Take Action!

Thank you for recently supporting the American Heart Association by participating in National CPR/AED Week.  Your actions can truly make a difference in the fight against heart disease.  

You can also help save lives by supporting a proposed law that would greatly enhance the training and placement of AEDs in schools.   Click here to tell your U.S. Senators to support the Josh Miller Hearts Act. 

The Josh Miller HEARTS Act was prompted by the tragic death of a 15-year old high school student who suffered sudden cardiac arrest at a school without an AED.  The bill would establish a grant program so that more schools can purchaseautomated external defibrillators (AEDs) and be trained to use them as part of an overall medical emergency response plan for school communities. 

This bill has already been passed by the U.S.House and is only a couple steps away from becoming law.  Just click on the link below to take action today.  Thanks!     

Go Red luncheon Little Rock

Just a couple of pictures from the Go Red luncheon in my home city, Little Rock

Lobby Day on Capitol Hill

Kevin and I are shown after our meeting with US Senator Blanche Lincoln.  Senator Lincoln has been a powerful ally in the fight against women's heart disease, and was a co-sponsor of the Heart for Women act.
Kevin, Dr. Melchert and I start our second day of Congressional meetings on Capitol Hill
I was interviewed in front of the US Capitol by a documentary film crew about the AHA's Lobby Day, and the Mrs. International pageant
Kevin and I, along with Dr. Russell Melchert, attend the You're the Cure on the Hill rally

My story shared on the national blog!

My story of survival and advocacy is shared on the national You're the Cure blog.  You can view it at http://yourethecure.blogspot.com/2009/04/youre-cure-on-hill-advocate-spotlight.html

Activities During Lobby Week!

My story of advocacy and survival is shared with the 200 attendees of the 6th annual Survivors Luncheon on the Hill
I was a special guest at the 6th Annual Survivors luncheon on the Hill

Arkansas is one of 14 states that have funding for Heart Disease and Stroke prevention.  I'm honored to be part of the reason we have that funding!

Mrs. International Goes to Washington!

We've arrived on Capitol Hill for the American Heart Association's National Lobby Day! I'll keep the pictures coming.

Governor Beebe signs Act 1204, and the 2009 Heart Ball

What an exciting month February has been in the state of Arkansas. Looking over my blog entries I cannot believe it has been 12 months since I wrote a glowing report about the activities in which I took part in February of 2008. So much has happened in my personal life and in my volunteer work! This February has seen the passage of Act 1204, and at left you see a picture of our states Governor signing the act into law. Act 1204 increases the excise tax on tobacco by 56 cents, funneling nearly 90 million dollars into the Arkansas budget. Those funds will be used to fund life saving programs across the state and will enable us to improve and increase the availability of health care for the citizens of Arkansas. I commend our Governor for his hard work and dedication to this cause, I thank speaker Robbie Wills of Conway for his impassioned support of this Act, and Senator Steele for this unwavering belief that this Act was necessary for the health and well being of the children of our state! We on the Advocacy Committee in Arkansas feel that the 2009 legislative session has been an incredible success already.
We also celebrated the 2009 Heart Ball this week. Kevin and I are honored to serve on the auction board, and want to commend our friends Scott and Shayla Copas on a job well-done as the 2009 Heart Ball chairs. Scott serves on the board for the South Central affiliate, and he and his lovely wife are valued and honored volunteers with the AHA. Under their leadership the 2009 Heart Ball raised more than 1 million dollars for research, education and awareness.

TOBACCO TAX PASSES!!!!!!!

This just in: I just came from the Senate floor where the tobacco tax PASSED the Senate!!!!  Act 1204 now goes before Governor Mike Beebe, who will sign it, and will create funding for AED's in schools, CPR training, and a state-wide trauma system!!!!  Years worth of work on the part of the the Arkansas Advocacy Committee, the Step Up Coalition and volunteers across the state has come to fruition!  Thank you  Barbie Kumpe for all your hard work!

February-off with a Bang!!

