My 30th Birthday!!

Thank you to my family and friends who have made this day special! Love you very much!


(Jeff even bought me a tiara with a 30 on it!)

Newbuyport Fall Festival

On Sunday, October 12th I was honored to be the emcee for a Vera Bradley fashion show at Newburyport Card and Gift. It was such pleasure to meet everyone at the store and it was great meeting Anthony Acito who is featured in the new High School Musical movie!


With Anthony Acito of High School Musical











With mom and dad

American Heart Association's Faces of Heart Disease and Stroke Campaign

Photo Credit: McCardinal Photo

Merrimack Valley Heart Walk

On Saturday, October 3rd my family and I participated in the Merrimack Heart Walk. Thank you everyone who donated to my walk! We raised over $500 for the American Heart Association! It was also very exciting because it was the first time we saw the final product of the Faces of Heart Disease campaign. I am very honored to have been included as a survivor, check out the pics below. And a special thank you to my sister and my brother-in-law for making our awesome Team Jessica t-shirts!! I love them!

Clip from the Boston Herald on Sunday, September 14th

Thank you to my dear friend, Mrs. NH United States, Michele Sharpe for sending this to us!

Boston Heart Walk

On Saturday, September 13th, my sister queens Lindsey, Miss Teen Mass International and Michelle, Miss Mass International and I attended the Boston Heart Walk at the DCR Hatch Shell on the Esplanade. It was gorgeous day and we had a blast! Thank you both so much for sharing this special event with me!


With Lindsey Fernandes, Miss Teen Massachusetts International and Michelle Spaleta, Miss Massachusetts International


With Red Sox legend, Johnny Pesky. He was so cute!


I was very surprised when Johnny Pesky leaned in to plant one on me! He was very friendly with all of us, especially Michelle! My first kiss from a professional athlete, Sorry Jeff!


Letting little Stella try on my crown, she is adorable!


Sharing a moment with one of the many walkers, they predicted 15,000 people would attend the walk!


Having my blood pressure taken at the "Know Your Numbers" tent by one of the Boston University Med students. Happy to report, it's 100/80.


Michelle still looks fabulous even while having her blood pressure taken!


The beautiful Lindsey having hers checked as well.


One of my favorite photos, Survivors stick together! Here with Madelyn in our special red Survivor caps, she is one amazing little girl!


With Jared from Subway, I was so excited that we had the chance to chat with him and pose for a photo!


Wally the Green Monsta' stole my crown and made me wear his hat!



At the finish line..

Faces of Heart Disease Photoshoot

I am honored that the American Heart Association has asked me to participate in their Faces of Heart Disease campaign that will be displayed at the Merrimack Valley Heart Walk on Saturday, October 4th in Lowell, Ma. Here are a couple of pics that Jeff took during the shoot, as you can tell, we did a yoga theme. You will see the final product of our fun at the beach at the walk! If you haven't registered for my team yet, here is the link:

https://www.kintera.org/faf/search/searchTeamPart.asp?ievent=265892&team=2829974

Special Thank You

Thank you so much to Angela and staff at the American Heart Association and to Toni Joerres for the beautiful flowers. I cannot begin to tell you how much it brightened my day to come home from work and see them on my door step! I am very lucky to have such wonderful people in my life.

Newburyport's Yankee Homecoming Parade

On Sunday, August 3rd we participated in the 2008 Yankee Homecoming parade in my hometown of Newburyport. It was great weather for the first half of the parade and then, the thunder and lightening made an appearance. Thankfully Jeff knew to close the roof on our convertible before the down pours of rain!



Thank you to Amesbury Chevrolet and Volkswagen for sponsoring my convertible for the parade! The convertible Eos is beautiful car!





Thank you to my wonderful husband for driving the car AND taking pictures! I love you!!

There's the rain...

My Story

Check out my story on the Go Red for Women site:

http://www.community.goredtv.org/recent-posts/default.asp?item=2216163&rttpagenum=1

Congratulations!!

I just wanted to take a moment to congratulate all the New England Teen and Miss queens out at the Miss International and Miss Teen International pageant in Chicago! You all look beautiful in the photos, I am so proud of you!

