Organ Donation awareness month 2012

Whoo hooo! It is Organ Donation awareness month! I'm sure that I don't need to go over all of the facts vs myths with you, right? You know that there are over 107,000 people waiting, that 18 die waiting every day, that you are never to old or to sick to be an organ donor, and you also know that no one is going to purposely kill you to harvest your organs... At least not here in America. It is how it should be here, a gift. You also know that you only have a few more weeks to register for the Donate life walk here in Fullerton? But if you can't come you can still support me by donating a buck or two to the cause!
 http://www.donatelifeoc.org/donate.html
Spread the word! Live Life then Give Life.

Donate Life Walk

Whoo hoo!! It is that time of year again. The Donate Life walk is coming up Saturday, April 28th, and just like the last two years we will be there to honor all of the heroes who have given the gift of life, including my two heroes!! Please register bebefore April 13th. I promise you will enjoy yourself and be raising funds and awareness for a great cause that has saved my life... twice!

What:
A non-competitive 5K/1K Run/Walk to educate and inspire the community about organ and tissue donation while benefiting Donate Life California Organ and Tissue Donor Registry.
Who:
All runners and walkers, dialysis patients, transplant recipients, organ donors, donors families, allied health professionals and students are invited to come out and participate! Donor families are invited to make their own patch for the OneLegacy Bridging Lives Quilt
When:
Saturday April 28, 2012. The race celebrates the last days of National Donate Life Month.
7:00 a.m. - Registration
8:15 a.m. - Donor Ceremony
9:00 a.m - Run/Walk
10:00 a.m. - Family Health Festival
Where:
California State University, Fullerton campus, around Intramural Field.
800 State College Boulevard
Fullerton, CA.

MAP AND DIRECTIONS HERE

Registration fees:
$25 per person Team Registration (10 or more Team Members required)
All REGISTERED participants receive a FREE T-Shirt!
 

**Sign up here to join team Albertoni**

Donate Life Walk 2011

It was another magical day in Fullerton at the 9th Donate Life walk. There were over a thousand more people this year and it just keeps growing! We even had some more people there supporting Team Larry. I almost didn't make it that morning, I was so sick... but I HAD TO DO IT! There are so many people waiting for the gift of life (and I am one of them... again)  Hopefully people are starting to realize just how much of a shortage we have, and how many people are dying waiting. But when you go to an event like that, it brings back hope. If everyone can just get the word out and sign their donor cards. We as people have the chance to be someone's miracle, and will live on forever with the recipient and their family :)

The Najera's and Albertoni jrs

The Albertoni's

The Starks' and Rocha's

I do have to say, about half way through we were all asking... did we accidently take the 5K instead... My whole team was looking a little tired (and hot) But as you see, we all made it to the finish line!! After that we headed over to the free food and listened to some music (some that made you wanna cry, like "somewhere over the rainbow" Sang by an American Idol runner up. Of course that was only until the kids found the bouncy houses and big slides. The only thing I can really say is.... if you have a bag attached to you for any reason... bring a spare. Thank God for the Red Cross truck who had some tape I could wrap it in to stop the leak but still, I was a little upset at Billy the bili drain for keeping me off to the sidelines even more. hehe. Anyways I wanted to give a HUUUUUUUGE thank you to those who came out and supported Donate Life! It was a great and uplifting day. Donate life!! Donde Vida!!

Team Larry - Last Day to Register On-Line

Hey guys! I am so excited about the walk this Saturday, I even delayed putting my feeding tube in just to make sure I wouldn't miss it. hehee. It is the least I can do for the miracle that Nancy gave to me. Plus it is a fun and up-lifting day. I don't know anyone who would not become an organ donor after attending this walk. Anywho, here is a bit of information you might need if you are attending.

First, we will meet near the table where the shirts are handed out at @ 8:00. (If anyone will be late, it will probably be me - but don't forget mornings are hard for me :( I'm usually sick, but I will try my darndest) I want to head over to the picture area to get a team photo sometime after that, so try to make it!!

Also, today, Wednesday, April 27th is the last day to register on-line for Team Larry, but don't worry, you can still register at the walk (you just have to get there a lil early -- 7:00am)  
Register here today >>> http://donatelifeoc.org/register.html


Frequently Asked Questions

Q:  Are strollers, wheelchairs, bikes and rollerblades allowed?
A:  Yes.

