Health at Mayo Clinic Update

Hi everyone!

Ok so last I left off we have found out that i had severe anemia, due to an extreme iron deficiency. We had found out that my hemoglobin level was a 6.6, which means I had HALF the amount of blood as a normal person, therefore my heart/brain/body had to work twice as hard to pump the blood through faster to get oxygen through my body.

I have seen 3 cardiologists since I have been here, and all see to be in agreement. I definitely have POTS, which was diagnosed years ago. This just means that when I stand up, my heart inappropriately races. All 3 cardiologists also agree that the severe anemia is causing a tachycardia now, as well as what they call a "flow-mur". This is like a heart murmur but only happens because the body can't move the blood fast enough, therefore it causes it to skip beats.

I saw the kidney specialist who thinks the swelling in my legs is caused by idiopathic edema. This is caused by a capillary leak, and only occurs in young females.

I have also seen a endocrinologist since I have had elevated cortisol levels since the start of 2009. However he thinks that my adrenal glands are just working overtime to battle what my body is going through, and that they are not having independent problems.

I had an endoscopy of the Upper GI done last Friday, and that showed multiple (seriously probably over 30) ulcerations. They are basically just small, superficial ulcers in my stomach. These are thought the be the source from which I was bleeding. They said because they are so small, I was just oozing over a long period of time which I would not have noticed. They took biopsies of the ulcerations as well as throughout my stomach. Yesterday I found out that I have high levels of eosinophils in my stomach and small intestines...eosinophils are white blood cells. I have tentatively been diagnosed with Eosinophilic Gastroenteritis. This is perplexing all of the doctors here because the ONLY symptoms that I have of this disorder, is anemia and slight asthma. But having a high level of eosiniphils has been confirmed through blood work as well as biopsy results. But like I said this is a tentative diagnosis, there are a few other options it could be but we have to get the anemia under control before we know for sure (other things are a couple types of leukemia, blood clotting disorders, etc).

So if it is EGE, how are all of these symptoms related to it? The thought is that I developed EGE, which caused the ulcerations. The ulcerations slowly bled, until I developed the Idiopathic Edema, Flow-Mur, tachycardia, and elevated cortisol levels. So first we have treat the anemia before we can take care of the others!

Tomorrow I am heading back to CALIFORNIA!!!!!! I will be returning back to the Mayo Clinic January 4, 2010 to get to the root of the problem, after we get the anemia under control through at home blood work-up. Thank you to everyone for your support, concern and love. Of course I will keep everyone posted on what the final decision is in a few weeks, as well as plans for a future trip back to the Mayo Clinic.

Mayo Clinic!!

Monday was my first appointment at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, AZ. I met with my diagnostic doctor, Dr. Windgassen, who was in charge of listening to my MANY complaints, and then deciding what tests needed to be run, who I needed to see, etc. She sent me immediately to get an echo cardiogram and blood work. I was provided with my schedule that she had put together so far, which looks like I will be here at least through Thurs. Nov 17 because she has every day filled with things to do.

When they drew my blood they took 15 vials of blood, which took FOREVER!!!! Less than two hours after that I got a phone call from Dr. Windgassen that I needed to immediately go to the ER for a blood transfusion, because my blood count was 6....and should be a 12! After 13 hours in the hospital, and 3 units of blood later, I was released at a 9. I was told today that I am at a 9.5. They have discovered that my severe anemia is because I am severely iron deficient! I literally have almost 0 iron in my body. So now in addition to all of the tests and specialists I was originally slated to see, we now have to figure out what the cause is.

On Friday I am scheduled to have a GI Endoscopy, which I will be under anesthesia for. Hopefully we can determine from that what is causing my blood count to be so low.

It's truly beautiful here, and such a relaxing place to be. I will be sure to post updates as they come along. Thank you to everyone for your love and support, this is a really difficult time for me and I really appreciate it!

It's Been A Long Time!!!

My year as Miss California International is officially over. It was the best year of my life to date, and I am thankful every day for the people I have met and the difference I was able to make as Miss California International. I only hope that my successor, Gretheel Olvera, has an amazing year like I did!

