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Home > Adam's Blog > Adam's Updates > Special Announcement: Our $5,000 Donation To Gift Of Life!!!

Special Announcement: Our $5,000 Donation To Gift Of Life!!!

By Adam Pick on March 31, 2010

Since starting this website four years ago, my primary objective was to help future patients and caregivers understand the challenges, opportunities and realities of heart valve surgery.

 

Patient & Author, Adam Pick, Donates $5,000 To Gift of Life

 

Today, I am very excited to share another objective for this work – helping children with heart problems. That said, earlier today, we made a $5,000 donation to the Gift of Life charity.

So you know… In 2008, I was introduced to Gift of Life when Shanna Andrews, a teenager desperately needing aortic valve replacement, emailed me asking for help.

Although I could not afford to pay for Shanna’s surgery (or travel from Trinidad), I immediately searched the Internet looking for assistance. I was lucky to meet Jim Frame, the Chair of Gift of Life Northeast Ohio and past Rotary International District Governor.

 

Shanna Andrews - Heart Valve Replacement Patient
Shanna Andrews (right) With Her Mother (Sharon)

 

Shortly after I introduced Jim to Shanna, Gift of Life brought Shanna from Trinidad to New York City where she underwent aortic valve replacement surgery. Two years later, Shanna is back in Trinidad attending college!

Needless to say, I was inspired by the Gift of Life’s swift action to save Shanna from the perils of heart valve disease. I was so moved by this experience, I began asking myself, “How can I help raise donations to support Gift of Life?”

 

 

One of the immediate ways to raise money for Gift of Life was developing sponsorship opportunities for surgeons, cardiac care clinics and heart valve device manufacturers at this website. So, over the past twelve months, I began discussing charitable possibilities with several people within the heart valve surgery community.

The response to this idea was very positive and I actually began raising money to support Gift of Life. It is for this reason, I am able to send Gift of Life a check for $5,000 today.

You will notice that this post is titled, “Our $5,000 Donation Gift Of Life!”. I would like to emphasize the use of the word “Our” in the title. It is because of you – your comments in the blog, your surgeon profiles uploaded at the Heart Valve Surgeon Database, your posts at Heart Valve Journals and your purchases of my book – that we could attract the attention of our sponsors.

I am beyond thankful for you. Thanks to you, we are pursuing healthy hearts in children all over the world through the Gift of Life.

I feel blessed and honored to know you… Even if we have never met.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Keep on tickin!
Adam


Written by Adam Pick
- Patient & Website Founder

Adam Pick, Heart Valve Patient Advocate

Adam Pick is a heart valve patient and author of The Patient's Guide To Heart Valve Surgery. In 2006, Adam founded HeartValveSurgery.com to educate and empower patients. This award-winning website has helped over 10 million people fight heart valve disease. Adam has been featured by the American Heart Association and Medical News Today.

Adam Pick is a heart valve patient and author of The Patient's Guide To Heart Valve Surgery. In 2006, Adam founded HeartValveSurgery.com to educate and empower patients. This award-winning website has helped over 10 million people fight heart valve disease. Adam has been featured by the American Heart Association and Medical News Today.


Dazie Carnes says on March 31st, 2010 at 1:46 pm

Hi Adam,
Another way you have helped at least one child is with your book, and website. My son at age 14 had aortic valve replacement (ross) this last July. It was with the help of your book that I was able to explain and know what to expect. While some of it was a bit too graphic for a child I was able to explain everything he needed to know and I can honestly say there were no surprises during pre-op, surgery or post-op. I will say that children recover faster then adults and don’t frequently experience the cardiac depression you mentioned in your book. There are so many emotions when it comes to something as serious as this, I thank you for sharing yours.
Best,
Dazie Carnes
PS Devyn (my son) was able to play soccer for his high school 6 months after surgery!


debbie says on March 31st, 2010 at 2:44 pm

Thank you Adam!
I found your book through a frantic search last June 2009 when I was told in less than a month I would be having openheart surgery….my family was floored as well and of course the mom that I am it was them I was worried about. I had a hospital stay of a week before the surgery as I needed oxygen and that was when I had sleepless nights and a few tears, but for my partner and kids it was your book that helped them.
They were able to sit and read about what was happening to me when they felt able to, and without seeing me in the picture at that moment, sort of a detachment for a few minutes anyway.
My partner is so pleased with the book, and some of it didn’t even pertain to us Canadians, that he has told everyone he meets about it when the topic of heart surgery comes up.
At 46 I never thought it would be something I would face but it was and the day of the surgery I hopped on the guerney knowing all should go well, and that I was well loved and cared for…and my recovering in ICU and Step Down was very good according to the nurses…I guess a bit of knowledge before hand goes a long way….
thank you for your book and best of all the chance to help others!!!
debbie


Cindy says on March 31st, 2010 at 10:04 pm

This is wonderful Adam! To have had so much support before & after my MVP repair, the knowledge of what to expect, to get into REHAB asap, the book was so helpful. The blog I followed for 4 mos. prior to surgery & learned here about possible increase in weight after surgery (I went from 138 to 183 during surgery!!!) due to fluid retention. Also about the increase in the visual aura of migraine. BOTH of these topics came up ONE week before I took off for NY for surgery. BOTH things happened to me … I’d have been VERY concerned & wondered WHAT was going on … if not for people here posting about these issues. You are a wonderful, giving person beyond measure!!! Glad to be playing a small part. Perhaps we could set up a way for those of us who have benefited so much from your hard work… to make donations ourselves.

Thanks for sharing!


Mary Anne says on April 1st, 2010 at 10:36 am

Thank you Adam for all that you do for so many. You are a caring and giving person – the world needs more people like you. God Bless you and your family.


Adam Pick says on April 2nd, 2010 at 7:54 am

Thanks everybody for your kind words and thoughts! You just made my day!

Keep on tickin!
Adam

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