I am a chosen member of the 2010 Leadership SouthCoast class. which consists of a diverse group of leaders from the SouthCoast area of Massachusetts.  The mission of this community leadership program is to develop a greater understanding of our home and commit to addressing various local issues.  Our retreat kicked off the 10-month program, and I look forward to our future sessions!

To learn more about Leadership SouthCoast: Click In

photos by David Weed

Click in below for more articles on Leadership SouthCoast’s retreat!

Leadership SouthCoast Enters Sixth Year

Healthy City Fall River: Leadership SouthCoast

After a week of rain delay, Fall River Youth Soccer has finally kicked off!!

I am coaching two teams this year: Under 6 Ireland and Under 8 Argentina.  Games take place on Saturdays at Silvia School on Meridian Street.  It promises to be another fun year of soccer for all!!

We have also added TopSoccer to our league this year, a national outreach program that gives children with various diabilities the chance to play organized community soccer.  Being a member of the TopSoccer Committee has been an eye-opening experience to the need that exists for these children in our city and beyond.

Check out more information on the Fall River Youth Soccer Association: Click In

I had the pleasure of addressing the Woonsocket Rotary Club as their guest speaker at their weekly meeting.  I was able to discuss my battle with having a heart condition and the amazing organizations that Rotary is able to support, especially Heartbeat International who was supported by Rotary International since its inception, as well as continuing to serve as an integral part in the organization’s mission to save lives.  It was great to meet the Woonsocket Rotarians, and thank you for having me!

I enjoyed some oustanding Southern hospitality and amazing people at the WIRED TOGETHER camp this weekend at Children’s Harbor in Alexander City, Alabama.  The camp is an annual weekend of support, connection, and fun for young ICD (implantable cardioverter defibrillator) patients and their families.  This year’s 1970′s-inspired theme made us all feel groovy!

I had a blast speaking to the campers and their families about my personal experience.  I met some special survivors who touched my heart and left me with lasting memories.  Thank you to WIRED TOGETHER and all of its participants and volunteers for a great event…I hope to visit again one day!!!

The Fall River Children’s Healthy Heart Festival at the Boys and Girls Club on July 25th could not have turned out any better!  Hundreds of kids and their parents enjoyed the day’s events, from dance classes, to face painting, to arts and crafts with the Fall River Children’s Museum, to fun physical challenges.  Families were able to benefit from 14 different local and national health-related organizations that shared their resources with the community, and healthy snacks were on hand for all.  Miss Massachusetts 2009, Amanda Kelly; Miss Bristol County 2009, Brett Bimmler; and Miss Massachusetts Outstanding Teen, Brianna Bostick attended the event, along with various local and state politicians.  We gave away a Wii, iPods, trampoline, scooters, and tons of sports equipment to promote a healthy and active lifestyle, and the adults had their own raffle supported mainly by gift certificates from great local businesses. In addition, we were able to donate Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to both the Boys and Girls Club and St. Vincent’s Home.

The focus of the event was the CHD (Congenital Heart Defect) Quilt Awareness Project.  50+ quilts were displayed for all to see and reflect on the children for whom this project was created.  All the squares on the quilts have been made in memory or support of a child with a heart defect, and tremendous awareness was able to be raised at the event regarding CHD and its impact.

I can’t say thank you enough to all our volunteers and supporters in helping to make this day incredible!!

Please support our sponsors: Click into the Picture,  and Click in Again When the Next Page Appears

Check out the articles below!

Fall River Spirit: A Show of Heart – Awareness Raised on a Local Level through National CHD Quilt Project

Fall River Spirit: National Quilt Project to Be Focus of Children’s Healthy Heart Festival This Saturday

Fall River Herald News: Gagne Still Advocating for Heart Health

I had the privilege of singing the national anthem and “God Save the Queen” in honor of Rotary International’s president, John Kenny, of Scotland.  It was a wonderful evening in Boxborough, MA, getting to meet the president and Rotarians from all over New England as we celebrated the 100th Anniversary of the Rotary Club of Boston, the world’s 7th Rotary Club.  I had the honor to speak about my story regarding heart disease and how Rotary has played such a wonderful role in helping me spread the word and in supporting my cause.  I hope in the near future to join Rotary because of its beautiful meaning of service for others.

I am organizing an exciting, educational event this summer that promises to be a great time for the whole family! 

Here’s the info:

Fall River Children’s Healthy Heart Festival

Featuring the Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Quilt Project, with quilts in memory or support of children with heart defects

Saturday, July 25, 2009

10:00am – 2:00pm

Boys and Girls Club of Fall River

803 Bedford Street

FREE ADMISSION!

Free snacks and drinks

Entertainment, Fun Activities, Arts & Crafts, and Face Painting

Awesome Prize Giveaways for the Entire Family (Wii, iPods, and more!)

Fun and Educational Ways to Learn about Your Health

We are looking for volunteers and $50 sponsors for our program book!!

Click in below! 

I have been unexpectedly honored with the American Heart Association’s South Coast Board Service Award for my advocacy work regarding heart health, especially my recent actions toward educating people about Congenital Heart Defects (CHD) in children.  I am very grateful to be able to sit on the South Coast Board of Directors for the American Heart Association, and it has been a pleasure to serve in this role as I continue my heart health work.

Miss Fall River 2009, Amanda Kelly, took the title of Miss Massachusetts 2009 on July 11th.  She will be traveling this upcoming January to compete in the Miss America 2010 Pageant.  The Miss Fall River Committee and I are so proud of Amanda for all of her hard work and well-deserved win!  We are also so thrilled for our Miss Bristol County 2009, Brett Bimmler, for her Top 10 finish at the pageant, as well as her Preliminary Talent Award.