Q:  Can I run with a running stroller?
A:  Yes

Q:  Can we bring our dog?
A:  The campus’ answer is no, but if you bring a dog, we will not make the dog leave ☺

Q:  Where do I check-in if I’ve already registered?
A:  Go to the Pre-Registration area and pick up your bib and wristband (for food).  If your team has 25+ members or if your team is a Hospital Team, proceed to the Team Villages where you’ll find your team tables and team signs. (Team Larry didn't make 25 members this year :( )

Q:  What happens if someone wants to join my team but they haven’t registered?
A:  They can come to the Walk Up Registration line beginning at 7a.m.  They will receive a general Run/Walk t-shirt.

Q:  What do I do with fundraising money I have collected?
A:  Thank you for fundraising!  You can bring your fundraising money to registration and turn it in there.  Any fundraising prizes you’ve earned will be sent to you in the mail.

Q:  To whom do I have my sponsors make checks payable?
A:  Donate Life Run/Walk

Q:  Can I make my own team banner and sign?
A:  Yes!  Have fun!  They just may end up in a photo on the website or our brochure.

Q:  Will there be food?
A:  In the morning, the Vons Breakfast Court will serve fruit and granola bars.  Starting at 10:30am, the Placentia Rotary Lunch Court will serve hot dogs, salad and chips at no charge to registered participants with a wristband.   In addition, there will be a few booths where food items can be purchased.  If you have any dietary restrictions, you may wish to consider bringing your own food. 

Q:  If I am walking, do I have to do the 1K?
A:  Everyone can choose whether they’d like to walk, run, roll, or skip the 1K or the 5K.

Thank you for your participation and support of the Donate Life Run/Walk!  We look forwarding to seeing you and your team on April 30th! 

Poker Party with a Purpose

Poker Party with a Purpose

As of right now, I don't know if we will have enough money to cover doing the party... Please, if you are in Monterey area on Saturday, November 20th, think about coming to this.  $60.00 will buy you in. There will be prizes (and if you went to my Birthday Bash in February you will know that my family knows how to throw an awesome benefit!!)

So far our medical bills are through the roof, and that is only counting my Transplant. Now that my new liver is showing signs of fibrosis, the treatment I am on not only makes me feel drained of energy... but of funds too. hehe.

Please come! As long as my doc gives me the ok this Friday, I'll see you there!!

Who's coming to Monterey??

Still hoping I get the clearance to be away from USC for this, but anyone in the area, please come if you can!! There will be Cash AND prizes (Please call Beverly if you have something you would like to donate - or you can get a hold of me at rickisjourney@yahoo.com.) The funds raised will help us pay for my medical bills and medications now... and trust me when I say we can use all the help we can get.  It will be a fun night!
A very special (and huge) Thank You to my Aunt Bev and everyone who is helping put this together for us.  <3

Live Life then Give Life!!

Poker with a Purpose

The Hyatt Monterey
1 Old Golf Course
Monterey, CA

Saturday, November 20, 2010
Starts at 5:30PM
$60.00 Buy in
WIN Cash and Prizes!!


Mark your calender for a Poker tournament to help Ricki and her family pay for the medical expenses of her second gift of life. OH YA, it's gonna be AWESOME.


***YOU MUST RESERVE YOUR SPOT IN ADVANCE BY CALLING BEVERLY @ (831) 402-8250***

APRIL IS DONATE LIFE MONTH!!!

I shall cut myself some slack this year and consider my computer postings and doing the walk on May 1st as enough "extra" awareness... but starting next year, it is on.
..Of course, if you would like to go door to door for me, I would be much obliged. I'm feeling mighty emotional right now, and I wish I could do so much more... everyday I read stories and talk to others like me...(or even tougher, I talk to their caregivers) I have gotten to know people waiting, people who have had their miracle, and sadly, I have known some that have lost the battle. My heart soars when I hear stories like Rachy's who finally got her lungs, breaks when time runs out for those like Eva and Ken, and has nothing but faith that precious Gabriella, Jenn, and I will get our miracles and be terrorizing the town in no time. hehe

So get out there and spread the word for us! We are nearing 107,000 mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters... you get the point. Each one of us has a story, an actual life, and 17 of us are dying each and every day. We can change this... we have to change this!

And make sure if you are anywhere in the Orange county vicinity on May 1st, you get your butt over to Cal State Fullerton and join Team Larry for the family festival!!

