Revive Hope

"That's Kari..."

As you read in Melissa’s post yesterday – we leapt tall buildings on Sunday. I had 99 people on my Hustle teams, and I am so proud and honored to have them climbing with me… I’m quite sure Melissa and I will be following with a few more posts about our adventure.

Chasing ducklings…

Jen got to climb with a duckling – and with her precious daughter Kelsey. Kelsey has her own battles in life, but like her step-Mom, she has a beautiful heart and wants to help others. Jen and Kelsey were each among my highest fundraisers on my team this year, and I’m so proud of both of them… Jen is a heart/lung procurement nurse at Loyola, where three of us on the team were transplanted. I’ll talk about Megan later in this post – Jen procured Megan’s lungs.

The first time Jen climbed, I think she broke 20 minutes. When I commented on her speed – she told me that she climbs her fastest and hardest so that when she gets to the top she’s struggling and gasping for breath. And as she tries to calm down, she understands – if only for a few minutes – what her patients waiting for lungs feel like on a daily basis… Yup – that made me cry. Jen refers to her patients waiting as her ducklings, and she needs to get them safely across the stream… She got to see a few of them fly on Sunday…

donorcycle…

Susan climbed with us again this year. The last two years, she has come out all the way from New Jersey just to be on my team! Susan authors the blog, donorcycle and her nickname on that blog is TC… Last year, after the climb, Laura and I and others were strolling merrily across the street, away from the Hancock, when Laura looked around and shouted, “DONORCYCLE!!! We’ve lost donorcycle!!!” (It’s not always easy to remember actual names when you’re in a panic…) We had become separated and, perhaps, momentarily forgotten about her – and we had her cell phone! I ran back in and relatively quickly found her in the lobby… Whether you call her Susan, TC or donorcycle, we didn’t lose her this year…

Though I tell this to a number of people – it’s true and I think I’m fully capable. I’ll adore Susan forever. I met her online, through our blogs and emails – and the past two years she travels 1400 miles to haul her ass up 1632 steps, and to be with me – and to honor Kari. And as much as I adore her – I didn’t get a freaking picture with her this year!!! But here is a picture of one of her beautiful daughters from her post about the Hustle the other day…

Susan wrote the most beautiful thing I’ve ever read about Kari… She titled it “Legacy” and I’ve read it hundreds of times, and it will never not make me cry.

#12, #8, #7, #4, #2…

Katie, Wendy, Alex, Kelly & Samara… Their story mingled with our Melissa… If you know me, you know how I feel about Kari… Can you imagine what it feels like to be surrounded by her friends for a few days? On Saturday, scattered among my videos at home, Katie found one that Kari’s Mom had sent me – three of Kari’s speeches from speech class, followed by her high school video yearbook. Katie popped it into our VCR and all of them sat around narrating, telling stories, and “remember when…” I sat behind them while they laughed and talked – it was better being back there so they didn’t see the tears filling my eyes now and then…

On Sunday, they met Melissa – here is a picture of all of them in the stairwells. They took a picture of each one of them on the floor number that they wore on their volleyball team – I don’t have all of those pictures yet, but here is a picture of four of them on “Kari’s floor”…

What I found out later made me so very proud of them… They climbed the entire 94 floors with Melissa and cheered her on. When Melissa suggested, perhaps, that they might climb faster if they weren’t waiting for her – Katie gave the rally call, “no woman left behind!!!” Katie told me that Melissa didn’t hold them back… Melissa says they’re being too nice… The truth lies somewhere between. But Melissa learned how lucky Kari was to have been surrounded by them…

Like I climb to honor Kari – Melissa climbs to honor a beautiful girl named Chloe. Chloe was 14 when she passed, and Melissa climbs with Chloe’s heart. A little while ago, Chloe’s family sent Melissa a second heart that they found in Chloe’s jewelry box – a beautiful, little, silver heart that Melissa also carried with her to the top… 

Megan…

And beyond all else – I clocked my best time yet!!! The first year I climbed in around 30 minutes… The next several years I averaged in the 40s. I take a little longer because I tend to yap. And yap. I tell people about my team – and I tell people about Kari and the gift she gave me. I help people understand how special organ donation is. This year I climbed in 70 minutes!!! Do you know how many more people know about Kari now?

