This first published January 22, 2009 in the Henderson Home News, a Community Newspapers of Nevada publication.
On Feb. 12, I intend to dress in red and support the American Heart Association’s fourth annual Go Red for Women Luncheon. My intentions are two-fold: first, to join in the AHA effort in educating women about heart disease while learning to live as a champion of health in our community and, secondly, one of my parents died as a result of a heart attack and the other a broken heart (aortic aneurysm).
Heart disease is a dietary and genetic dominating health issue throughout our family tree. My maternal grandfather died from a massive aortic aneurysm when my mother was 5. My paternal grandparents both suffered and died from heart disease.
To this day, heart disease impacts me five out of seven days a week.
In August 2004, at approximately 6:45, while I was curling my hair, I dropped a hot-roller. As it bounced then rolled across the floor, the house phone rang.
It was a call telling me mom (affectionately know as “Big Red” to Nevadans) was on her way to the hospital in an ambulance. Mom was woken up by an explosion of pain that brought her out of bed — to her knees — then to the floor. Apparently she crawled, dragging her body, paralyzed with pain, down the hall into the family room to get a phone.
I arrived at the hospital just in time to find my mother on a gurney, my brothers, sister and aunt Harriet around her bed, when the surgeon blurted, “We must get you into surgery. ... Frankly, I am amazed that you’re alive. ... You could die any minute ... and I’m not sure that I can repair the aneurysm ... or that you will live through surgery."
The weekly sitcom character House displays better bedside manners.
We kissed mom and told her that we loved her, and off she went. With eyes wide, mouths dropped open and hearts racing, we were all at a loss and had little hope that we would see her again. The damage tore and zig-zagged down her aorta, which I believe was from a broken heart at the loss of her college sweetheart and soul mate, my dad.
The following five days in the intensive care unit were filled with experiences that I believe only those who have an awareness of their higher self would appreciate.
So, my story wouldn’t feel complete without sharing my mother’s loss of her lifelong love to heart disease just five months before her story began.
On March 5, 2004 — five months and five days before, it was shortly before 7 a.m. and I was curling my hair, getting ready for work — exactly like the morning I got the call about mom, while curling my hair I dropped my curler, it bounced and rolled across the floor as the phone rang. It was my brother Brian calling.
“Colleen?”
“Yes,” I answered.
“Dad went down at church.” (He attended ritually every morning.) “They are working on him and the ambulance is on its way. They will probably take him to Desert Springs.”
“Oh no! Please, dear God! Brian, is he breathing?”
“I don’t know, Colleen. All I know is that they are working on him”.
“Who’s working on him?”
This was the first day that changed my life forever.
Sharing my story I realize my feelings of sorrow have turned to empathy and the tears I cried in the future will be for the family and friends of the nearly half a million women who will lose their life (according to AHA) to the No. 1 killer of women: heart disease.
The mission of the Go Red for Women movement is to educate and create awareness regarding women and heart disease, enabling women to live stronger, longer lives.
So, I encourage you to throw on a red dress and join us at the Four Seasons Hotel here in Las Vegas from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 12, for the Go Red for Women luncheon. The day promises you an opportunity to learn, share, shop, win and be entertained. This event is designed to create an inspirational and informative atmosphere that will encourage women in our community and across America to become champions of their health.
Colleen O’Callaghan-Miele, co-publisher of the Home News, can be reached at 990-2653 or colleen@vegas.com. She writes a regular column at the Home News.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Turn hard times into opportunities
This first published January 8, 2009 in the Henderson Home News, a Community Newspapers of Nevada publication.
Welcoming the New Year was bittersweet.
With the aftermath of last year’s financial downturn of the real estate, construction and banking industry came a distinct sullenness for those in our valley who found themselves financially inverted, unemployed or homeless. The sweetness is it’s a time of awareness, a newness and rejuvenation to look at each day of this year as the “Last Day of Forever.”
Each year, I embrace the new year with a vigorous, dynamic and effective mind set to be all that I can be to my God, self, family, close friends, partners and those in need because they are who keep me strong when facing life’s challenges.
This year, with so many in our community being without jobs or homes, I am optimistic and encourage you to trust that life is good and we all can have a fruitful new year. There is one catch, and that is this new year will require some minor changes to our mind set.
This year for some may require embracing and incorporating past years’ philosophical lifestyles.
Recently I had lunch with a partner and reflected on the 60s, where less was more. It was a time when we all lived in the moment. Peace, love and happiness wasn’t purchased or a tangible item but a state of mind. Spending time with your family (especially the grandchildren) and friends was the ultimate source of happiness. It was a time when volunteering was not only valued but a part of life, and volunteers were acknowledged for their talents and contribution to the betterment of oneself and his or her commitment to their community as a whole.
