and opened the box… this card was on top:

I read the inside of the card, which she wrote a nice little note which made me cry.
Then, I took out the brightly colored tissue paper and I found these:




I started crying harder! The beautiful shirt and tote bag had my blog, carepage, and personal motto on it: Hope~Love~Faith

I LOVE IT!

In the card she was thanking me for all I do for the CHD Community and wanted me to know that Heart parents really appreciate what I do and I give lots of hope and inspiration! WOW!

“Thank you from the bottom of my Mended Heart, Tamara! This meant a lot to me!”

***I know I touch A LOT of lives in the CHD Community, but I NEVER ask for anything in return! Just knowing I touched someone’s heart with my story is enough for me!

I have been SO touched by the kindness of not only these people but EVERYONE in the CHD Community! You guys have done SO much for me! From gifts to messages of support that get me through a lot of days and make me smile! To much heard prayers and putting me on prayer lists (and letting me know, which touches me heart so!) to e-mails that make me smile as well! To offers to help me out financially (which thanks but it’s ok. Your so sweet though!) to a Heart mom who is sending me a pulse ox (Deidre, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!!!) to friendships that I’ve made on and OFF the computer (Mary, Gina, Melonie, Cortney, etc I’m SO happy I’ve met you; You guys are amazing!)that will stay with me forever! ALL OF IT WILL! ALL of it warms my heart! Please know that even if I don’t get to reply back to everything I receive, it means SO SO much to me! You guys have given me so many smiles, support, prayers, love, and strength that I don’t know how to thank you! All I ever wanted to do is to share my story and give hope, but by coming into the CHD Community 2yrs ago I have received SO much more than I ever expected or deserve!

THANK YOU to ALL of the Heart Parents and CHDers our there for sending support, prayers, and friendship! Without ALL of you I would NOT be able to do what I do! I will NEVER stop telling my story and spreading CHD Awareness! Because of YOU and those CHD KIDDOS I have a passion; I have a reason to FIGHT and to live my life to the FULLEST!! THANK YOU!!! ♥

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


With LOTS of HOPE, LOVE, and FAITH,
♥

2010 CHD Awareness Calendar

Hello! First off, I just want to say a HUGE "Thank You" for all the prayers and support from my blog community, especiall with going and visiting baby Sam's caringbridge site! Thank You! You guys are amazing!

Secondly, a big "Thank You" to all that have prayed for me, especially about my finding an H1N1 shot. I'm happy to say that I found one and got H1N1 vaccinated on Thursday morning! =D I'm VERY relieved! So, "Thank You"!!! You guy are SO SO sweet!!

NOW...

The 2010 CHD Awareness Calendar!!!! A wonderful photographer photographed me in April of this year for her CHD Awareness Calendar that she was doing. This is her first year doing something like this, but I must say the calendar turned out amazing and she is an awesome photographer!!! Her name is Kimberly Coombs and her regular website is: http://www.coombsphotography.net/

I'm the month of August in the calender... here is my picture which most of you have probably seen at the bottom of my blog.

The CHD Awareness Calendar was dedicated to a very special little boy named Ethan who earned his angel wings this past May at just 8 1/2 yrs. old (he had HLHS). I only met him once, but he touched so many lives, he continues to inspire many! Ethan is May in the calendar:

The Calendars are $20 each and all the money will go to an Organization called Hearts of Hope SE MI which helps families affect by CHDs get the support they need. Here is their website if you'd like to visit them: http://www.heartsofhopemi.org/

Here is the link if you'd like to purchase one:

http://www.imagequix.com/photog.php?id=C9PZL9Y&ec=2010

That's it for now, have to get back to homework. College has been keeping me really busy! Hopefully I have time for a post and to catch up on reading blogs soon! Just know I'm praying for SO many! There is not a day that goes by that I don't have some amazing child/adult on my mind! May God comfort, guide and bless you on your journey!

With LOTS of Hope, Love, and Faith,
♥

P.S. Baby Sam (HLHS) will be born over a month early next week because his heart is looking too concerning to the doctors. Please, keep baby Sam and his family in your prayer during this very difficult time. Thank You! http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/babyowens

Answers to your Questions Part 1

Here are some of the Answers to Questions I have recieved from all you wonderful Heart Parents! Please, if you have any questions for me just leave me a message or e-mail me at: lceleskey87@gmail.com and I will answer them in a future post! =D

Also, before I forget... A HUGE "Thank You" for ALL the Congratualations on my new niece and kind words!!! It meant alot to me and made me smile!!! =D

OK, here are some of those Questions and Answers:

Q: What was the one thing that bothered you the most as a child growing up with a CHD?

A: The thing that bothered me the most was the fact that it was hard to keep up with other kids my age in gym class, on the playground, or just playing in general. Kids would always ask why I had to stop so much or sit out and friends asked the same, I would try my best to explain with the little knowledge I had about my heart condition at the time, but they usually didn’t understand. They would look at me different afterwards and sometimes didn’t want to play with me anymore and that was hard, but it taught me so much about other people and who my true friends are.

Q: Do you remember anything from the surgeries when you were younger?

A: I have one memory from my second open heart surgery when I was a little over two years old. I was sitting in a big red chair and had tube coming out of me. I was crying and asking for my daddy to pick me up, but he couldn’t because the doctors had to replace a tube. I remember the pain I was in, I remember not understanding what was happening only that I wanted to be held. Not the best memory, but I know it happened as I told my parents and they couldn’t believe I remembered. I have no other memories of any other heart surgeries or procedures. I do remember everything about my second eye muscle surgery I had when I was 8 and the one I had last year.

Q: What is different about the Fontan I got compared to the Fontan they do now?

A: I had what is called the Fontan Pilliation which was the originally designed Fontan procedure by Francis Fontan and his partner to fix patients with Tricuspid Atresia. Over the years the Fontan Piliation was modified for all one ventricle fixes. What they did simply was us everything that I had and make it work. I had three chambers intact so they used them. My one right chamber doesn’t do much, but it works to some extent. I only have one working ventricle though, so I’m considered a half a heart. The modern version of the Fontan bypasses the whole right side or left depending on the condition and makes the remaining side do all the work. From my understanding by doing this they reduce leakage from the side that didn't develop all the way, reduces the chances of blood clots as well (not sure how) , and reduces chances of high blood pressure.

Q: Do you plan/know if it is possible to have children?/What have the doctors told you about having children?

A: I do plan on having kids one day. How I will have them is still up in the air. I have always wanted to adopt and gestational surrogacy doesn’t sound like a bad idea either, though both are expensive. My cardiologist has told me that if I stay in the good health I’m in now then I shouldn’t have any problems having a child. I would be high risk, I’d need a c-section, medication would be adjusted, I would be monitored around the clock, and something unexpected could always happen just like anyone else. When I feel like I’m ready for a child, my cardiologist said to go to an adult congenital cardiologist with my spouse (when I have one) and talk it over before I get pregnant. If my boyfriend and I get married then we will talk about what we want to do. Though, in the back of my mind and in my heart I would LOVE to have my own child, but I’m not for sure if I want to go through with it. I have plenty of time to think about it though!

Part 2 Coming SOON! =D

I continue to pray for so many, special prayers for CHDers to stay healthy!! Sending warm **Heart Hugs** to ALL!!

With LOTS of Hope, Love, and Faith,

♥