Oh and totally unrelated, but worthy of mention in my opinion... This is my 100th post. Wow huh? what a whiner I am. Hey... any kind of publicity for organ donation has got to be good publicity, right? (I have no shame)  hehehe.

Tuesdays doctor appointment

Jason told me today that cars do not really explode like they do in movies if you shoot the gas tank. (while I am very glad that this one is in fact "Hollywood" fiction, I am always slightly disappointed when movie magic is ruined for me) However, this got me thinking of other things that movies and T.V. exaggerate. Many episodes of House have shown blood spewing from cirrhotic patients mouths and noses with bleeding varices, but is that the way it really happens? I may be slightly desensitizing and diluting myself by saying. "Ah, I saw that on T.V. and theirs was A LOT worse before they went into see a doctor...I've got time, what do you wanna eat tonight?" hehe. For all I know we don't even have the amount of blood they lose on T.V. in our bodies... Needless to say it made me concerned enough to finally get up and call my doctor to get my nose done. (cauterized, that is)

I will also be going in on Tuesday to schedule my cardiologist appointment. I have been noticing some chest pain and chest flutters these last few weeks and although I am assuming that it is some hidden anxiety, I better check out the ol' ticker just to make sure... It is past my yearly check-up anyway. (I got a leaky valve... or as I like to say, Thumper is a regurgitator.) hehe.

One of these issues might be the cause of the (extra) dizziness, lightheaded, tiredness I have been feeling... but I have no expectations to fix that... I just know that my appetite will come back if I stop bleeding all over my food, and that's a good thing! hehehe.

Join Team Larry Now!!! Less then 45 days left!!

 

http://www.active.com/donate/DonateLife2010/teamLarry

I must admit I am becoming very worried about my first attempt at fund raising for Team Larry. I know I have a lot of people who have said they will be there... but I have only one member so far -- FAIL. Well... Maybe someone will feel sorry for me and join my team (This is one of the reasons I have always hated organized sports and competitions). Next year though... watch out. I'll be going door to door.
Please... if you can, sign up. Help us out... I can't have a banner if there is only 5 of us, that will just look ridiculous... hehehe

REGISTER FOR TEAM LARRY

Team

Larry

Raising funds and awareness to live life then give it!

Please Give!! Your donations now... and your "recycled" parts in the distant future ;)

My name is Ricki, and I am in need of a liver transplant. Making me one of the 100,000 waiting to start living again. Please join my family and me on May 1st, to raise funds and awareness for Donate Life. Register to walk with us or show your support by donating any amount above. Did you know??? * There are over 100,000 people on the transplant waiting list. * Every 13 minutes, a name is added to the list. * 17 people die each day waiting for a life-saving transplant. Please help! Lets change the statistics! Make it possible by getting your donor dot and spreading the word! LIVE LIFE then GIVE LIFE!!

>>Click here<< To register to walk with Team Larry The cost is $20.00

Team Larry

Alright, Alright!! I woke up for some reason at 2:00am thinking about Team Larry and couldn't go back to bed (which doesn't bother me anymore as long as I'm not pukin')! This will be the first of what I plan to be many walks and awareness events I plan to attend for Donate Life. I have to give back in any way possible for even giving me the opportunity to watch my family, my son... grow! Without this transplant, my options are slim (actually, probably nil). So please help... For Goodness sake, I need all the help I can get.
So what was I thinkin' about at 2:00? Amber!! (Oh la la, tehehe, not like that silly) She is extremely talented and for some reason has blessed me by being my friend <3 Anyway, she had offered to come up with a logo for me... and I was thinking, I want something really special, something I can keep as my logo when I go BIG! In otherwords, since my aunt has been enslaved to help me once I am healthy again and on my feet with a new liver, I plan on changing "Ricki's Medical Fund" into a charity. To do all we can to spread awareness, offer help, support, and even funds to those going through the transplant process. And ofcourse, one of the funnest parts for me - the birth of an idea, which always includes a name!!
So that is what popped in my head... and I was to scared to go back to sleep without writing it down... What do you think about as a theme for my art...
   Recycled Hope
Maybe have two little birds facing each other with a green ribbon in their beak, maybe a little recycling symbol in the shape of a heart somewhere...
Ok, I have to go back to bed though, I just caught my head nodding off... let me know what you guys think, any ideas for Amber?
OH, and most importantly... here is the site to either register to be a part of "Team Larry" or donate funds to "Donate Life California" Please join us for the walk if you can though! I plan on making someone plan a memorable time for our team. Lets make TEAM LARRY A HUUUGE SUCCESS... it's the wishes of a sick girl... (That'd be me! tehehe)