Part of the reason I clocked such a good time was my Megan. Megan was registered to climb last year, but ended up in surgery the week of the climb. She was excited about climbing this year – but three weeks ago she was in the hospital battling pneumonia. She recovered quickly and got clearance from her nurse to do the climb – but she was a little hesitant. I told her that I would climb the whole way with her, and we would get to the top – and if she had a problem, I would see that she was escorted out of the stairwells. But I knew that wasn’t going to happen… Several Loyola nurses were volunteer medics in the stairwells – this is Megan with her nurse Karen.

Around the 25th floor, she told me that this was a lot harder than she’d imagined – but she wasn’t stopping. She climbed steadily, three floors at a time, to the top. I had us both stop at 93 – I told her we should catch our breath and rest so that when we come out of the stairwells on 94, we’ll look like this climb was a walk in the park. I had Megan go ahead of me to cross the finish right before me… I knew my whole team was up there – I knew they would start cheering when we walked out of the stairwells… I wanted Megan to feel what that is like… They erupted and Megan bee-lined over to Laura and hugged her in tears… I’m so proud of her…

Megan's story was picked up by the Northwest Herald before her climb, and after her climb... And with a cool video of Megan. Check 'em out...

This is why…

Milling around at the top – I started a conversation with a guy, as I’m prone to do… I don’t wear a “Kari’s Klimbers” t-shirt like the rest of my team and support people. I wear a shirt that Kari’s Mom sent me – the same shirt that all of her volleyball teammates wear when they climb with me. I asked him why he climbs – he told me about a family member with lung cancer… I pulled out my running wallet and showed him the pictures I carry. He said, “That’s Kari…” He didn’t know me… He didn’t know who I was with… He recognized Kari.

My team raised over $180,000 in the last six years for the Respiratory Health Association, and that is something I’m proud of – but that man, recognizing Kari’s picture… That’s why I do what I do.

Warm

I made it all the way to the top in just 34 minutes!  Today I’m still in disbelief.  Participating in the Hustle up the Hancock was so meaningful considering my health struggles and the fact that just two short years ago, my only goal each day was to get out of bed to use the portable toilet in the hospital.  My life plan is much different now, as you can see from this picture of me, standing on the 95th floor of the John Hancock Center in Chicago.  Getting there was half of the fun.  The rest of the fun involved getting wrapped up in the other stories of hope, like the Firefighters from across the country who climb in honor the 343 fallen firefighters who gave their lives in the 9/11 World Trade Center Disaster.  Or the foam boards filled with thousands of names and the words, “Climbing in Memory Of….”

Our team was one of the largest proving how Kari has touched so many through Steve and his efforts to honor her in this climb (the photo here is just 1/3 of our team).  Steve and I met for the first time on Sunday and someone said,   “I can’t believe you two haven’t met yet” and I responded by saying, “No we haven’t but we are connected” with my hand resting on my chest.  With Steve I shared a hug or two, or three and if I had to describe him with just one word, I'd probably use the word ‘warm.’  Laura is the same way. 

Over 4,000 people participated but the most important people to me were Kari’s friends.  After meeting me in the holding area before the start line, they climbed the entire way with me.  I’m sure they could have hiked it a lot faster if they weren’t waiting around for me, but these good people from Iowa wanted “No Woman Left Behind” as Katie called it.  They are being too nice if they tell you that I was keeping up with them, instead, I think they were sticking by my side.    When we made it, I told them that Kari was so very lucky to have them to call friends.  Here they were, cheering me on and helping me the whole way when we had only met ten minutes ago…and they knew Kari for a lifetime.  She was a lucky girl.  We had an absolute ball!

Many of my doctors wanted a picture of me at the top so I ran from the finish line to the first open spot I could find in the sea of people.  A few photos were snapped and as soon as I turned around to find out what direction I was facing and what part of the skyline was in my background I saw it.   Northwestern Memorial Hospital, the place where I almost lost my life was there staring back at me, probably smiling.  I thought about all of the people inside of there, waiting for organs or sick from Cancer and I imagined that if I could make it this far and look back at the building from this view, then they could too.  I closed my eyes and hoped that each of them, by some miracle, would have the good fortune that I’ve been so blessed with. 

Thanks Chloe.  I know you and Kari were there Sunday, looking down on us and probably laughing and having a party of your own up there. 