Fall semester at CSUN started, and I have been overwhelmingly busy with schoolwork. Graduation has been a long time coming (due to changing my major a hundred times lol). So I am really trying to take as many classes as I can each semester so I can graduate ASAP. As quite a few of you know I've been battling some health problems, some my whole life, and some new ones that started in early 2009. The shortness of breath, difficulty with stairs, hard time talking, and massive leg swelling is really starting to take its toll on me....thus a HUGE reason why I haven't blogged in so long!! The symptoms seem to be getting worse and worse, and now I am exhausted 24-7. Not for long I hope, I had some testing done and am expecting results in the next few days....so keep your fingers crossed!!

I hope everyone is having a great fall so far, and I promise to keep everyone updated on what's new in my life! HUGS!!!

Marrow Donor Drive

Just a few months ago I was put in contact with a young woman in Arlington, VA who was interested in holding a marrow donor drive. Her sister, who is currently undergoing treatment for leukemia, actually lives here in Southern California! I was so excited at the thought that Heart2Heart could hold it's first marrow donor drive outside of California, that I jumped at the opportunity.

After a LOOOOONG (did I mention delayed?!) flight to the East coast last night, I was ready for Heart2Heart's drive this morning. We had a wonderful turn-out, and Be The Match registry will be receiving quite a few new and willing donors. I had such a fantastic time chatting with Sara and Emily, who helped put the drive together, that the day just flew by. But of course the day didn't end there! Sara and her frieds were so sweet...they volunteered to show me around the DC area....I love being a tourist!

Thank you so much to Sara, her friends and family, and Be The Match registry for making today so successful. After today's drive I am confident that many more chances like this will become available for Heart2Heart...I just know it! :)

My Send Off Party!

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This weekend my parents hosted a party in my honor so that my friends, family, and sponsors could wish me luck before I head to Chicago for the Miss International pageant! The party was at River Ridge Golf Club, and was decorated in shades of purple. About 70 people came to share in this wonderful evening with me. There was a really neat slide show presentation on all of the events I have taken part in since winning Miss California International, as well as some surprise certificates of accolades including my hometown mayor, and Congressman Elton Gallegly. I also previewed pieces of my wardrobe for the Miss International pageant since I knew all of my girlfriends would love a fashion show!

I felt so lucky to have won Miss California International...and becoming a part of the California International sisterhood has definitely surpassed my expectations. I've had a wonderful time sharing my year with Sheryl, Elise, and Jayne. Eddie and Dennis have been integral in my year, and have truly become a part of my family. Thank you so much to my parents and sister for throwing me such an amazing bash, and for your continual support, strength, and love. You're the best!

Be The Match Marrowthon

On behalf of Be The Match marrow registry, I am posting this in the hopes that if you are not already on the registry, that you do so in the next two weeks! You can SAVE A LIFE!!!

Every day we are faced with decisions. Some decisions we make are life-changing. Other decisions we make touch someone else's life. I am pleased to offer you an opportunity to make a decision that can do both-change your life and touch some else's life.

Every day, thousands of patients, are searching for a life-saving donor - someone just like you. BE THE MATCH Registry helps people who need a life-saving marrow or blood cell transplant. The registry connects patients, doctors, donors and researchers to the resources they need to help more people live longer and healthier lives.

Join Be The Match Registry:

From June 8th through June 22nd, The Be The Match marrowthon seeks to add 46, 000 new members to the registry and raise funds for the Be The Match Foundation. While it does cost $100.00 to add a new member to the registry, during the marrowthon campaign the fee is waived for the first 46, 000 registered.

Joining is easy. Patients need donors who are between the ages of 18 and 60, in good general health, and are willing to donate to any patient in need. Click on the link below to begin your registration and remember to add the promo code Hopemarrowthon09.

http://www.marrow.org/JOIN/Join_Now_Special/Marrowthon09/join_now_mt09.html When asked to provide a "Promo Code", please enter Hopemarrowthon09.

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Moorpark Morning Rotary

After a lengthy drive home from Palm Springs (due to traffic of course!), I was up early this morning for the Moorpark Morning Rotary meeting. I was invited to be the guest speaker, which I was thrilled to do. The current president and soon-to-be president are dear friends that I've known for quite some time; so I was happy to see them this morning! I really enjoyed talking about Heart2Heart, and the successes we've seen in the past 10 years. And the really cool thing about this meeting was that it was right across the street from where I held my first marrow donor drive so many years ago. It really felt like I'd come full circle! Thanks to Doug and Brian for having me as your honored guest this morning.