What an amazing week the first week of February has been. I started the week in committee meetings with the House Rules committee of the state of Arkansas. We with the AHA and the Step up Coalition have been working tirelessly with Governor Beebe to get Act 1204 passed this session. Act 1204 will increase the state tobacco excise tax by 56 cents, and will fund life saving programs life the placement of AED’s in schools, CPR training for all school staff, a statewide trauma system, and dozens of other life healing or life saving programs. I was so honored to be in the House Rules committee meeting when they passed the Act unanimously. Act 1204 went to the House Thursday, and was passed. We now go before the Senate, where the battle will certainly be more difficult. Republican Senators have signed a “pledge” promising they will not vote for any new taxes this session. Unfortunately, they do not understand the harm that they will wreak if they do not vote for this act, nor do they understand the support they will lose. They seem unwilling to realize that this is not a general tax, but rather is a luxury tax or at the very least an elective tax. We have a difficult road ahead of us, but it is a short one. The Act will go before the Senate this week. We are hopefully optimistic.
Later that afternoon I was thrilled to be present in the Senate as they read the 2009 Go Red resolution. It’s always a joy to get to be involved in events where my personal life’s passion garners attention by our state and national lawmakers. From there it was on to the 2009 Go Red reception in the Capitol rotunda. First lady of our state, Ginger Beebe, was in attendance, as were a number of our state-lawmakers.
On Thursday I flew out to New York City, to host the second Go Red for Women national casting call. I was so honored to have the opportunity to tell my personal story of survival, as well as introducing such important personages as David Josseran, chairman of the AHA, and the CEO’s of Merck and Macy’s. I also introduced actress Andie McDowell, who shared her own story of loss due to heart disease. Andie lost her mother at the young age of 53. It was amazing to get to spend time with Monica Flores, and the rest of the national Go Red staff. Afterward Kevin and I were treated to lunch, where we were honored to get to spend time visiting with the New York AHA staff. The event was well attended by both the public and by the press. I was even featured in three editorial press photos on Getty Images, not something I ever expected to be part of! The event occurred in Grand Central Station, in the gorgeous Vanderbilt Hall. What an amazing opportunity to be part of such a historic event in such a historic location!
Looking forward to many many more amazing events in this and the coming months!
Stay tuned for photos-dozens to upload!

Tobacco Tax Increase; Savvy Magazine article

I wanted to share with you a snap shot from my most recent appearance on the news.  Friday morning I had the opportunity to speak on the channel 11 news about the proposed increase in the excise tax on tobacco in my home state of Arkansas.  I cannot tell you how important this increase is for my state, and the good those funds will do.  We hope to raise the tax by 56 cents a pack, which will increase state revenues by 87.8 MILLION dollars annually.  Yes, you read that correctly.  Those funds will go toward CPR training for all public school personnel, the placement of life saving AED's in every public school in Arkansas, and the creation of a statewide trauma system.  Each and every person in the state of Arkansas will be touched by the programs that will be put into effect with these funds. We are thrilled to have the support of Governor Mike Beebe.  Governor Beebe normally is not a fan of "designated funds", but understands the importance of these life saving programs and is willing to set aside his personal preferences for the greater good.    I have a great deal of respect and admiration for him, and am honored to be working with him on this issue.  If you are a Republican in the state PLEASE contact your Senator and urge them to support this tax.  The Republican members of the Senate signed an oath not to raiser taxes this session. However, please stress to them that this is a luxury tax, not an across the board tax, and that the good it will do far outweighs the negative connotations that most "taxes" have attached to them.  

This month also saw the publication of Savvy magazines 5th edition.  I am honored to be featured in their "Beyond Beauty" section.  I was asked by editor Stacey Kole to share the story of my journey as an advocate for women's heart health.  Since my crowning my story has  been featured in such state publications as 501 life, AY, Inviting Arkansas, Women's Inc, and Arkansas Life, but this is the first publication to take that story to the national level.  I cannot thank Stacey and Jessica enough for their willingness to let me be part of their incredible publication.

If you are interested in taking part in my campaign to increase the tobacco tax in Arkansas please visit www.yourethecure.org.  I'm off to New York City next week to promote the Go red for Women casting call.  See you there!

A visit to the Pacific Northwest

My year as Mrs. International has  been filled with so many blessings, and yet each day seems to bring some new and wonderful addition. Since my crowning in July I've had the opportunity to travel to Illinois, Texas, Alabama, Oklahoma and all across my home state. However, last weekend I was blessed to travel to a part of our amazing nation that I have never before seen; the Pacific Northwest.  The state director of the Oregon International system invited me to be her guest for a special workshop for her contestants.  Leslie was an incredible hostess, and it was an honor to be her guest and help her promote the system in her state.