There is so much more that I could say but those words will come in time so stay tuned.  For now, I’m still soaking it all in and remembering that I did accomplish the athletic event of a lifetime.  Now onto the transplant games and maybe running a 5K…I hope. 

 

Phonin' it in...

 

I get to see two of them this weekend - #12 and #7 - the girls on the outside, Katie and Alex...  My Jenn is in the middle...  I'll be thinking about her - Jenn was my first Iowan out for the climb and I'll never forget hugging her.  I'm sure I'll see her sometime in Spring.  I actually met Alex first - I met Alex at Sarah's when we met Kari's family.  They house the world's largest Cheeto at Sarah's - but I remember meeting Alex and being with Kari's family more than the Cheeto.

I get to be with #8, #3 and #2 this weekend as well.  And I get to make them all climb 1632 steps.  It's one of the things I do to honor Kari.  Having them out here makes it so much more special...

This is not my post for today, but I needed to post something because that's what I'm supposed to do on Thursdays.  It's been very hectic getting my stuff ready and some of it distributed to the 99 people on my Kari's Klimbers team.  Maybe I'll post again in the next few days, or after the climb.  I hope you took a look at Melissa's colorful post yesterday...  She used all of the colors from Kari's shirt in one of my favorite pictures of her...  I get to finally meet Melissa face to face on Sunday too!  And, I get to hang with that chick from New Jersey who calls me her "brotha from anotha motha"...  She wrote a fun post about coming out here the other day...

OK - I confess - I'm just phonin' it in today...  This is the start of my season and my mind is a little too occupied right now to barf it out on a page...  All of my birthdays are coming up and all of the commotion surrounding the Hustle just launches me into that...  And being surrounded by more than a hundred people, including her friends, climbing in her honor, and to honor all of our donors and donor families, and the people who work to keep us alive, reminds me how precious it is to be alive...  And not that I ever need reminding about her, but this always reminds me how lucky I am to have had her come into my life...

An Athletic Event of a Lifetime

Go Hustle!

I'm so excited for this Sunday's Hustle up the Hancock and to finally meet Steve and Kari's friends in person!  Luckily, I'm feeling better and think my head cold is going to pass before the big day.  I've read so much about this event from the various e-mail updates sent by the Respiratory Health Association and also from Steve.  I've talked to others who have participated and feel that this is something I will remember for a long time.  In life, I'm an overly prepared person.  Although, Chloe and some higher powers had a hand in the plan for my life back in June 2007.  But for this event, here are the tips or plans I'll take to heart.  Hopefully it will help me and anyone else out there, preparing for an athletic accomplishment of a lifetime....

• Eat Protein this week and then Pasta/Carbs on Saturday.

• Drink plenty of fluids, starting now

• Get a good nights rest on Friday

• Stretch before bed this week to loosen your body and open up muscles.

• Stop your training regiment at the gym.  Rest for one week and then go full steam ahead.

• Take electrolyte packets prior to the Hike.

• Eat a small breakfast, 3 hours before the Hike.

• Pace yourself on the first 10 floors to avoid muscle fatigue and breathlessness.

Now that covers the physical aspect of it.  The emotional aspect, we'll I'll just have to roll with the punches and remember, according to her parents, Chloe was a tremendous athlete!  You can do this!  Bring a camera. 

*Since this stair climb is in honor of Kari,   I decided to make this page a colorful one.    She lived a colorful life and this is apparent in the fact that to this day, her friends join Steve to memorialize her.  Plus, check out this picture - what a great shirt! 

Two Lungs & A Heart Climb the Hancock

Being in the "marketing biz" I thought it might be worthwhile to write a news release about Steve and the upcoming Hustle.  It might catch some attention and give us a chance to spread the word to the masses about organ donation!  And what better way than to show Kari's beautiful face!  Steve and I are so excited for this journey together and it is my honor to help get his mission "In the News!"  Of course my hero Chloe is mentioned too...Go Hustle!

For Immediate Release:

Two Lungs & A Heart Climb the Hancock

Perhaps the most inspiring story ever told about organ donation.  A two dimensional look at life overcoming the odds of illness.

Chicago, Ill., Feb. 13, 2009 - He was eight when diagnosed with cystic fibrosis and has faced mortality on a number of occasions as each treatment failed and each lung failed, leaving him with just 10% lung capacity.  Eventually, he was told he would not survive without a double lung transplant. 
She was just fourteen when a virus attacked her heart making it slowly deteriorate until continuous IV medication was needed to support her hearts functions.  A heart transplant was her only option to live long enough to turn twenty seven.  