Talk of the Desert

After a few months, I finally returned to the city where I was crowned to be a guest on "Talk of the Desert", which is a 30 minute television program hosted by former Mrs. California International Melinda Read. I was so excited to accept this tv interview, and spend time with such a wonderful woman. She told me all about her experiences at the Mrs. International pageant, and that hosting "Talk of the Desert" was a direct result from her being Mrs. California International.

During the 30 program, we discussed Heart2Heart, Go Red For Women, what my year as Miss California International has been like so far, and what my plans for the future are. We actually ran out of time to talk.....it flew by!!!! I want to thank Melinda so much for inviting me as a guest on her talk show, it was truly an honor to have spent my morning with her. For more information you can visit her website: http://talkofthedesert.tv/

Operation USO Care Package

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All I can say is wow! Today was such a fun event. I was invited to help put together 20,000 care packages to send to our troops overseas. I was joined by many Northrop Grumman volunteers, and celebrities such as Nancy Sinatra, Gary Sinise, and Erik Estrada. Nancy Sinatra kicked off the afternoon event by singing her famous hit, "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'" which she dedicated to the troops. We spent hours in assembly lines making sure we hit our goal of 20,000 care packages. Thank you so much to Northrop Grumman and the USO for asking me to help out with Operation USO Care Package. It was truly inspirational to take part in something that can bring a smile to the faces of the men and women who defend our country.

Learn and Live Luncheon

Today was the Learn and Live Luncheon for the American Heart Association. This wonderful lunch was held at the Wilshire Grand, which is a gorgeous hotel downtown Los Angeles. The Learn and Live Luncheon is an opportunity to show potential volunteers and donors what the AHA is all about and the amazing work they do in life saving research and awareness. It's a great chance for anyone who is interested in becoming involved with the AHA to see a mini-presentation on their charitable works! I was asked to attend as a table hostess and heart survivor. I really enjoyed hearing about new developments in research, and seeing so many people who were willing to give of their time. Thank you so much for asking me to be a part of this luncheon!

Reach for the Stars

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This weekend I traveled to Fresno, CA to be a part of the Reach for the Stars program. This was such an inspirational event that every year the California International girls have gone to, and I was so thrilled that I finally got to go myself!!

I was joined by my sister queens Sheryl and Elise, and it was so much fun to have an event where we got to spend so much time together! We were invited to a sponsored dinner Sunday night, where we were dazzled with local food and entertainment and really got a chance to unwind after the long drive. Then we woke up bright and early Monday morning for a Fox TV interview, where we talked about our platforms and how our year as the California International queens has been so far. We spent the rest of the early morning visiting the program sponsors, which was a lot of fun. Just before lunch we finally arrived at the middle school. Reach for the Stars is a program at Tahipiti Middle School that encourages the children to pursue their dreams, education, and follow in the footsteps of their favorite stars. Sheryl, Elise, and I had a wonderful time talking about community service and spending time with the kids. Thank you so much to Ron for inviting me to such a unique event!

Ventura County Go Red Luncheon

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Today was the Ventura County Go Red For Women Luncheon, held at the Westlake Village Inn. Although I had school today and couldn't attend the actual luncheon, I arrived eaerly in the morning to help with set up. What a beautiful venue! The luncheon overlooked the gorgeous golf course greens, complete with a huge fountain and lush gardens. Today was also special to me because I was asked to be a part of the Ventura County Heart Gallery. My photo and heart survivor story were put on a poster and was put up for display along with 9 others at the luncheon. Not only that, by it will be traveling throughout Ventura County at health fairs, luncheons, and walks for the year. I thought it was so exciting to be asked to be a part of this, and truly an honor. Thank you so much to Go Red for asking me to be a "heart survivor", and for inviting me to the luncheon today!

2009 Los Angeles Heart Ball

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It was such an honor to be invited to the Los Angeles Heart Ball, which is an amazing event put on by the American Heart Association. I was joined by Shawn, Mrs. California International 2009 Sheryl Ellison, and her husband Ryan.

