AN AWAKENING by Aimee Vaniglia

"Aim, hurry!  Get up!  We've gotta go."  At first I was startled and rather confused.  Why is my father getting me up at four in the morning?  As soon as my bare feet touched the floor, I knew.  My mind drifted to the hospital while I quickly pulled my clothes on.  Is she going to make it?


Sitting in the car watching the familiar houses and offices go by, to me the short trip seemed like an eternity.  I reflected on all the times I should have gone to visit her but had stubbornly refused.  Feeling of regret instantly filled my heart.  I didn't want to believe the despairing thoughts that were rushing to my mind, but I felt overwhelmed by the cold realization that they could be true.

My father was silent as the heavy metal doors of the elevator slowly closed out the bustling hospital lobby.  During the endless ride to her floor, the stillness led me to feel more and more nervous.  Mom met us with an exhausted, downcast look on her face.

          "Is she going to be all right?"  I asked her.

          After a long pause, my mother slowly replied, "Honestly....I don't know this time."

I walked down a long hallway and carefully opened her door.  The room was small and dimly lit, and as I approached her bed, I noticed how pale and weak she looked.

I will never forget standing beside her thinking how, more than anything, I wanted to see her get up and come home with us.  I looked away, trying to collect some optimism, and then turned back and studied the intrusive machines that surrounded her.  I held her soft, fail hand in mine and told her that she was going to get better.  My eyes welled with tears, which suddenly turned into sobs.  "You can't leave me now!  Please, you have to get better!  I pleaded.  As I stood there watching her with tears streaming down my face, my heart knew that what I had been fearing was true.  My time with her had come to an end, for she was now read to pass from this world to the next,,,a world where she would suffer no longer.

                     In loving memory of my sister, Candice     10/23/1994

My Life and Love will Ripples Make...

Candi's Birthday ~ October 28th, 1981

The first page of Candi's baby album has the verse:

Like a single drop of rain

That on still waters fall

My life and love will ripples make

And touch the lives of all.

So read this precious story

As step by step I grow

I am a blessing and a gift

As each page here will show.

Full of love for this new little daughter and dreaming of pink dresses, proms and weddings, I loved this poem. I had no idea that our time with Candice would be so short and that her life, her story, would impact millions around the county. In fact, with the difficult pregnancy and dangerous birth we had already endured, I thought the worst was over. It had to be, it was a miracle she was even here! I feel so very thankful for the gift of this tiny daughter.

But that wasn't all, there was more. Something was wrong. Her pediatrician, Dr. Constance Glasgow and I knew it, but we could not find it. Six months and many, many trips to various specialists, we finally have a diagnosis, Candi has HYDROCEPHALUS. This terrifying news is followed immediately by brain surgery, then another, and another. My tiny baby endured it all with a sweetness that stole the hearts of everyone who cared for her. I am reminded of the poem in the beginning of her baby book, “My life and love will ripples make and touch the lives of all.” Wow, little one, look at the lives you have touched!

Surely, now the worst was over now! We have a diagnosis and a cure - another miracle! Now I can just enjoy my little daughter. Joy and laughter fill our home. We are a happy family with two precious daughters and I feel incredibly blessed and grateful.

Oh how the ripples are spreading… I am invited to become part of a network of mothers called Parent/Friend. As a volunteer member of this organization, I took phone calls from families struggling with the news that their child has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus. I help them process this terrifying news. I listen to their stories, fears and questions, and share with them what it was like for our family, helping to comfort others with our story. I am amazed!

Little Candice – look what a difference you are making in your Mommy’s life and in the lives of so many others. You are “A blessing and a gift to all who know you.”

But the ripple would spread farther that I could ever imagine. Candice was destined for more, much more…

'Ride for Life' Map

A map will be provided at registration, however, if you want a copy now, you may click on the image and print at home.

Please feel free to contact me @ (561) 747-7542 or cmcwendyv@aol.com if you have any question. Thanks again for helping us help the precious families whose loved donated his/her organs to give life to others.

Looking forward to seeing you on Saturday!

Just 2 weeks to go!!!

Happy New Year All!