We started our appearances as soon as I stepped off the plane, with a quick stop by the Paul Mitchell school.  They are so excited to be part of the International pageant system, and are going to be offering a scholarship to Leslie's winners.  The next morning we started off with a visit to the local American Heart Association offices. It was fantastic to get a chance to sit down with the Pacific Northwest team and discuss what legislative agenda issues they are working toward for their 2009 session. As in my home state Oregon is pushing for an increase in their states tobacco excise tax.  They also are working toward legislation for a healthier tomorrow for the children of Oregon, and I was thrilled to discuss with them the impact that the 2003 BMI act has made in my home state.  They were unaware of the legislation, and very interested in seeing if it could be implemented in their home state.  They are also moving toward placing AED's in their public schools, as Arkansas did in 2007.  Overall, it was thrilling to see how the AHA's goal of decreasing death by heart disease and stroke by 25% by 2010 is being realized across the nation.

After leaving the AHA's office we stopped for a quick bite of lunch with Mrs. Oregon International Debra Gilmore, and then off to site-see.  Then, it was on to BiMart to sign autographs.  BiMart of the executive sponsor of the Oregon International pageant, and they were thrilled to have us as their guests for the afternoon. That evening we closed our day with a pajama party with former Mrs. Oregon International Tamara Wissbaum and Kim Wylder.  I was so honored to get to spend some time with these fabulous women, and now count them as dear friends!

Saturday Leslie hosted a fabulous workshop for her contestants, where I presented tips on creating winning paperwork.  It was such a joy to get to meet the wonderful women of Oregon, and I look forward to getting to see the winners this summer in Chicago.  After the workshop  Leslie treated me to the best pedicure I've ever experienced at Pink and White nail salon; then it was off to dinner at The Nines, one of Portlands' most beautiful boutique hotels.

I cannot thank Leslie enough for the incredible experience she provided for me in her beautiful home city.  The weekend went by far too quickly!

Pass the Heart for Women Act!!

A New Year’s Resolution for Congress – Pass the HEART for Women Act!
January marks the beginning of the 111th Congress and a new opportunity to pass the HEART for Women Act. The bill, which would help to eliminate disparities in the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease and stroke in women, had wide bipartisan support in the 110th Congress (with an amazing 281 cosponsors!), even passing the full House of Representatives before time ran out in the last session. Now, it will be re-introduced in Congress in mid-February, and we need your help to make sure the bill has as many original cosponsors as possible when it is introduced.
With Senators and Representatives, new and returning, busy setting their priorities for the coming year, this is our chance to make sure HEART for Women is at the top of their lists. Ask your legislators to become original cosponsors of the HEART for Women Act today!
Together, we can make 2009 the year that Congress passes the HEART for Women Act!

Lung Alliance Update!

Are you passionate about raising awareness of lung cancer
but aren't entirely sure how to do it?

Do you wish the media paid more attention to this nation's #1 cancer killer
but you don't know how to engage reporters?

Are you already an established lung cancer advocate but want to gain more tools
and network with others who share your vision?

Then apply for National Lung Cancer Partnership's 2nd Lung Cancer Advocacy Summit: Acquiring Tools, Effecting Change in Dallas, TX from April 23-26!

The goal of the Summit is to empower advocates by providing training, resources, knowledge, and courage to take action in their communities.
Health and research professionals, media and advocacy trainers, and advocates like you will share their experiences through workshops, small group discussions, networking, and a trip to research laboratories at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.
Download an application form and learn more about the Summit at www.NationalLungCancerPartnership.org.
The application deadline is February 13, 2009.
_____________________________________________________________________

Arkansas Life Feature

Over my tenure as an American Heart Association advocate I've been featured in a number of periodicals. In 2005 I was featured along-side my mother, for whom I fight this battle. This January mother and I are begin featured again in Arkansas Life, as part of a story on women who have fought cardiovascular disease and won! What an honor it is to be part of this amazing publication, and to take part with my beloved mother, and three other brilliant and beautiful heart disease survivors. You can see the feature article photo below, and read the article here: www.arkansaslife.com

Please Support The Lung Cancer Partnership

As many of you know my father was diagnosed with lung cancer this summer. His battle is ongoing, and has been incredibly difficult. Lung cancer is an insidious disease that takes the lives of tens of thousands each year. I ask that you take a moment and learn more about the Lung Cancer Partnership, and donate in honor of someone you love. I have!

The staff at the National Lung Cancer Partnership would like to wish you peace and happiness in the New Year and thank you for your continued support.


Honor your loved ones this season!

Invest in the National Lung Cancer Partnership by making a donation in the name of someone you care about.

Your gift will allow us to continue to focus on our mission of helping lung cancer patients live longer and better lives.

Holiday Fun!