I'd like to start by saying that it was so cool to be at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel...where "Pretty Woman" was filmed!! The food was INCREDIBLE....Chilean sea bass, mushroom raviolis, citrus salad, and YUMMY chocolate dipped treats!! I really do love chocolate! We also watched a wonderful show by the one and only Toni Braxton....WOW I wish I could sing like her!! The AHA was able to raise a substantial amount of money tonight, and I found that very exciting!

It was a magical night, and thank you so much the the American Heart Association for inviting me!!

Greater LA Woman of the Year Finale

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Tonight was the culmination of my 9 weeks of fundraising for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The Finale was held at the California Science Center- Annenberg Building. It was such a gorgeous venue, and really cool to know that it was built out of completely recycled materials!

During the past nine weeks I collected both live and silent auction items to be auctioned off at the Finale, had an email campaign, and then the Miss California International 2009 Golf Ball Drop. All of these contributed to me surpassing my goal!! Thank you to everyone who donated money, their time, or an item. I honestly can't thank you enough!!

My family, Eddie, Dennis, and Shauna joined me in celebrating not only my fundraising efforts, but the work of the other 14 candidates. Together the 15 of us raised over $173,000 during the past 9 weeks. Congratulations to the 2009 Greater LA Man and Woman of the Year winners.....you are both truly an inspiration!

Miss California International 2009's Golf Ball Drop

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photos provided by: John B. Mueller Photography (Thanks John!!)

Today was a BEAUTIFUL day in Ventura County...so much better than the 38 mph winds we had on the original drop day! This was my first time in a helicopter, so I was excited to see the city from a higher viewpoint. Although it's hard to see me in the photos, I am in the front end of the helicopter! We dropped 375 golf balls onto the golf course, so it definitely looked like a waterfall of golf balls. Although I was bummed we had to wait a week, it was definitely worth it.

Thank you so much to the Optimist Club of Simi Valley for their support and efforts. Also a huge thank you to River Ridge Golf Club for providing a stunning venue, and thanks to Aspen Helicopters for making sure it was a safe trip for me :) Thank you to AAA Club for their wonderful prize donations, they were wonderful. Thank you to John B. Mueller Photography for getting such amazing shots of my event. I'd also like to thank everyone who purchased golf balls to support The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society through my Woman of the Year Campaign. Each of you participated in helping to find a cure for blood cancers...and I thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Golf Ball Drop Update!!

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(photos by John B. Mueller Photography)
So today was supposed to be Miss California International 2009's Golf Ball Drop, benefiting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Mother nature had a different plan! Although the forecast said possible showers, it was a beautifully sunny day....despite the massive wind storms! Needless to say the helicopter pilot did not think it was safe to go up, which I was thankful for since I didn't want my first time to be my last!!! We did get some fun pictures today though, so I thought I'd share them.

The Golf Ball Drop has been rescheduled for March 31st, with guests arriving at 2 pm and the drop at 3 pm. This means it's not too late to purchase a $20 golf ball, and support LLS! The grand prize is a 3 or 4 day Mexican Riviera cruise, with other prizes such as the rental and 300 miles of a 32' RV, weekend stay at Apple Farms in San Luis Obispo, and a weekend stay at a resort in Cancun....and of course a chance of winning $25,000!!!!

Ventura County International 2010 Pageant

Congratulations to Shauna Libby, Miss Ventura County International 2010 and Sejal Thaker, Miss Teen Ventura County International 2010!!

I had a wonderful time at the pageant, and getting to know all of the contestants. It was exciting to have so many first time competitors, and I know Crowning Glory Productions will have a great year not only with Shauna and Sejal, but with their at-large contestants as well! Congratulations to everyone...you were fantastic!

Jiffy Lube promotional event

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Well today was a windy day here in Ventura County! Despite the wind, we managed to make a difference by promoting women's heart health. I was invited by Go Red For Women to attend the Jiffy Lube event, which was raising money for Go Red! Jiffy Lubes across the USA have pledged to raise $1.5 million dollars to support heart disease awareness and prevention through Go Red For Women. This event in particular gave discounted oil changes....which of course I took part in!!! Thank you so much to Jiffy Lube, and Go Red For Women for asking me to be a part of this event. I really enjoyed myself!

