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Dottie Lessard
Forum Leader
Username: Dottie_lessard

Post Number: 72
Registered: 03-2009
Posted on Wednesday, August 04, 2010 - 07:37 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

WOW. What Inspiration. Every Professional Athlete, Every Athlete, should have the honor of seeing these Athletes compete.

I just returned from the 2010 NKF US Transplant Games and while I am tired, i am rejuvinated, refreshed, and more determined than ever to live this life as FULLY as I possibly can.

I am VERY PROUD to share that i won the GOLD Medal in both events I competed in , the 100m and 200m sprint. Yes, Running It never gets less exciting to run down a track as fast as i possibly can with the gift of new lungs that have been with me for 16 years. To be able to represent LONGEVITY for people with both Cystic Fibrosis and Lung Transplants I could not be prouder. I am still here and still running.......and plan to for a long, long time. I have my obstacles like everyone esle but I am determined to climb, jump, leap, run through, each and every one of them to LIVE LIFE FULLY. We must and we can. WE ALL CAN. Any obstacle you face, you can make it through.

The games have become so much more to me than sprinting and winning medals-although I LOVE THAT. The games are about ALL the Athletes there, the donor families, the donors, athletes we have lost, etc..the list goes on....
For me, the biggest GIFT at the games is watching the kids do their events. Especially Run. For they run Free, Fearless, with Joy and Hope and always with a smile. Pure beauty. I got one of the greatest gifts ever on Sunday afternoon when i went to the track to practice. Ben and I were just walking on the track when i noticed a pair of parents-one was holding their beautiful son and one was holding this bright yellow walker with wheels on it. I stopped short and said to Ben "wait, I need some inspiration" He was all ready to get me focused on practicing my start and he soon realized that was going to happen as i plopped myself down in the grass eyes big on this couple and their boy.

I watched from the side as they got situated in the middle of the bright red track and I now was standing. ben said "You going to go do a Dottie arent you?" i said, Yep, gotta. So I walked. As i was walking towards them I saw one of the most beautiful sights i have ever seen and it will forever be in my mind every single time i compete, I fight an infection, I draw breath. Truly.

The mom and dad, now i know them as my freinds and hero's ..Amanda and Steve Shelton placed this special walker that little Deven goes "in front of" (I cant see him going behind anything in life...) on the track and as they placed this special miracle boy who was never supposed to live in on the ground with his arms strapped into this thing, he LIT UP. He came so ALIVE. It was like the worold had 2 suns. Really. I will never forget it. They graciously let me watch and then we got to talk for a long time and needless to say...we bonded. Ben said after, they have no idea who you are at these games and i said, Good, i like that because i really am just one of 5,000 ATHLETES, no better no stronger, just one.

I was so inpsired and could not wait for the next day...not so much for my races but for Deven's. I ran my 100m in the am and WON. YAY. I thought, to myself, I represented my little Deven (and my donors..including you Linda) well

Fast forward to the afternoon and the best part of the day for me. It was the 25 meter run and Deven was ready and rearing to go. Amanda took her spot at the finish line and Steve was right behind Deven. All the beautiful little kids lined up and the little girls went first and ran their hearts out-I cried with joy..I am such a sap! But it was beautiful. next was the boys turns and there were about 5 little miracles ready to go. Deven was in lane 2 and his little legs were itching to get started as Steve lined him up. I was next to the referee's awaiting the gun and BANG!! They were off...the little munchkins took flight with huge smiles and tons of JOY. Deven was doing it!! The little boy who's parents were told he would never be able to move or show any emoiton was doing BOTH in FULL FORCE! He pushed and psuhed and moved thos legs down that lane with such determination. I was, of course, cheering him on (now walking next to him in lane 1) tears in my eyes and a smile on my face and that little bugger got about half way and lifted those beautiful legs up and pushed harder! I threw my arms up with victory and the crowd also started to cheer..."DEVEN, DEVEN, DEVEN..." I am not sure how Steve and Amanda kept their composure with Amanda holding that video camera and Steve not pushing deven but making sure he stayed in his lane, but they did-like i said, HERO'S. It was all of these things at at once that make me SO PROUD to call myself a TRANSPLANT ATHLETE.

Deven crossed that finsih line on his own with his own determined legs, new liver, and big huge heart. He ran 25 meters and finsihed his race! What a Champion. he didnt ever get scared, he didnt ever cringe or cry, he just pushed forward one foot, one step at a time until he got to the finish and his momma. I dont have to tell you what i was doing at that point...CRYIN...

I was overjoyed and felt so blessed to have been able to witness such an amazing moment. Deven is my HERO and as i said, watch out guys....cause here he comes...there is NO stopping him now I know it and i cannot wait to see him race again and again and again...eat your heart out guys...the REAL Athlete was in Madison.

I hope you all have a chance to get to know a Hero like Deven. This one is my blessing. Thank You so much Amanda and Steve for fighting so hard for your boy and then sharing him with the world (and ME)

People, LIVE LIFE FULLY like Deven because if he CAN.... you BETTER!!

Dottie

*Guys I would love for you to see the picture of us. Please log onto www.wholebodywellbeing.com and click on my blog. I hope you all are INSPIRED.

