In the News!

(Picture: Family photo taken Summer 2008 by BUSATH)

My good friends at Intermountain Donor Services in Salt Lake City have been asking me to share my story with our community through the media. It took me awhile before I said yes. But, I changed my mind because of the number of parents I’ve observed with children who have congenital heart disease (CHD).

My parents have never given up on me and I now have my own family. Even to this day they stay positive and it motivates me. It’s inspiring. It doesn’t mean we haven’t had our share of tears and frustrations. But, they’ve kept an optimistic attitude about life. They keep hope alive. A man I greatly admire, Dieter F. Uchtdorf, stated, “each time a hope is fulfilled, it creates confidence and leads to greater hope.”

Again, and I’ve said this many times, I’ve been extremely blessed to live almost 36 years after doctors’ thought as a child that I would not make it. If there is one thing I’ve learned it is that we are not in charge. There is a finale' for each of us. Those around us are subject to that. But, until then we all do our best to fight to survive either for ourselves or for our children. It’s mind over matter. I have no doubt that there is something greater than all of this guiding our lives, the lives of our children, and the world in which we experience life.

Another old hero of mine said, and I now understand the humor of what he meant, “You go to bed each night and hope you wake up in the morning.”

So, I hope in sharing my story it might help your life in some way. We are all trying to find “joy” in the journey. These experiences allow each of us to understand the full measure of that word “joy”. But, joy does not come into our hearts until we have experienced a lot of pain, heartache, and tears. C.S. Lewis said, "It's impossible to know happiness until you suffered great pain."

THE DESERET NEWS
A song of the heart is a daily ritual
By Carrie A. Moore

First in an occasional series.

Paul Cardall makes music, the kind his fans say soothes the heart and nurtures the soul. And though he may not know it, his feel for and expression of that music may have literally helped keep his tired heart beating until he receives a new one in the near future.

At age 35, Cardall's award-winning career as a musician — with more than a dozen CDs and numerous public performances under his belt — has taken a sabbatical since August, when he was listed for a heart transplant after a lifelong series of surgeries, medications and therapy. Those who know of his challenge follow his blog to read the latest updates on his condition.

Continue the article

KSL TV
Musician to undergo heart transplant at children's hospital
By Ed Yeates

Video Courtesy of KSL.com