There was a wise man who told me once, "You don't know my life". How true, how true.

People ask me about heart disease and stroke. I talk about signs, symptoms, advocacy, education, youth. Here is the unfortunate reality. PEOPLE DON"T SEE HEART DISEASE. They see a movie and in many cases it is sudden. No less scary, but sudden. The reality is that we don't "loose" anything that screams victim of heart disease. Often, we have an "episode" as the love to call a stroke or MIA but once we have surgery, everyone thinks its "fixed". Heck, I did too. We all want to put it behind us.

Here is what I see everyday when I look in the mirror. Mortality. I remember when my Mom was sick but she seemed to be the one in my mind that would push through anything. Then Lois called to tell me she was found deceased at the house. Alone. She was 56. I remember my Dad. I remember crossing the wrong bridge in the middle of the night. I remember them telling me as his blood gas started to drop, there is nothing we can do. I also remember the BRIEF moment of relief after his valve replacement where I sat outside the hospital thinking everything would be fine.

I remember January of 2010. I remember laying in the ER thinking this can't be happening to me. I remember laying in the ICU just thinking about my son and husband and my life.

I remember waking up after my surgery thinking...I am alive.

I remember driving this week wondering if it was all happening when I felt a pain. Hard not to become paranoid when you looked at mortality in the mirror.

I am scared everyday. I want to see my son grow up. I want to live.

This is why I walk, because I can when the reality is 1 and 3 cannot.

http://heartwalk.kintera.org/dc/deannamlinz




Please join me

My sister Lois Lane is a breast cancer survivor. She is also a HUGE hero to me. I think the reality of cancer is it takes things from you. I remember her first surgery. I believe after initial treatment is complete, others treat cancer patients like they are cured.  There is no cure YET so let continue the fight.

I also have to tell you she rocked the wigs. They all have had names. Pat Benatar, Blondie....

She is 3 years clear....I love her and today and EVERYDAY she is my hero. Lois Lane, I love you..."Tough, you aint't ever been nothing but tough"

I recently was trying to answer the question about my "heroes". My Grandparents are definately  my heroes but there are so many that I might sound "cheeky" to say them all. OK, I always wanted an OSCAR moment.

To me "heroes" are just that. My husband is AMAZING, don't let him know I said so! So him and Carter are my SUPERHEROES along with my Brother Todd.

This did get me thinking about the women in my life.  Mary Petre Morgan and Judy Pieczonka just loved me and I have no idea why. I was a stranger to them and they welcomed me as family. Denny and Judy Pieczonka. My sister, Lois .

You know how you meet someone sometime and you just don't know why and then life slaps you and says listen to me!

What I do know is she is amazing and God brought her in my life doe me to learn from.

Patty lost her dad to heart disease and lives and works everyday for him. This is what drives her mission with the American Heart Association. This is part I love about AHA. The mission.

Today she is my hero-

Today I had the honor of speaking at the Combined Federal Campaign for the United Way. As I sat there listening, I was reminded about the journey we all go through. I love passion and compassion. I was particularly touched by FOHA which is a no kill animal rescue. My furs are just love. Halo, Josie and Jack. Pure love.

We live each day telling our stories and those before us as well. Our parents, our siblings, our Grandparents, our friends and strangers. Its seems so much easier to talk about others than our self. Home hits home and reality is just there.

There is no charity better than the next. They are ALL personal.

In my family we are  diabetic,cerebral palsy, lung disease, PTSD,we are cancer survivors and casualties of heart disease. My family is NOT special.My story has been told so many times.

What my moment was today was an amazing women  that was telling me about her son. Triple bypass and asked for two of our heart walk capes for heart walk. I, as we all do have self pity moments. She inspired me.

With sincere heart and many thanks~D

I think I still am in shock. Ok I know I am! Last Saturday my husband crowned me as Mrs Maryland International 2012! Yes, the picture is me but at times I did think that photoshopping was my only option. After multiple tries, I won! We have lived in Maryland for 4 years and I am so excited to be able to represent our state. As a military spouse, you move around a lot so this is the closest thing to home I have. Although I do have to say that don't ever mess with the Florida Gators or Tampa Bay Buccanneers with me! Florida will always own a piece of me as I grew up there!

It was an amazing weekend and congrats to my new sister queens also. Kristyn Admire, Miss VA, Jennifer Williams,Mrs Va, Miss Maryland, Chardia Murray and our little miss title holders.

Thank you also to Deshawn Shepard, my new state Director. How lucky am I.

I love you Andy and thank you for always allowing me to pursue my dreams!

I remain blessed~

Mrs Maryland International 2012

Deanna M Linz