Love Dottie
Dottie,
Author of "The Seven Letters That Saved My Life"
Coach, Athlete and Mom to Liam
Survivor of
Cystic Fibrosis, Double lung transplant 94, Kidney transplant, 03
WholeBodyWellbeing.com
ASK DOTTIE...
Hostess Rise
Board Administrator
Username: Rise

Post Number: 13906
Registered: 05-2003
Posted on Thursday, August 05, 2010 - 12:04 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Hello Dottie

LOVE your inspiring story. Have you contacted this family to share what you have written?

I am so happy for you. Congratulations on winning two gold. That is simply extraordinary.

i did not see any photos on your website.

Love and hugs
Rise'
Cystic Fibrosis- dx at 2yrs. -2nd double lung tx-05
Debra Fertel MD- Med. Dir. Lung Transplant/Pulmonary Hypertension Programs
Jackson Memorial Hospital

Si Pham MD, Professor of Surgery, Dir. of Thoracic Transplant & Artificial Heart Program-Miam Transplant Institute

Anas Hadeh MD, Cleveland Clinic, Weston, Florida
CF consultant- Critical Care and Sleep Medicine

Sharing Knowledge is an Invaluable Experience
Transplant Friends & Chat
Questions- Contact Hostess Rise'
Dottie Lessard
Forum Leader
Username: Dottie_lessard

Post Number: 74
Registered: 03-2009
Posted on Thursday, August 05, 2010 - 12:31 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Hi Rise' THANKS. And Thanks for taking the time to read..you are always so thoughtful to everyone, you are pretty special. :-)

YES, the family has read it and proudly has added it to their facebook asking their friends and family to read it. They are ALL AMAZING.

I am working on getting pictures on the website and my new personal website is finally up, the dottielessard.com (it still is being done as i have to add blog, pictures, links-such as transplant buddies, etc) but at least something is there so we are making progress. YAY. I do have photos on my Facebook the Dottie Lessard Athlete one.

I passed out some of the Transplant Buddies cards and told alot of athletes about the wonderful site...I hope they come visit!
The DVD's from Whole-Body Wellbeing are also ready for sale and I mention transplant buddies website on each!

THANK YOU for your well wishes and for being one of the people that Inspire me to do what i do. We all have our way to give back and you certainly are a GOLD medalist at yours....

Dottie xo
Dottie,
Author of "The Seven Letters That Saved My Life"
Coach, Athlete and Mom to Liam
Survivor of
Cystic Fibrosis, Double lung transplant 94, Kidney transplant, 03
WholeBodyWellbeing.com
ASK DOTTIE...
Hostess Rise
Board Administrator
Username: Rise

Post Number: 13908
Registered: 05-2003
Posted on Thursday, August 05, 2010 - 12:46 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

I LOVE my friend DOTTIE!

I will check out your facebook page.

I did not know you had a dottie Athlete page. What is the address?
Cystic Fibrosis- dx at 2yrs. -2nd double lung tx-05
Debra Fertel MD- Med. Dir. Lung Transplant/Pulmonary Hypertension Programs
Jackson Memorial Hospital

Si Pham MD, Professor of Surgery, Dir. of Thoracic Transplant & Artificial Heart Program-Miam Transplant Institute

Anas Hadeh MD, Cleveland Clinic, Weston, Florida
CF consultant- Critical Care and Sleep Medicine

Sharing Knowledge is an Invaluable Experience
Transplant Friends & Chat
Questions- Contact Hostess Rise'
Hostess Rise
Board Administrator
Username: Rise

Post Number: 13909
Registered: 05-2003
Posted on Thursday, August 05, 2010 - 12:50 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post


Dottie's new hero Deven
Cystic Fibrosis- dx at 2yrs. -2nd double lung tx-05
Debra Fertel MD- Med. Dir. Lung Transplant/Pulmonary Hypertension Programs
Jackson Memorial Hospital

Si Pham MD, Professor of Surgery, Dir. of Thoracic Transplant & Artificial Heart Program-Miam Transplant Institute

Anas Hadeh MD, Cleveland Clinic, Weston, Florida
CF consultant- Critical Care and Sleep Medicine

Sharing Knowledge is an Invaluable Experience
Transplant Friends & Chat
Questions- Contact Hostess Rise'
Hostess Rise
Board Administrator
Username: Rise

Post Number: 13910
Registered: 05-2003
Posted on Thursday, August 05, 2010 - 12:52 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post


Deven in Action
Cystic Fibrosis- dx at 2yrs. -2nd double lung tx-05
Debra Fertel MD- Med. Dir. Lung Transplant/Pulmonary Hypertension Programs
Jackson Memorial Hospital

Si Pham MD, Professor of Surgery, Dir. of Thoracic Transplant & Artificial Heart Program-Miam Transplant Institute

Anas Hadeh MD, Cleveland Clinic, Weston, Florida
CF consultant- Critical Care and Sleep Medicine

Sharing Knowledge is an Invaluable Experience
Transplant Friends & Chat
Questions- Contact Hostess Rise'
Dottie Lessard
Forum Leader
Username: Dottie_lessard

Post Number: 79
Registered: 03-2009
Posted on Saturday, August 14, 2010 - 12:27 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Rise'
THANK YOU so much for posting these pictures for me! I am still learning alot of the tools with this social networking, posting things so your help is so greatly appreciated!

You truly are a GIFT to me and so many!
Love Dottie
Dottie,
Author of "The Seven Letters That Saved My Life"
Coach, Athlete and Mom to Liam
Survivor of
Cystic Fibrosis, Double lung transplant 94, Kidney transplant, 03
WholeBodyWellbeing.com
ASK DOTTIE...

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