For those who have their job and home, I encourage you to volunteer your time just a couple of hours here and there to those who are in need of your time and energy. Trust me, you will reap great rewards.
For those who are in need, what appears to be a misfortune finding themselves out of work or struggling this year could very well be a wondrous opportunity.
Think about this: Not everyone will be given the opportunity to make new decisions, change direction or launch a new venture. Use this time to take stock and inventory and use it to your advantage.
At a time when one could feel at a loss or disadvantage, research recommends that you maintain a regular schedule and daily routine.
Keeping “office hours” will help maintain a feeling of control and can be personally empowering. Get up at a time as you would if you worked. Check e-mail, job sites and read the paper. Dress and leave your house as you would if you were working.
Distribute your resumes at places or agencies you would like to be employed. Look at temporary jobs until you get the job you want. Return home at the same time each day. In order to find a job, you must treat the day as if you had one.
Be opened-minded to all options. You might find that you like a job that you might have never otherwise considered.
A perfect example is our beloved Ronald Reagan. Being turned down for a job at Montgomery Ward was one of many setbacks that moved him onto a path that eventually led to his becoming president of the United States. In the book “American Life: The Autobiography,” he wrote, “I’ve often wondered at how lives are shaped by what seem like small and inconsequential events, how an apparently random turn in the road can lead you a long way from where you intended to go — and a long way from wherever you expected to go.”
Decide how and what you want to do at this point and perhaps for the rest of your life. When you reach this juncture in your life, work will no longer be just a job or a way to earn a paycheck. It is at this point that work becomes an exciting part of your daily living that will overflow into every aspect of your world.
Colleen O’Callaghan-Miele, co-publisher of the Home News, can be reached at 990-2653 or colleen@vegas.com. She writes a regular column at the Home News.
Welcoming the New Year was bittersweet.
With the aftermath of last year’s financial downturn of the real estate, construction and banking industry came a distinct sullenness for those in our valley who found themselves financially inverted, unemployed or homeless. The sweetness is it’s a time of awareness, a newness and rejuvenation to look at each day of this year as the “Last Day of Forever.”
Each year, I embrace the new year with a vigorous, dynamic and effective mind set to be all that I can be to my God, self, family, close friends, partners and those in need because they are who keep me strong when facing life’s challenges.
This year, with so many in our community being without jobs or homes, I am optimistic and encourage you to trust that life is good and we all can have a fruitful new year. There is one catch, and that is this new year will require some minor changes to our mind set.
This year for some may require embracing and incorporating past years’ philosophical lifestyles.
Recently I had lunch with a partner and reflected on the 60s, where less was more. It was a time when we all lived in the moment. Peace, love and happiness wasn’t purchased or a tangible item but a state of mind. Spending time with your family (especially the grandchildren) and friends was the ultimate source of happiness. It was a time when volunteering was not only valued but a part of life, and volunteers were acknowledged for their talents and contribution to the betterment of oneself and his or her commitment to their community as a whole.
For those who have their job and home, I encourage you to volunteer your time just a couple of hours here and there to those who are in need of your time and energy. Trust me, you will reap great rewards.
For those who are in need, what appears to be a misfortune finding themselves out of work or struggling this year could very well be a wondrous opportunity.
Think about this: Not everyone will be given the opportunity to make new decisions, change direction or launch a new venture. Use this time to take stock and inventory and use it to your advantage.
At a time when one could feel at a loss or disadvantage, research recommends that you maintain a regular schedule and daily routine.
Keeping “office hours” will help maintain a feeling of control and can be personally empowering. Get up at a time as you would if you worked. Check e-mail, job sites and read the paper. Dress and leave your house as you would if you were working.
Distribute your resumes at places or agencies you would like to be employed. Look at temporary jobs until you get the job you want. Return home at the same time each day. In order to find a job, you must treat the day as if you had one.
Be opened-minded to all options. You might find that you like a job that you might have never otherwise considered.
A perfect example is our beloved Ronald Reagan. Being turned down for a job at Montgomery Ward was one of many setbacks that moved him onto a path that eventually led to his becoming president of the United States. In the book “American Life: The Autobiography,” he wrote, “I’ve often wondered at how lives are shaped by what seem like small and inconsequential events, how an apparently random turn in the road can lead you a long way from where you intended to go — and a long way from wherever you expected to go.”
Decide how and what you want to do at this point and perhaps for the rest of your life. When you reach this juncture in your life, work will no longer be just a job or a way to earn a paycheck. It is at this point that work becomes an exciting part of your daily living that will overflow into every aspect of your world.
Colleen O’Callaghan-Miele, co-publisher of the Home News, can be reached at 990-2653 or colleen@vegas.com. She writes a regular column at the Home News.
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