Just 2 weeks from today we will proudly host our 1st Annual 'Ride for Life' Poker Run benefiting The Gift of Candi Foundation for organ donor families. Our goal is two-fold; to assist organ donor families in need after giving the precious Gift of Life and, to create a website where Donor Families and Recipients can connect and thus complete the circle of the Gift of Life. The possibility of human contact lifts the process of donation and transplantation above the mechanics of medicine and surgery and makes it a true sharing of life, gratitude, and love. The Gift of Candi Foundation is the only organization offering this process.

I am so appreciative of all of you who have offered to assist and/or participate. Without you, our 'Ride for Life' would not be a success. I am very excited to announce that Southern Bike Night TV has offered to film our event! http://southernbikenight.com/MAINPAGE.html

We are still in need a few more volunteers to assist with the poker run. Auction items are always appreciated - because our auction is live, you will have the opportunity to submit a paragraph about your donation and/or company. Of course, your charitable contributions to The Gift of Candi Foundation are always appreciated. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me - wendy@thegiftofcandi.com or phone: 561-747-7542

Wishing You Health, Love and Life in 2009.

Fondly,
Wendy Vaniglia,
Founder and Donor Mom
The Gift of Candi Foundation, Inc

Run List - Choose North or South Start - Saturday Jan. 17th, 2009 'Ride for Life' Poker Run

NORTH START/REGISTRATION (11 AM - 1 PM)

Treasure Coast Harley-Davidson - 4967 SE Federal Hwy, Stuart 772-287-3871

POKER STOPS:

Horsefeather's Sports & Spokes - 10314 SE Federal Hwy, Hobe Sound 772-546-4445

Ralph's Stand UP Bar - 113 Center St, Jupiter 561-746-6812


Oasis (formerly Blondie's Bar & Grill) - 10160 W. Indiantown Rd, Jupiter 561-743-3300

Island Jack's Patio Bar & Grill - 4449 Okeechobee Blvd, West Palm Beach 561-687-2122

Tiki Waterfront Sea Grill - 200 East 13th St, Riviera Beach 561-845-5532

Last Bike in @ 4 PM - Live Auction / Prizes / Music / Food / Fun


SOUTH START/REGISTRATION (11 AM - 1 PM)

Harley-Davidson of Palm Beach - 2955 45th St, West Palm Beach *561) 659-4131

POKER STOPS:

Island Jack's Patio Bar & Grill - 4449 Okeechobee Blvd, West Palm Beach (561) 687-2122

Oasis (formerly Blondie's Bar & Grill) - 10160 W. Indiantown Rd, Jupiter (561) 743-3300

Horsefeather's Sports & Spokes - 10314 SE Federal Hwy, Hobe Sound (772) 546-4445

Ralph's Stand UP Bar - 113 Center St, Jupiter (561) 746-6812

TIKI Waterfront Sea Grill - 200 East 13th St, Riviera Beach (561) 845-5532

Last Bike in at 4 PM - Live Auction / Prizes / Music / Food / Fun

Race Day Contact - Ed Peters 561-512-1087

Ride for Life Poker Run - January 17, 2009

We are so excited to announce our first annual "Ride for Life" Poker Run to be held in West Palm Beach on Saturday, January 17th, 2009. Hope you will join us! Details to follow soon!

You Can Help

Letter to Donor Families from: Yilian Fraga, MSW
Community & Donor Family Services Supervisor
University of Miami Life Alliance Organ Recovery Agency
Feel free to forward this note to others who can help us ensure these bills are signed.

Dear Donor Families:

Senator Oelrich's and Representative Hays' bills to improve Florida's donor registry have passed in both chambers of the legislature. They now are making their way to Governor Crist's office for his signature.

SB 2630 is the registry improvement bill. It will allow the overburdened AHCA to contract with an outside entity (through an open and impartial process) to not only create a new and improved registry, but also to run it.

SB 2610 is the exemption bill, which will make the registry information exempt from the Sunshine Laws.

It is imperative that the governor sign these bills, so we can get on our way to improving the donor registry in Florida and give more hope to the thousands of patients in need of a life-saving organ transplant and life-enhancing tissue and corneal transplants.

