Pulmonary Hypertension Awareness...Political Style!

This was presented to our local support group leader by the Mayor of Bellevue, Nebraska. Bellevue is a suburb of Omaha, Nebraska (click on the proclamation for a close-up view)


This was presented to our local support group leader and two support group members (Pam. our support group leader Carol, and me) yesterday by the Mayor of Omaha, Nebraska. (click on the proclamation for a close-up view)





This was presented to our audience at our 3rd Annual Phenomenal Hope for a Cure fundraiser which was held on November 1, 2008.(click on the proclamation for a close-up view)








Happy Pulmonary Hypertension Awareness month!
Thanks for reading.

Annette

One More PH Event!

Tomorrow afternoon three people (including myself) from our local support group will meet with the Omaha mayor, Mayor Mike Fahey and receive a proclamation for the month of November to also be Pulmonary Hypertension Awareness month in the city of Omaha. I've decided that I'm stopping at Dairy Queen on the way home, getting a Blizzard and then taking a very, very long nap!

So, did you think I was abducted by aliens?

I can't believe it's been so long since I updated this blog! As some of you know, I've been a little preoccupied with our 3rd fundraiser for pulmonary hypertension. I was very pleased with how well things went. Here is a copy of what was written in the newspaper:
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Nebraska's first lady, Sally Ganem, served as honorary chairwoman of the third annual "Phenomenal Hope for a Cure" fundraising event Saturday morning at the DC Centre.

The event, held to raise awareness of and funds for finding a cure for the rare and sometimes fatal lung disease pulmonary hypertension, drew more than 150 people and raised nearly $30,000.

Ganem presented a proclamation, signed by Gov. Dave Heineman, declaring the month of November to be Pulmonary Hypertension Awareness Month in Nebraska.

Col. Carl Hicks, chairman of the Pulmonary Hypertension Association's board of trustees, spoke about his daughter Meaghan's personal journey, from being diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension in 1994 to having a lung and heart transplant in February 2007.

Brandi Petersen of KETV-Channel 7 served as the emcee, with Monty Meusch as auctioneer.

Pulmonary hypertension causes continuous high blood pressure in the pulmonary artery in the lungs, resulting in an enlarged heart, which may lose its ability to pump. The disease has been diagnosed in more than 100,000 Americans and thousands more may have it but are misdiagnosed or never diagnosed.

Annette Markin, one of the organizers of Saturday's fundraiser, taught in the Millard Public Schools for more than 25 years before being diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension in June 2004. She was misdiagnosed several times in the preceding two years.

"The No. 1 thing we hope to accomplish with this fundraiser is public awareness," Markin said. "Raising funds to help find a cure is extremely important, but for me, the money takes a back seat. The more people we can reach and educate in the greater Omaha area, the more people who can be properly diagnosed.

"An early diagnosis means better treatment, which in turn means that these people have a chance to continue living their normal lives for as long as possible. Any money we are able to raise will be great, but raising awareness is my main hope."

For more information about the disease go to www.phassociation.org.
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And here are some pictures:

Here are three members our Periwinkle committee:


Two PHriends who are also on the Periwinkle committee:



The man in the middle had a double-lung transplant 18 months ago! The other man is my PH doctor, Dr. Austin Thompson.


"Me and My Shadow!" Actually, me and my sister!


My husband, Carl Hicks, Sally Ganem (Nebraska's First Lady) and myself.


Sally Ganem brought along the proclamation signed by her husband, the Governor, proclaiming that "November in Pulmonary Hypertension Awareness Month in the state of Nebraska!" It was also wonderful to see the increased participation by our phriends, both local and from all over the United States and Canada! Last year we had 14% of the silent and oral auction items donated by phriends. This year it increased to 33%!

Thanks so much for reading!

Annette

Saturday night and I have not much to say!!

I just thought I'd stop by and say hello. I LOVED the movie "Eagle Eye." It was so suspenseful! I would highly recommend seeing it.
I've been working all day on these little booklets we're going to have for each person attending the fundraiser. It is going to be filled with stories of people with PH. I've got 24 different stories. I have young women, older women (like myself), a couple of kids and a couple of guys! It's been really interesting reading these stories of these amazing people. It's also been a bit tricky editing the stories so I could get them to fit on a piece of 3 1/2 X 5 inch piece of paper! I also have a picture to go with each story.

Our numbers are looking a bit better. But, I've decided it really doesn't matter. I'm going to be happy with whatever we get.

There was a little write-up in last nights paper:

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Fundraiser set for lung disease


Nebraska first lady Sally Ganem will serve as honorary chairwoman at the third annual Phenomenal Hope for a Cure fundraiser, Nov. 1 at DC Centre West, 11830 Stonegate Drive.

The 10 a.m. event aims to raise awareness of — and funds for fighting — the sometimes fatal lung disease pulmonary hypertension.

A silent auction will kick off the event. A brunch and a program will begin at 11 a.m.

Col. Carl Hicks, chairman of the Pulmonary Hypertension Association's board of trustees and vice president of advocacy for the association, will speak at the event.

Pulmonary hypertension is a complex health problem of the lungs that causes continuous high blood pressure in the pulmonary artery in the lungs. That results in an enlarged heart.

Tickets are $30. For more information, call Kathie Starkweather at 617-7946.
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Ok, that's enough computer time for one day! I think my eyeballs are going to jump out of my head if I don't give them a rest!



Sorry, that was really kind of gross!

Thanks for reading.
Annette

I've been a busy non-blogger!

I cannot believe that our PH fundraiser is a week from tomorrow! ARG!! I've been trying to get the few things done that I have to do. Have you ever had things that you had to get done. But, for some reason, you end up spinning your wheels so much you end up not getting anything accomplished?

I'm also worried because we are so far behind where we were last year in terms of numbers and donations. I'm trying really, really hard to live what I've learned and what I've preached: "Let go and let God." We already have so many things to celebrate with this year's event! We have had more phriends donate items for the auctions than we have ever had before! We have an awesome speaker coming, Col Carl Hicks! I've got over 20 fabulous stories and pictures of various phriends (friends with PH) that we will put in little booklets to give to attendees!

So, I'm going to go get some work done before Rod and I have our date night. I think we're going to go see "Eagle Eye."



Hopefully it will be a good movie. But, more importantly, hopefully the popcorn will be delicious!!

Take care.
Thanks for reading.

Annette

I'm having one of those days...

You know, one of those "I feel kind of unsettled and really tired for no good reason" days? Right now I'm feeling the need for comfort food. So, while some leftover pizza is heating up in the oven, I'm eating Edy's chocolate chip ice cream straight out of the container, telling myself I'll only eat while the pizza warms up and that I'll put the spoon and the ice cream away as soon as the buzzer goes off. Wow...the oven is really slow...I'm impressed with how much ice cream I can move from carton to mouth with one small spoon....
pizza's done....

I've got my husband home!!

There are lots of smiles and wagging tails at our house!

Thanks for checking in.
Annette