Steve Ferkau and Melissa Simon met because they were given a second chance at life through organ donation and transplantation and in just nine days, they and the 94 members of team “Kari’s Klimber’s” will hike to the top of the John Hancock Center in Chicago’s Hustle up the Hancock.  This is Ferkau's  seventh year hosting a team that over time has risen upwards of $160,000 for Respiratory Health Association to help others live longer with the same lung issues he suffered.   

“Kari let her family know how strongly she felt about organ donation and they carried out her wish when they donated her lungs to me.  My climb and team name is in honor of the beautiful girl who saved my life,” said Ferkau.

Most people describe Ferkau as one of the most amazing people on this planet.  So amazing that he’s developed relationships with Kari’s friends, has been on the Donate Life Float in the Rose Parade, has spoken to large hospitals and teenagers about organ donation.  His selfless act of teaching others about his mission by sharing Kari with them is not only to promote organ donation, but to also ensure that as long as he is breathing, Kari will never be forgotten.  This past December he was featured on WGN in “Chicago’s Very Own” for his work in keeping Kari’s memory alive.  “Kari gave me a life I never dreamed possible.  Organizations like the Respiratory Health Association helped me live longer and the people on my team helped carry me to her door.  They are all my heroes.”

And there is also Chloe, Simon’s heart donor and hero who will be honored during the hike for giving Simon back all of the years she lost since her diagnosis at age fourteen.  That’s how old Chloe was when she passed, just fourteen and forever young.  “It’s no wonder we were a perfect match.” 

Ferkau with Kari’s lungs and Simon with Chloe’s heart will climb 94 floors, maybe bounding up the stairs two steps at a time and at the top, they will smile because they know who got them there.  Both Kari and Chloe were tremendous athletes. 

Founded in 1906, Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago (RHAMC) strives to prevent lung disease and promote lung health through research, advocacy, and education. As a nonprofit organization, RHAMC works diligently to provide regional leadership and funding for community-based health outreach programs.  More information is available at www.lungchicago.org and www.ClimbingForKari.org. 

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Who knew?!?! National Donor Day – February 14...

My buddy Scott, over at “I am. Are you?” posted today about National Donor Day, which coincides with Valentine’s Day…

On Valentine’s Day, we metaphorically give our hearts to the people we love… I guess it makes perfect sense to adopt this particular day to remind us, that when you leave this beautiful planet and all of the people you love – that you might perform one final act of love on your way… You might give your heart to someone who desperately needs it – and your lungs, and your liver, and your kidneys, and your pancreas, and intestines, bone, skin, veins… And your corneas to another someone so that they can see their loved ones again… And if they’re like me or Melissa or Ted or so many people we know who have received these gifts – they’ll think of you for their forever…

Saturday is Valentine’s Day… Get your sweetie something; get your Mom and Dad something… Get your little ones something. I haven’t gotten anything for my sweetie yet – but seriously, for her, every day is like Valentine’s Day!

The picture above has been on our bathroom mirror since I was waiting for my beautiful lungs – about ten years. It’s drawn in soap. The picture isn’t ten years old – I do wash it off and re-draw it now and then… The first version was in lipstick – but it hasn’t been in lipstick since “the incident”… Ten years ago I was sucking O2 and waiting for my lungs – Laura had had a bad day arguing with insurance people about my care… She went to bed early to read and I looked for a way to cheer her up. I drew a face with her lipstick and eyebrow pencil on my butt and I went into the bedroom and started singing, “It always feels like, somebody’s watching me…” and I turned around and dropped my jammie bottoms and mooned her.

It cheered her up. She laughed. Then she told me never to use her make-up again. See – every day is like Valentine’s Day for Laura…

You too can save a life – probably several lives… Maybe one with hidden talents who is not allowed to use lipstick anymore. Go check out Scott’s post titled “February 14 is National Donor Day.” He has links to several organizations that will guide you in registering to be an organ and tissue donor, marrow and stem cell donor, and blood donor.

And giving life to others is a gift that will live...