Your help is needed! Please send Governor Crist POSITIVE letters ofencouragement. No need to remind him of last year's veto. That road has been well-traveled. I've listed several points below that you may wish to include in your letters. You don't have to use them all.

A few key points:

● Both bills have passed in the House and Senate. A similar registry bill passed unanimously in 2007, and all of the governor’s concerns with that bill have been addressed in the 2008 bills.

● AHCA is overwhelmed with other healthcare issues and doesn’t have the resources to adequately run the registry. Outsourcing it to an able entity will improve the system.

● The registry desperately needs to be updated. Improving the registry will make it easier for millions of Floridians to join the registry and ultimate save lives.

● Hundreds of patients in Florida are dying each year because there are not enough donor organs for them. Fixing the registry and allowing Floridians easy access to designate their donation decisions will help save lives.

● Signing these bills will help improve Florida’s donor registry and ultimately save lives. When Florida improves its donor registry, it can once again become a national leader among states with effective registries.

It's best to e-mail or fax him, as U.S. mail takes much longer to reach his desk. Hearing from the individuals who have been personally touched by donation and transplantation and who want (and need) these bills to be signed will matter to him. Feel free to forward this note to others who can help us ensure these bills are signed.

Office of the Governor
The Capitol
400 S. Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001
Phone: (850) 488-7146 or (850) 488-4441
Fax: (850) 487-0801
E-mail: charlie.crist@myflorida.com

I thank you in advance for your time and attention.

Sincerely,Yilian Fraga, MSW
Community & Donor Family Services Supervisor
University of Miami Life Alliance Organ Recovery Agency
1801 NW 9th Avenue Suite 150A
Miami, FL 33136
305-243-7344

On the Radio!

We have had the awesome opportunity of talking live on the air with Beverly Kennedy of The Beverly Kennedy Show and sharing our passion for Organ Donors and their Families. Together we are separating Fact from Fiction in the silent world of organ donors, their families and the greatest gift of all, The Gift of Life. Join us Tuesday - Friday from 5 - 6 PM @ WBZT 1230 AM South Florida or on the web @ http://www.wbzt.com/

Helping You to Celebrate the Gift of Life!

Wendy Vaniglia, Donor Mom,

Blessed mother of Candice Faye.

10/28/81 - 10/24/94

For more information on Organ Donation go to:

http://surgery.med.miami.edu/x274.xml

http://www.donatelife.net/

THE BEVERLY KENENDY SHOW

Live Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays!Drive time!!! 5-6 PM, (Eastern Standard Time).
The Beverly Kennedy ShowA 5 Star rated program on "FACTS FROM FICTION"© of the political, financial, and health world. On STARTLING CURRENT EVENTS that affect your quality of life. Hear the most valuable information to inform you with important facts that will help you solve problems and give you hope. Co-hosts include South Florida political and civic leaders the Honorable Ed Kennedy, with Broadcast Journalist, Award-winning Financial Adviser, Bev Kennedy, and Inger García
On the World Wide Web WBZT 1230AMSouth Florida. Heard live drive time(Eastern Standard Time). 5-6 PM, Tues. Weds.Thurs. Fri. and Mon. at 1-2pm, recorded. On radio station WBZT AM 1230, South Florida drivers, Palm Beach, Broward residents & Businesses can listen live or world wide on http://www.wbzt.com/ Schedule for repeat shows listed on BeverlyKennedy.com and WBZT.com. Call 800-696-6566 for more information.
Diversity Planning Institute, Inc.

Meet my favorite Leading Ladies...

I would like to introduce you to my favorite Leading Ladies, they are Leading Ladies, Inc. an auxiliary organization of Transplant Foundation of Miami. Since they incorporated in 1995, this amazing group has raised almost $1 million dollars through various projects and events such as shows, luncheons and raffles for Transplant Foundation's Patient Services Fund. Leading Ladies, Inc. is an exciting organization comprised of show business people and those with affection for show business. http://www.transplantfoundation.org/

For seven months of the year, these lovely ladies host fantastic fundraising events held at top notch venues in Dade and Broward counties with amazing entertainers and musicians, which dazzle and please the crowd.

