St. Mary's Rehabilitation Centre Open House

The St. Mary's Cardiac Rehabilitation Centre was recently expanded and renovated. To promote the changes to the centre, the staff hosted an open house today. Past program participants were invited as well as hospital staff.
I was personally asked if I wanted to include a booth at the open house to promote my organ and tissue donation apparel. I was very excited for this opportunity to not only include my products, but to encourage more people to register to be a donor. After all, that's the goal of the apparel I have designed anyway.
So I got busy making plans and gathering pamphlets and giveaways. Trillium supported the booth and provided information to share with people and register donors.
I also included my good friend, and pump=pal, Pam. She is the other person in Cambridge supported by an LVAD. She has also been attending rehabilitation classes at the centre. Pam was a great addition to the booth and added some additional enthusiasm to registering for organ and tissue donation. Thanks Pam!
There was some media present to help promote the Open House and Pam and I were included in the CTV segment (watch here) and the report in Waterloo Record (read here). The CTV segment was brief but hit the point of promoting the importance of the rehab centre. The Record story had a little more detail and included a little more personal perspective from Pam and me. I was very happy with both reports.

All of the staff involved in the open house:

The Pump-Pal workin' the booth:

Meep Meep!

I got a new bike today!!

Now I'm sure most of you are wondering, how does one ride a bike with the artificial heart?

Good question.

Well, I have been going to cardiac rehabilitation for a few months now, I have improved significantly and I want to! I have my backpack with my controller, batteries, pager and cell phone. And I have my spare parts in a pouch attached to my bike seat. I have it all set up.

I would like to send a big BIG thank you to my parents. I would not be riding or pushing myself this way without their love and support.

I decided on a Rocky Mountain Fusion. Designed and tested in Canada. I like to call it Mango in colour with lots of other designs and colours. It's got great components and hydraulic disk brakes. I had narrowed down my decision to a different Rocky Mountain and I was convinced into trying this one.... well it certainly hit my sweet spot.... It just felt so good! Even the pedals and the way the chain sounded. I was sold within minutes.

My Dad is an avid bike rider and he has a Rocky Mountain as well. I'm proud to match! His bike is named Rocky. So mine is rightfully named Rockette. Here she is.

I went on my first bike ride since before May 2008 with the whole family! It was great! I certainly felt that I was working, but I didn't feel like I was doing something I shouldn't have done. Progress!