First of all – They’re back… Plus one… In this picture is #12, #8, #3 and #7… Kari wore #13 on her Algona high school volleyball team – I have #13 proudly on the sleeves of my Kari’s Klimbers team shirts… But I got that idea from a shirt that Kari’s Mom sent me after I first learned of her. It’s one of my most prized possessions in the world. It was created by her volleyball team after she passed. They dedicated their following season to her. Each of the girls in this picture, Katie, Wendy, Samara and Alex are wearing one of them too – they were Kari’s friends and volleyball teammates… They are #12, #8, #3 and #7 and they, along with my Jenn and Kathryn and (#2) Kelly and Christian were Kari’s friends and are some of the most precious people in my world… They’re nutz too – and they brought such spirit to the climb last year! They’re spelling out K-A-R-I in this picture if you were wondering…

In a few weeks, #12, #8, #7, #3, #2, me and 94 other people will be hauling our fannies up 94 floors in the Hustle up the Hancock for the Respiratory Health Association of Metro Chicago. In the last six years, my teams have raised almost $180,000 for the RHAMC… A lot of us have personal reasons for doing this – but as a group, we do this to honor and remember Kari Westberg – a beautiful girl I think about throughout the day, every day… A beautiful girl whose lungs I breathe with… And we do it to help others understand how special, and important organ donation is… I have other lung recipients, a heart recipient, a cornea recipient, and a few transplant nurses climbing with me – and I’m so proud to have them…

If you have a couple bucks lying around and you’re looking for a good cause to unload them – we qualify… You can pledge me here, or pledge someone on my team here… And you can read about why we do what we do here…

Friends…

Beyond that -- sometimes I can be kinda ignorant of others… Sometimes I kinda get into that mode and Laura nudges me and says, “You KNOW, Steve – it isn’t always all about you…” I’ve pulled this on a lot of my friends – not noticing when they’ve done something, or said something very special about me or about Kari… Last year my boss, Larry, posted some very kind things about me and Kari on his Hustle site – he mentioned how most of my days off at work were dedicated to speaking about Kari or volunteering to promote organ donation – he did something similar on his Hustle site this year and he’s in the process of raising a boatload of money again this year… And embarrassingly, last year, I hadn’t even noticed what he’d said about me until the climb was over… (Here’s why Laura usually nudges me and tells me what she usually tells me…)

I’ve worked with Celeste for over 25 years… She had her husband, Paul, have been on my Kari’s Klimbers teams since I’ve had teams… Way early on this year, she posted this picture that made me smile… But I hadn’t noticed a while later what she did to finished her Hustle page…  I didn't notice until today.

Celeste and I have this crazy and beautiful friend from New York named Lisa.  Lisa made my Mom cry a few months after my transplant...  She was in town and showed my Mom her license.  In the organ donor section, it said that if anything were to happen to her, her lungs were to be offered to me.  Made me cry too...  Lisa has always pledged me and Lizzy and Celeste and Paul – and on my way to thank her, I checked Paul’s and Celeste’s Hustle pages and on both of their pages I found the beautiful poem below that Celeste had written this year – I sat at my desk in tears after I read it… This is her “Ode to Steve…”

This is a story of our friend Steven
Who, for most of his life had a hard time breathing
You see, Steve has a disease called Cystic Fibrosis
And breathing for him was no bed of roses

You would think for someone that was so ill
Feeling sorry for yourself would be part of the drill
Lord knows he had every right to express that emotion
But if you know Steve, he would have no such notion

Day after day he came to work and would get
A laugh from people with his sarcastic wit
Always the one to make a joke while his health sank
Which was obvious when he started carrying an oxygen tank

Soon thereafter Steve had to take leave
Even with continuous oxygen, it was hard to breathe
So he waited at home as he was put on the list
To receive some new lungs; although that came with a twist

Although Steve wanted more than anything to live
He knew in order for that to happen something else had to give
That something else was another precious life
And Steve knew that would put another family in strife

Finally, one day after previously failed tries
Steve got the phone call that changed the tide
He received a pair of lungs that were healthy and strong
The gift that Steve had patiently waited for so long

It will be nine years this April and Steve’s life is full of bustle
And to honor his donor, he climbs the stairs in the “Hustle”
And for those of us who love him, we do what we can
By either climbing with him, donating to his cause, or just being a fan

Because if you haven’t guessed by now, Steve is a very special person
And he’ll never forget the precious life that was taken
He’s always sharing his story about Kari when opportunity hits
So that others may be inspired to help in any way they see fit

So, if you’ve gotten this far in our little poem for Steve
If nothing else, please consider this before you leave
Nothing is more precious than life you can give
And giving life to others is a gift that will live

I’ve been meaning to post about my upcoming Hustle up the Hancock, and I guess this was the perfect lead into that… And maybe it will also remind me to pay a little more attention to some of my friends…

Celeste (& Paul): you do know that Laura is going to have a few words with both of you for making my head swell even larger, right?