This time of year is wonderful, and allows us all to enjoy family and friends like no other time of the year. I was so honored to be Mrs. Arkansas International 2005, and had a wonderful year with my director, Bernee Thurow. Bernee has been a great friend and support to me since, and was so encouraging to me in my decision to try one last time for my dream job of Mrs. International. I wanted to do something special for her, and her contestants. This sunday I hosted a Christmas Tea for Bernee, and all her 2009 contestants. We had a fabulous turn out of about 25 lovely ladies, and enjoyed holiday goodies and great fellowship.

Later, we participated in AETN's "Arkansas International Night". We took pledge phone calls from donors who wished to support the great work that AETN/PBS does in our state and around the nation.

It was a great start to a lovely Christmas season!

The most wonderful time of the year!

It has finally hit; the time of year when I knew I would be so busy that simply writing a blog update would take days to accomplish. However, I’m setting aside at least a few minutes to try to update all of you on the adventure that this year is and will continue to be for me!
First let me update you on dads’ condition. I cannot thank you all enough for the continued calls and emails inquiring after not only his status, but mine as well. To say this has been a long journey would be an almost painful understatement. We know we have a long way yet to travel, but at least we’ve reached a very important milestone. Dad has finally finished his chemo! We are so grateful that our weekly trips to the hospital are at an end. What we didn’t anticipate was just how difficult this particular time in this process would be. The compounding of the drugs in dads system over these many months has not ended simply because we no longer make a trip to the hospital. The drugs are still hard at work, and therefore, hard on him. He is still extremely weak, tired, nauseated and immune-suppressed. The week after his last treatment we were back in the hospital, but this time for a few more units of whole blood. But we know that his recovery is in site. We trust God’s goodness and have faith in his ability to continue to give us all strength to get dad through these next few months. I know that by the time I am giving up my Mrs. International crown this will all be a memory. Pray for us as we await his first post-treatment PET scan, which comes in two more months.
I have been extremely busy with the AHA. I have been elected as the state chairman of the Advocacy committee. We had our meeting with the national lobbyist director, Terri Broussard, and it went wonderfully. Terri and I are of an age, and share the same enthusiasm for the AHA and its mission. I think we will really enjoy working together. I spent the day in Little Rock with Terri filming segments for the new You’re the Cure blogspot. I am not a camerawoman, by any stretch, but it was fun to get to be behind and in front of the camera for the event.
Last week I took part in a press conference asking our legislators to support a rather large increase in the tobacco tax in our state. The AHA advocacy committee is part of the Step Up Coalition, which includes other well known groups like the cancer society, the department of health, and many more. The Coalition is going to fight hard to see this tax increased during this legislative session. Our desired increase could funnel as much as $139 million dollars into the state budget, and fund programs like the AED act, and the statewide trauma system. I also met with Jody Woodson, state legal counsel for the state of Arkansas, and sought his support on these issues.
Last Thursday mom and I went to a photo shoot for the cover of Arkansas Life magazine. Our story of surviving heart disease will be featured there in next month’s edition. I’ll provide a link as soon as the magazine comes out of print. Then Thursday I was up at the crack of dawn for the morning news show. I was on air with a representative of Zoll defibrillators, demonstrating how the devices work and asking people to contact their legislator’s in support of funding the act.
In a few weeks I’ll be heading to New York City for a huge Go Red event, then off to DC for National Lobby Day. Interspersed are innumerable activities, on which I’ll keep you posted! We are off and running in the new Go Red season!

AHA, Election Day and a Grand Ball!

This has been another whirl-wind few weeks. I’m finding it harder and harder to keep up with my blog, but I’m determined to do my best!
I have had several really lovely opportunities over the last weeks. The first was to present Go Red and You’re the Cure at the 501 Life Holidays event the first weekend in November. The event was the first of its kind and drew attendees from all over the state. Attendees were treated to demonstrations on cooking, flower arranging, and of course a lecture by none other than Mrs. International on living a heart healthy lifestyle! Initially we thought that attendance was just under 350, but after reviewing ticket sales we discovered it was actually over 400. What an amazing success for an inaugural event! I was so honored to be asked to be part of it.
November the 4th was an historic day. Alice Paul, one of the truest suffragettes, is a personal hero of mine. It is very much in her honor that I vote at each and every election, whether it be for city council, or the highest office in the land. The year I wanted to do something special to mark this amazing and historic Election Day. One cannot forget that none of us would have the right to cast our ballot were it not for the devoted men and women of our armed forces. So, I spent my Election Day packing and a shipping care packages to our brave men and women fighting overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Kevin and I had the distinct privilege of being asked to attend the Opus Ball. Proceeds from Opus Ball support the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra music education programs and performances, which include the ASO Arts Partners, the Youth Orchestra, the Academy Orchestra and the Preparatory Orchestra. This event is an opportunity to sustain a vital part of the ASO’s future. Last year’s Opus Ball revenue was more than $630,000, which shows an extraordinary commitment to the ASO and its music education programs. I was asked to model a live auction item; a diamond necklace and earring suite donated worth $19,500. It was such a pleasure to be involved in this amazing event!
My father received his last chemotherapy[y treatment last week, and will get his port removed next week, God willing. The coming weeks will probably be his worst, per his doctors warnings. Apparently as the drugs compound in your system your symptoms worsen for a time before full recovery can begin. He is truly at his lowest, and is feeling miserable. I hope you will all keep him in your prayers!
I have a meeting coming up on November the 25th with the national lobbyist leader for the AHA, Terri Bloussard. Terri led the lobbyist training in Austin, but this will be her first trip to my home state. I am very anxious and excited about hosting her here. I’ll keep you posted!