TEAM LARRY'S FUNDRAISING PAGE

Can't take... the... pressure...tehehehe

Besides this being the best weekend ever, it was also a bit of a wake up call for me... I received a few compliments on my lil blog by people I had no idea even knew I had a blog, and I just can't take that kind of pressure! SO I'M CLOSING MY SITE DOWN. HAHA, jk. I was thinking I better be a little more careful, but then I thought... naah! I'm just going to keep on pushing. Before I tell you all how amazing my weekend was, between the coolest, biggest-hearted, Harley riders (Oh... and I think 1 Victory rider, right?) And the best shin-dig ever (filled with more love then one room could contain) I figured I better get one more plug on WHY. I did give a little speech at my birthday party and it was meant to be just that... but I should have written it down, because by the time I stood up there, everything left my mind except for two words -- ORGAN DONATION, and as they came out of my mouth in front of 150 people, I thought, "Oh man, this is NOT what these people want to hear right now... I'm gonna loose 'em!" I don't remember much after that, I think I thanked everyone for coming and supporting us, I might have thanked everyone for their donations, I have no clue. What I wanted to do was thank my Aunt Bev!! The Highlands Inn, my aunt Shannon, Joe and Rhonda, Chris... There are so many Najera's, Navarro's, Albertoni's, Oh my! And I also wanted to let everyone know, embrace the big polka-dotted elephant in the room. Ricki is terminally ill, if I don't get a new liver soon, I will die. Right now, I have to sit on the sidelines and wait to start living, but I see so many other people here too, waiting for something to start living. I have to be here, but some of these people have yet to realize that they have chosen to be here. This is it man! We only get one chance at this life, and once I am able (And I have faith that I will) I am going to get back out there and live baby!! So many beautiful stories, people, and places to experience and see every single day with the right perspective. So lets go guys!!
But!! Saturday was like it should be -- amazing! I felt like a kid again, and even though I had so many of those "Oh, I'm going to regret this in the morning" thoughts and I truly am still recovering as I type 3 days later. I wouldn't trade it for anything!! Wow... I think this is going to be the first of a 3 part series now that I look at how long this post already is. Part two will be on the A.M. adventure, and the reason cars mean nothing to me anymore. tehehe. Jason has already agreed on our new rides post transplant... and I am holding him to it. I was going to talk about the fact that I was interviewed by Thunder Press Magazine and that H.O.G. will be holding the next Ride in my honor in my speech at the party, but I think I only blubbered that I got to ride on a bike (like 3 or 4 different times.) There is much to still say and visuals to go with them so bare with me. I want to give them the recognition they deserve... sorry, I am really not trying to rub it in and I just keep saying AMAZING, but it was for me. And to top it off as we left - though he stole it straight from Clearance, my brother-in-law said: "Remember- No Man is a Failure who has Friends" So thank you all for reminding me.

Ricki's Little River Run

LAST CHANCE - BUY YOUR TICKETS BEFORE 2/06!!

****YUP THIS IS THE RIGHT PLACE ALL YOU PROCRASTINATORS WHO HAVEN'T BOUGHT YOUR TICKETS YET**** ...Make me think you weren't comin' to my birfday benefit - but, s'ok - you're here now, yes you found it. Thank you so much. This truly is going to be an amazing night, with a whole lot of awesome people that are making my journey possible!! So click below... and if you are in Salas (That's Salinas, CA) Please come join Ricki's Little River Run the same day at 9.00 - Bring your Hog...tehehe It's a Bike Run (we are diverse people :)) ...Or come join me see them off to the River Inn... A ride to the river to pay for my liver!! Love it!! Thank you all again sooooo much!!

**2/1/2010 --- If you missed out on buying your tickets to the dinner, you can still come show your support and join us for dancing, silent auction, and snacks.
Details: Time - 8:30pm, Price - $25.00
Click Buy Now button below - it will default to $25.00 :)
Hope to see you there!!
And thank you so much for the 140 amazing people already coming out to share support and prayers with my family. A HUGE thank you to everyone (and there are quite a few of you out there) who donated anything to make this night a magical one. AMAZING!

Quantity

Single $50.00 Couple $90.00

Names of Attending

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