Go Red This Friday

Go Red For Women celebrates the energy, passion and power women have to band together to wipe out heart disease and stroke.    

Being plagued with heart disease at the young age of 14 allowed me many neat volunteer opportunities with the American Heart Association (AHA).  From speaking engagements to forming teams for heart walks to raising money, I've been the "face" of heart disease.  I have to admit I'm not as involved now but do believe that all of my efforts came back to me ten fold when I was fortunate enough to receive my new heart.  Good karma I guess.  

If you want to do your part in a small way - get ready because this Friday, February 6th is National Wear Red Day!  Men and women across the US will wear red in support of those who are suffering with heart disease or to honor those who died because of it.  Heart disease is the #1 killer of Americans.  Wear red and tell people why you are doing it.  Tell them a story like this...a story that encompasses both heart disease and organ donation.  A story like mine.

Gail’s Story

Many women changed Gail’s life. One gave Gail her heart. The others showed her that after her transplant, life could go on.

Eight years ago, "I was traveling at a pretty good clip along life’s highway," said Gail, a wife, mother of four grown sons and successful business owner. She was also committed to living a heart-healthy lifestyle. "What happened to me could happen to any woman."

Gail got sick with what felt like never-ending bronchitis, pneumonia and "unbelievable fatigue." She went to the doctor three times. "’Are you really slowing down?’" she was asked. "’Are you finishing your meds?’"

But Gail never got better. She knew something was wrong. "Early on, no one really took a close look at my heart. Back then, not as many doctors were focused on women’s heart health."

Gail’s OB/GYN finally sent her to the cardiologist, who told her she had viral myocardiopathy, a serious disease in which the heart muscle becomes inflamed and doesn’t work as well as it should. "Anyone can get it. It’s a little like strep throat, only it attacks your heart," Gail said. "By the time I was diagnosed, it had done significant damage."

Doctors implanted Gail with a biventricular pacemaker/defibrillator in 2000 and started her on drugs to reverse the damage done to her heart. But four years later, after complications, she went on the wait list to receive a heart transplant.

She was leery about the procedure; she needed to know she would be OK. "’They would bring men in and say, ‘well, this guy survived.’ But I needed to meet someone who was like me so I could see that I could make it through and have a new kind of normal life back’."

She finally did. Gail met a young woman who was active and physically fit and had undergone a heart transplant. "She was pretty much the embodiment of what I needed to go forward." Gail’s connections with women who made a difference didn’t end there. A group of friends stepped in when Gail was waiting for her new heart.

"I call them my angels without wings. I had to live in the hospital for about four and a half months," she said. "My girlfriends would bring me dinner, tablecloths, candles and pictures of trips we’d taken together."

She also connected with Marcy – a woman she’d never met but whose heart she received. Marcy was an active, healthy mother of three who died in an accident at a family reunion. "She got up one day and thought she had the world by the tail. By the end of the day, her life was over, but she had made a commitment to donate her organs," Gail said. "I can never thank her and her family enough." She continually wrote to the donor family after her surgery to tell them how much she appreciated their gift of life. Gail received Marcy’s heart on August 2, 2005. Gail calls it her new birth date. "It has been a long haul," she said. "Getting the heart is just one little part of it."

"I would never want a woman to go through a heart crisis without her own community of women. That’s what the Go Red For Women movement represents," Gail said. "I hope that any woman who is diagnosed with heart disease knows exactly where she can go, call, log in or write to find the instant support of people who will become some of her new best friends."

Gail said that women in her shoes have a decision to make when they get their diagnosis: Embrace it or fold. "If you’re a strong woman – and I think most women are – you say, ‘I didn’t want this, but it’s here. What am I going to do now?’ Then you really start moving forward."

Gail - Leawood, KS

Age: 55

Age at time of event: 47

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