Grief, glory to God, and giving back in October

October has been a month of extreme up’s and down’s, both for the entire state of Arkansas and myself. I want to begin by sending my very thoughts and prayers out to the family of the beautiful and talented Anne Pressley. Anne was the amazingly gifted anchorwoman of Good Morning Arkansas, who was brutally attacked in her home and who lost the battle for her life last week. I cannot claim to have known Anne, or to have been a friend to her. I can tell you that I had the wonderful opportunity to meet her, and to have spent time with her just the week before this horrific event. I first net her at the Children’s Tumor Foundation event where Anne and I modeled together. We both had our make-up done by the “professionals” from a local beauty school…and laughed together in horror at their work when we saw ourselves the mirror. That night I got to know a bit of Anne’s powerful personality, one which dominated the entire room with its’ brilliance. The following week I got to see Anne again at the CARE for animal’s event, where Anne emceed the fashion show in which I modeled. Anne remembered my name, and we laughed about how much better each of us looked that evening when allowed to be in charge of our own appearances. I was in awe of her incredible confidence, something I often fake but could never truly have in the way Anne did. There really was something amazingly unique about Anne, and it was something that anyone who knew her for even a moment of her too brief life would have been well aware of. I cannot believe she was taken so early, and in such a horrific fashion. I pray, along with everyone who hears her story, that her killer will be caught and brought to justice. I pray for peace for her family as they grieve her loss.

October has been an incredibly busy month for me. We started our series of committee meetings with the Arkansas Advocacy Committee. I also had the opportunity to attend both state and national lobbyist training in Austin Texas, for the American Heart Association. It is my hope that as a result of my involvement as a lobbyist with the AHA this year that all future Mrs. International national titleholders will have the opportunity to serve as lobbyists.

On October the 13th I had the wonderful opportunity to attend the 2nd annual Paws on the Runway event at the Governors Mansion. CARE is the Central Arkansas Rescue Effort for Animals. This wonderful organization removes adoptable pets from kill shelters, spays or neuters them, and has them in foster homes until loving adoptable homes can be found for them.

On the 23rd I traveled to Dallas, Texas to attend the Dallas Furniture Banks’ CHAIR-ity Friend-raiser. The furniture bank provides furniture for families who have lost everything to natural disaster or economic hardship. This year alone the DFB has impacted the lives of more then 5200 individuals.

I am thrilled to report that we had our first adoption occur as a result of the Greater Arkansas Heart Gallery! We launched the gallery only a month ago, and already one of these beautiful children has found a forever family! What an amazing blessing!


On a personal note, my father has only two chemo treatments left. We had a very hard spot a few weeks ago when his counts dropped to such a low that blood transfusions were required. We then had quite a scare with a blood clot in his lung, but he is doing wonderfully right now. He has lost some use of his hands, but all things considered he is doing very well.

Thank you for your continued prayers and support!
Laine

Let me hear from you!

You've watched the Presidential debate and heard from each of the candidates how they'll reform the American healthcare system. Now, I want to hear from you. Visit the You're the Cure blog, and leave a comment telling me your thoughts on reinventing healthcare in our country. Comment here. Do you think the candidates demonstrated that healthcare reform is a priority for them? Are there any questions you wish they had addressed? How have your own experiences with the healthcare system shaped your position on healthcare reform? I'd love to hear how your watch parties went and know what issues were raised during your discussions. Visit our blog and share your thoughts! We all have to get involved to solve the current healthcare crisis. You are taking action just by joining the conversation. It's a simple first step in addressing a big challenge. Together, we can help reinvent healthcare in a way that serves the best interests of patients affected by heart disease and stoke.