Deanna Linz~TV Host and Pageant Coach

The past weekend was a little rough on me. No real reason, no dramatic moments (besides the occasional discussion with my husband on shoes:)and really nothing to complain about. I have my health, my son's health, the love of a good man and PLENTY OF SHOES. (at least for today:))) However, I am missing my parents. They both passed away in June and July but there are just some days/times where I just miss them. They both died of heart disease at 54 and 56 years of age. I have had many who wondered why I did not change my "platform" for pageants to heart disease. It is a fair and honest question and one that I have asked myself.

I first started volunteering with the American Heart Association in 2000. This was before the platform world but something I just felt passionate about. Little did I know that I would lose the most important people in my life (at the time) to heart disease. My Mom had her first stroke in her 30's and had always been "sick". I was very young and I think I blamed myself for so much. I remember running away as a teen and my Father saying, "Do you know what you did to your Mother?". That I will never forget. In retrospect, I realize I had nothing to do with it but as a teenager, the world is on your shoulders and fault can always be found because we aren't exactly the most confident. Especially me. I wasn't the prom queen but I was an honors student. A lost student at times but I think every teenager is.

Move forward many years, many losses and a day in Florida that I will never quite understand. My Dad owned a business and had a temper but also a lot of love. He got so upset in the morning due to business that he blew out his mitral valve. Considering he accidentally cut his finger off a few months earlier and drove himself to the hospital, his stubborn nature made him think he was OK. I was working that day and called him. His response was tell your Mom I am fine. That is the kind of man he was, always fine. (I will only share with you the definition of F.I.N.E in person:)))) Well about 5pm he called my Brother, two weeks later and a double valve replacement he passed away. Move forward two years and my Mom was found deceased at the house in Georgia after surgery. She had St Jude valves and my dad pig valves. (this sounds odd but is what is used based on the patients age and status) I did find it funny that my Mom's valves came with a warranty, what were we going to collect????

For me, it wasn't a platform but part of my life. I also have to admit that it was hard for me to talk about for a few years as it was personal...really personal. Nobody wants a babbling beauty queen. To me, everything that Andy and I have done with the Armed Forces hopefully helps in a world that is forgotten. Especially as 911continue to be move further away in some minds. Trust me though, not in the minds of those who serve daily.

Carter had a PDA ligation in January on his heart. He is doing great. I guess we are just a family of big hearts, a lot of emotion and forever love. I am ok with that. When I go to pick up the phone, I just look to the heavens and know they are there 24/7. I am sure my Dad would love to have told Andy that I dream and love shoes. Well I should, they made me that way! As my Father always said, if you give up your dreams you die. So, for now, I'll just keep dreaming.