Message from the President

I’m writing this on the day following the Celebration of the Heart. As it turned out it was typical, it rained buckets outside, but inside, the food was outstanding, the cake was delicious. I loved those cookies and the number of door prizes was staggering.

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But I want to tell you a little bit about the celebration that almost didn’t take place. On page 6 Martin will tell you about what happened at the celebration. I want to tell you little bit about what happened the day before and about some very caring people. I received a phone call about six o’clock Wednesday before the planned event. I was told that Lance auditorium had somehow been double scheduled and there were two groups planning to use it on Thursday. It is not my intention to point fingers. W ithin an organization as large as Meridian clerical mistakes can happen. I was told the other group could not be moved, they had scheduled a major EMT test and we would have to cancel the Celebration of the Heart. This was less than 24 hours before our event.

I went into a semi-panic mode and began to look at options. I learned that someone had scheduled our event for the 18th of the month rather than the 11th. After several late night phone calls, it was determined not to cancel but to reschedule. I went to bed trying to imagine how to contact over a hundred people who had reservations. To tell you the truth I didn’t sleep much that night.

When I arrived the next morning at Jersey Shore University Medical Center Cardiac Rehab I was greeted with many smiling faces and very special people doing a lot of work. It was sort of like a bowling alley. Anita, Helen and Linda were all rolling balls at the pins, Lenny was keeping score and I was resetting the pins. It took less than the regulation 10 perfect frames, however, the game resulted in a successful note, I heard “the Celebration will go as planned.” Although the necessary changes had been made before I arrived, I believe that Tim Foley was the owner of the bowling alley. The other group had been able to move into the rooms across the hall and Lance auditorium was set up for the Celebration of the Heart.

Photo by Martin Brilliant

It was a wonderful evening but let me tell you about some of the comments that were given to me by guests at the party. One person summed up the feeling of many when he said he told me “I am a pulmonary patient and I don’t go very many places because the oxygen equipment makes other people uncomfortable; here I’m just one of the guys with the tank.” Another person told me how happy he was to be at a party supported by JSUMC. “It just makes me feel good because you know if anything goes wrong with my ticker, I’m in the right place.” A gentleman came up to me on his way out and commented “you know I feel good, I had an interesting talk with the man sitting next to me and I realized my bypass surgery was pretty routine compared to a series of operations my new friend has been going through.” His comment reminded me of the old quote “I was sad because I had no boots until I saw a person who had no shoes.” It was a great evening. That really describes the Celebration of the Heart.

So many people need to be thanked. Jesse, the food was fabulous and your attention to details made everything flow smooth as silk. The nurses from cardiac rehab were there on their own time because many of you had been their patients and they enjoy seeing your progress. Lenny and family, I can’t say enough about your dedication to Mended Hearts and heart patients. I realize there is so much more but the editor is ready to cut me off. Things like registration, tickets to be handed out, gifts were donated, collected and distributed, cake was brought to the tables, music and the sound were all put together. About the best thing I can add is that, I will be proud to set up bowling pins for this team any time.