Moorpark Rotary

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Today I was invited to be the program speaker at the Moorpark Rotary Club. Moorpark is actually where I grew up, and they have been instrumental in my success over the years. I am actually an Honorary Rotarian in Moorpark!

It was wonderful to catch up with the Rotarians, and fill them in on what an exciting year I've been having as Miss California International. Thank you so much for having me as the speaker!!

Go Red For Women Luncheon

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Today was the Los Angeles Go Red For Women Luncheon held at the downtown LA Marriott. I arrived well before the lunch to help in any way I could, and was able to take advantage of the workshops prior to the lunch! I had the wonderful opportunity of meeting the National Director of Go Red For Women, Stephanie Wilson. I also enjoyed seeing some friendly faces. Today was truly inspiring to hear so many women's stories of heart disease, struggle, and how that shaped their lives today. Thank you to Go Red For Women for having me!
http://www.goredforwomen.org/

Spaghetti Dinner

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First I'd like to thank Du-Pars of Thousand Oaks for allowing us to have this event at their restaurant.

Yesterday was the Miss California International 2009 Spaghetti Dinner Extravaganza! It was not only a dinner, but an opportunity for contestants throughout Southern California to shop for wardrobe (trunk show by Crowns & Gowns) as well as check out an amazing skin care company (Become). Not only did future contestants attend, but I also shared my day with my family, Eddie, Dennis, Scott, Mrs. California International, and Miss Teen California International.

Thank you to all who attended...and a HUGE thank you to Crowns & Gowns, Become, and Cookie Lee for making this a truly unique Extravaganza.

Go Red For Women Healthy Heart Workshop

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Happy Heart Awareness Month!!! I hope everyone plans to wear red on Friday Feb. 6, 2009 in support of the American Heart Association.

Today was the Go Red For Women Casting Call and Healthy Heart Workshop, held in Los Angeles. Go Red For Women is searching for stories and the face of GRFW for 2010. During the Casting Call, was the Healthy Heart Workshop. I was asked to tell my story as a HEART SURVIVOR, in hopes that it would inspire women in attendance to know their numbers!

My sister queen, Mrs. California International 2009 Sheryl Ellison, was at this event as well conducting the interview portion of the casting call. It was so wonderful to spend some time together since we live far away from each other.

January 31st!!

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My last day of January was certainly a busy one! I started off my day with a bone marrow donor drive at Whole Foods Market Health Fair in Thousand Oaks, CA. It was so cool to be a part of their Health Fair, and thanfully it was really nice weather since it was outdoors!

Then it was a quick change of clothes, and off to Beverly Hills for a party. I am a candidate for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Greater LA Woman of the Year, which is essentially a FUNDRAISING COMPETTION for nine weeks! We kicked-off the competition with a party at Beverly Hills Classic Cars. It was wonderful to get to know the other candidates, meet the Boy and Girl of the Year, and hear so many wonderful stories of triumph over blood cancers.

I hope you enjoy the pictures, and I encourage you to make a donation to my campaign by visiting:
http://los.llsevent.org/pledge/index.cfm?mid=HGUSHWA

Remember this is a fundraising competition, and the winner is named Woman of the Year! Help me to meet my goals and make a donation!

Miss Ventura County International Pageant!!

It's finally time for the Miss Ventura County International 2010 pageant (an official preliminary to the California International Pageants). Crowning Glory Productions will be awarding 5 titles:

Miss Teen and Miss Gold Coast International 2010
Jr. Miss, Miss Teen, and Miss Ventura County International 2010


If you are between the ages of 11 and 29, and live/work/attend school in Ventura County; you are eligible!!! This is an AMAZING program to compete in, so please attend the orientation to be held:

January 24, 2009
Courtyard Marriott
1710 Newbury Rd. in Thousand Oaks, CA
10:00 am

This preliminary pageant has had multiple Top 10 Placements, Top 5 Placements, and 2 States winners in the past three years. YOU COULD BE NEXT!!!! For more information please visit the website:

http://www.crowninggloryproductions.com