AND a special congratulations goes out to my sister queen, Miss Massachusetts International, Michelle Spaleta! Michelle placed in the TOP TEN for Miss International! I knew you would rock it sweetie!! So happy for you! xoxo

Monday, July 21, 2008

Today was my one year post surgery follow up appointment with my cardiologist, Dr. Wen. I am happy to report that my heart is still beating as it should! There will always be a concern that the tachycardia will return but that is why we keep such a watchful eye out for any symptoms. I will have to come back and see Dr. Wen again in 6 months, unless any symptoms present themselves before then. Thank you to everyone for your love and support over the past year!

Often when I share my story, people (especially women) will approach me with symptoms they have been having and are not sure if they should go to their doctor. While I am far from a medical professional, my advice to everyone is to take an active role in your health care. Go to the doctor if something doesn't feel right and don't be afraid to seek out a second opinion if you are not comfortable with the answer you have been given.

Here are some symptoms that can occur with Ventricular Tachycardia: (please keep in mind that these symptoms could also occur with a number of different ailments.)

Palpitations, an uncomfortable awareness of the heart beating rapidly or irregularly.
Dizziness or lightheadedness.
Shortness of breath.
Chest pain, or angina.
Near-fainting or fainting (syncope).

Sunday, July 20, 2008

As my nephew Max would say " All none Auntie". The pageant is over and I am exhilarated and thrilled. Today is dedicated to my husband Jeff, he has been so AMAZING through all this, from preparations to actual pageant. This is my day to thank him! So it's off to IHOP (yum) and then the Chicago White Sox/Kansas City game at 1pm. Then it's home to my babies Rajah and Simba, I miss my kitties!


Mmmmmmm...pancake platter with bacon.


It was easy to cheer for the White Sox....we are used to saying "Let's go Sox"!


That's right, we wore our Red Sox attire to the White Sox game. Luckily no one gave us hard time!! GO RED SOX!!!

Saturday, July 19, 2008 Cont.

"Um, what?? Top ten, are you kidding me?" Those were my thoughts when they called out Top Ten finalist number four Mrs.............(long drawn out pause)....MASSACHUSETTS!!

I about near fell down the platform steps in shock, no seriously, I really did stumble down the steps, Thank you to my sisters for catching me! I am so honored to have made top ten, there were SO MANY accomplished, amazing women competing for the title of Mrs. International.

Congratulations to our new Mrs. International, Laine Berry. Laine and I share a passion for the American Heart Association's efforts and I am so honored to have been the one standing next to you when they called your name as the winner. AND Congratulations to my girl Meredith for placing 1st runner up, I knew you would rock it out.

The official results:
Top Ten
Tennessee
Southeast - Mrs. International 2008
South Carolina - 2nd Runner Up
Massachusetts
Oklahoma - 4th Runner Up
Virginia
Georgia - 1st Runner Up
District of Columbia - 3rd Runner Up
New York
North Carolina

SURREAL....I am so honored to be in this picture.


One of the best things I took from this pageant, friendships. I love you Stevi, Amy, Carrie, Brenda, Meredith, Tiffany, Janice, Cindy, Heather, Kiesha, Kim, Irene, Angela, Sasha, Susan, Patti, Laine, Alexandra, Rachelle, Ginny, Joy, Jeanne, Shannon, Debra, Carol and the rest of my sisters from the class of 2008. You all made it worth while.


Congratulations Laine!

Saturday, July 19, 2008

Rebecca, you are an AMAZING director! Thank you so much for your support, guidance and most importantly, your friendship.


Irene, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You were always there when I needed an "ear", I cannot thank you enough. Love you!!!


At rehearsals with the lovely Irene, Mrs. NH and the lovely Cindy, Mrs. Maine. I adore my sister queens!!

Today was more rehearsals and the big finals night!


Waiting for the elevator, on my way to the theater for finals.

Special thanks to my director, Rebecca Pushard. Thank you for all your words of encouragement and my beautiful crown earrings! I love you dearly!