To read more: Click In!

The end of the school year has kicked off a great Children In Balance initiative that promises to continue into next school year for all of Fall River’s elemntary schools.  Greene School had their event on June 11th, and Viveiros School held theirs on June 20th.  This childhood obesity prevention project had great activities for the kids, fantastic community resources available, and health education for all.  I had a great time participating in the two events, and I look forward to more in the Fall!

I was able to provide CPR/AED training and certification today to the American Heart Assocition staff at their Framingham, Massachusetts office.  It was a fun day of 2 great trainings and wonderful people!

20+ teachers and staff of Spencer Borden Elementary School in Fall River, MA were trained by me in CPR and AED usage today.  Those trained volunteered to attend this certification class that would allow them to assist in a life-threatening Sudden Cardiac Arrest emergency.  It was a beautiful start to national CPR/AED Awareness Week!

It was exciting to have the Heart Rhythm Society’s national event held in Boston this year!  I attended the event, helping out with Parent Heart Watch’s efforts to help protect children from Sudden Cardiac Arrest.  It was wonderful to see so many friends from the heart health advocacy world and connect to new people who are helping to save lives.

The 2009 Boston Heart Ball was truly a breathtaking evening.  The American Heart Association out-did itself in the decor, food, music, and theme of this amazing event to fundraise for prevention of the number one killer of all Americans: heart disease.  Great job, AHA, on a wonderful night!!

This week I was interviewed for a story about risk associated with Sudden Cardiac Arrest in young people. 

Check out the story here: Death Among Young People of SCA Poses a Serious Little Known Risk

What a fantastic day…it never fails!  Lobby Day on the Hill was truly inspirational as I connected with my leaders and urged for action for heart disease and stroke with regards to NIH funding, CDC funding, and healthcare reform.  I am very fortunate to have been a part of this process in being able to feel like I truly can take action with an issue so close to my heart (no pun intended!).  My group was able to meet with Senators Kerry and Kennedy’s staff, and I once again was able to meet with my Representative, Congressman Jim McGovern, in person and receive his valuable support on the topics discussed.

Thank you, AHA and all of its volunteers and supporters, for another great Lobby Day!

Today has been simply amazing!  I look forward to tomorrow when the American Heart Association takes the Hill to lobby for important issues we are supporting with regards to heart disease and stroke.  The highlights of the trainings and events I attended today included learning some extremely important information regarding healthcare reform in this country, taking part in the AHA’s CPR Anytime Program, learning the topics we will be specifically speaking about to our representatives, enjoying a wonderful survivors’ luncheon, and participating in a workshop entitled ”Tips for Effective Hill Meetings” in which I helped to highlight what to do(and not to do!) while speaking with our Congressional leaders tomorrow.  I can’t wait to lobby tomorrow for change in our country’s assistance with the number one and number three causes of death in this country.

Featured below is my being able to meet the new CEO of the American Heart Association, Nancy Brown, along with part of AHA’s Team Massachusetts, and some Secret Service friends. 

Thanks for so many of my photos, as always, Jeff Foley!

Ah, yes…another year is here for lobbying in Washington, D.C. with the American Heart Association!  This will be my third visit to this amazing event where hundreds of volunteers and advocates from across the country join forces to show their support in ending the number one cause of death in our country: heart disease.  It doesn’t get any more powerful than seeing our sea of red flood the Capitol’s lawns as we urge our lawmakers to help us in this fight.  I look forward to meeting again with Congressman McGovern, a huge champion of our cause.  Senators Kennedy and Kerry have also given us tremendous support.  Go Massachusetts!

On Monday we will have a great, empowering day of trainings that include learning how to effectively share our stories, gaining a greater understanding of the process of how laws come to exist, productive media communication tools, and so much more.  It will be wonderful to re-connect with my fellow advocates from across the country, especially other survivors, and it will be even more exciting to once again take part in lobbying for this great cause to put an end to heart disease.  Stay tuned!

I was very honored to have recently graduated with a certificate in Thanatology from Bristol Community College.  Thanatology is a special field that explores death, dying, grief, and loss.  It’s a subject matter we all deal with, and it’s especially useful with my being a counselor and teacher. 

Last night at graduation, shortly after my singing the national anthem, I was announced as the Hathaway Funeral Service’s recipient of the Excellence in Thanatology Award for academic excellence in the study of Thanatology, dedication to the caregiving profession, and generous community service.  My work to advocate for heart disease awareness has been a special topic for me to speak with my professor, John Tormey, and my national speaking on this topic as a means to save lives and prevent grief made him believe I was a great candidate for this award.  I am very honored…there were so many wonderful, dedicated people who graduated from the program last night, and I am certainly proud to represent our graduates!

Thank you so much to John Tormey, Hathaway Funeral Service, and President Jack Sbrega.  I received a full year tuition to B.C.C. from my winning the Miss Massachusetts title, and my academic time at this school has been so rewarding and fulfilling!

I was fortunate to be able to attend the Longwood Medical Area ICD Support Group (made up of mainly Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Brigham and Women’s Hospital patients) Spring Fling!  It was an informative and supportive half day ICD patient workshop at the Shapiro Clinical Center in Boston.  Local physicians and device companies gave great presentations for ICD patients, and the day ended with Samuel F. Sears, PhD, speaking about ICD patients and their partners.  It was a great oppotunity to explore beyond the physical side of having an ICD and into the psychological implications and the goals that should be set to overcome the resulting challenges, both for a patient and his or her family.  It was an amazing presentation! I was able to hand out American Heart Association literature to other patients as well…great job to Marianne Daoust, RN and Julie Shea, MS, RNCS, FHRS, and Dorthy Williams for their dedicated work to pull this together!