The Transplant Foundation asked me to create a photo story book honoring these wonderful Ladies as a gift for each of the board members. You can see this book by clicking the link below,
http://www.cmphotocenter.com/sbpreview/StorybookPreview.aspx?StorybookID=118291&CustomerID=2195

Not only do these Ladies work tirelessly to raise money, the work they do to spread the message of organ donation can not be measured. Thank you Leading Ladies!

If you are ever in the Miami area, please join us at one of their incredible luncheons. For information on events or for membership information, you may call Nancy at 305.937.2433.

Even Tradition Has Become Unfamiliar

We are taking the familiar hour long trip to our grandparents' house for Thanksgiving. It is a tradition, but things are very different for my family this year. My mom is in the front seat with tears running down her tired face, and she lets out an occasional sniffle. The car is quiet, almost too quiet. If you listen closely you can hear the breaking of a mother's relentlessly hurting heart. We finally get to Grandma's. The usual hugs and kisses. "The family is fine," my Dad tells everyone. Turkey, potatoes, rolls. Everything tastes the same as every year. Grandpa and Dad are talking about family and years past. Mom is unusually quiet, she is still upset. We used to look forward to Holidays, but not anymore. Even Tradition Has Become Unfamiliar.
~ Aimee Vaniglia, Thanksgiving Day - 1 month after her sister Candi died.

Candi's Gift Video

Tears, Tears, and More Tears...

SIX YEARS AFTER Candi died we had the awesome and amazing privilege of meeting one of the recipients of our daughter's organs. At the Center for Donation and Transplant Center in Albany, NY, the Center Coordinators, who spoke to us about Candi's donation and so compassionately cared for Candice and our family during Candi's gift of life, organized the meeting between CANDI'S HEART RECIPIENT and OUR FAMILY.

HOW WOULD WE FEEL? How would he feel? Would it be too strange, too uncomfortable or even frightening? Would we feel connected to Candi? What if we didn't like him? What if we liked him too much? What if he didn't like us?

Awash in conflicting and sometimes OVERWHELMING EMOTIONS we anxiously waited in the conference room at the Center for Donation and Transplant. Media cameras and reporters questioned us about Candi. How did she die, they asked? What made you decide to donate her organs?

Suddenly someone tells us, It's time, HE'S HERE! Across the room the door opens and in walks the most loving and tender face I have ever seen. As soon as our eyes meet, dear Seamus freezes mid-step. MY HEART FLEW OUT TO HIS as I rushed to Seamus and threw my arms around his neck, crushing the enormous bouquet of brightly colored spring flowers in his arms. WE CONNECT IMMEDIATELY, without words, without stories, without photos, we bond. DONOR MOM TO RECIPIENT.

We sit, cameras clicking and videos rolling, with eyes only for each other, drinking in the faces, the eyes, the smiles. Seamus speaks first. "I want you to know, I have to tell you...I HAVE PRAYED FOR YOU EVERYDAY, that your lives are being healed from your terrible loss. I want you to know I am taking very good care of your daughter's heart." Look here is a letter from my family, they want you to know how much they appreciate you for the most generous gift you have given me."

TEARS, TEARS AND MORE TEARS. When the meeting and media interviews are over there is an entire box of wrinkled Kleenex on the floor under our chairs.

"Let me show you something." Seamus tells me, "I didn't know her name, so I called her MY ANGEL." As a competitive cyclist, Seamus has a racing shirt on which he has emblazoned the logo, My Angel gave me the gift of her heart.

Together we look through Candi's photo story album. He wants to know about the little girl WHO'S HEART HE NOW CARRIES INSIDE. Darling, tender, sweet Seamus is overwhelmed as he pours over her photos and the stories of her short life. Why did she have to die? "This should have been me, I'm an old man." Seamus tearfully exclaims.

WHAT I DIDN'T EXPECT, was that Seamus Healy, recipient of the gift of my daughter's sweet heart, would be the most incredible, UNEXPECTED GIFT TO ME. My heart will be FOREVER SOOTHED by the sweet and loving Irish man who prays for us everyday.