Speaking Engagements/Update

This week I had two speaking engagements: Wednesday and Thursday!

Wednesday afternoon I went along with my former CF doctor to a private and very small elementary school. I spoke to about 25 1st-3rd graders. They had been studying about the lungs, so my former CF doctor talked briefly about the lungs, CF and organ transplants/donation. He had invited me along to share my story so the kids would be able to see someone in person who actually had CF and had a transplant. I had so much fun! I was a little nervous at first, because I had never spoken to little kids like that. Usually most of my fundraising events/speaking engagements are geared towards adults, or high-schoolers! And this talk was just for information purposes, I didn't have to persuade anyone to give money....which was NICE! And apparently (according to other adults), the talk went extremely well!

The kids were so sweet and well-behaved and asked very smart questions. The director/teacher of the school was absolutely amazing, and asked me to come back when she has a new group of students. The kids made me and my former CF doctor these HUGE cards!!! And the teacher found out that it was my 5 year anniversary, so she had gotten me a "Congrats" card, in which all the kids signed their names...too sweet and very thoughtful!! My former CF doctor's son attends the school, so that was our connection. Aidan (the son) was so proud that his Dad was there and that he actually knew me personally! (me and my former CF doctor and family are really good friends)!

Thursday night, I went along with 2 of our CFF staff to Tuscaloosa for our Great-Strides Walk kick-off party. I had attended this last year, so I was familiar with some of the people, and the house it was hosted at. We had an awesome turn out...probably about 35 people! They were all so motivated and so excited about their upcoming walk in April! I was asked to share my story again, and I really enjoyed it! I had so many nice complements at the end...which always makes your day :) People told me that by hearing me speak I gave them hope and just motivated them even more to take part in this worthy cause!! I had also gone to volunteer and help with other logistic stuff, which I love doing too! By the end of the night, several people went ahead and wrote donations, which totaled to about $7,000. WOW!!!

This was a brand-new walk last year, and was very successful. One of the guys participating in this decided to "verbally" raise the goal for this year to $50,000 instead of $35,000. I know we will raise that with no problem. The guy whose house we had the party at owns the majority of Tuscaloosa...so he has LOTS and LOTS of money and LOTS of very important contacts. Which gets to one other thing...he is "friends" with 2 of our senators from Alabama-Senator Jeff Sessions and Richard Shelby. He asked me if I'd be willing to come and share my story in front of them. Of course I agreed in a flash!! It would be such and honor to tell these government officials about CF and how it has affected my life. We are going to bring some of our CF doctors along to, to help explain in detail what CF is! We are really really trying to get government involved, and eventually government funding! I can't wait!!!

Well...I had a very very busy week!! I'm up late tonight...can't sleep, and unfortunately (I know I have mentioned this yet), are sick. I've had some sort of cold or something for about 2 weeks, and it hasn't gotten any better. I've been putting it to the side, hoping it would go away on its own. This week it has progressed each day, and now I'm just trying to hold out until my clinic appointment next Wednesday, March 5th.

I also had my GI test (Gastric Emptying Test Study) done this morning (or rather Friday morning). I'll post more about that later!!

Have a great weekend!