Subject:  OPEN LETTER TO SHARE |
Author:
Lisa Hassell
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Date Posted: Thursday, February 28, 07:05:33pm
Hey Stacey,
This is Amanda Barzdins Mother writing, hope you and Hannah Rose are doing well.
I wish to share something with you, now that we have some answers and I can bring myself finally to open up a little and talk about it, I have had the most trying of my faith I think since I have been the Mother of this wonderful daughter of mine.
I don't know if you were aware the first year Amanda competed, I had just had 2 heart surgeries which ended up not being so successful and ultimately ended up having a pacemaker. That summer Tracy and Aimee were so kind to me, and Amanda, and made us feel so welcome after having such hard times the prior three years. Shortly after Amanda did your prelim she started displaying symptoms I had exactly at the age my symptoms started at 26, and the doctors dismissed it as the usual diagnosis at the time of stress etc. it was undiagnosed for about 18 yrs. and treated with various medications until my ekg's were all showing very fast heart rates with other abnormalities. Well I took Amanda to our family doctor who happens to be a very good friend of mine and she assured me that maybe Amanda was "stretched too thin with school and work, she got a promotion by the way, to the administrator of the restaurant where she works, and that we would watch her, but my intuition proved to be right. In mid January I myself caught her pulse rate at over 140/bpm and took her back to the doctor, and they indeed said there was a problem. We went to a Cardiologists 4 weeks ago, and he examined her, and indeed agreed she has the same problem with her heart that I did, and it was important that she wear a heart monitor for 3 weeks and we go back on 3/17th to decide if there is surgery needed, or if it can be treated with medication. The problem is this, we are all born with a "natural pacemaker" in our hearts, but I was born with 2, and what they did was a surgery called a Cardiac Ablation where they trace the hearts pattern and locate the 2nd pacemaker that should not be there, stop the heart when it is located, and take a laser and ablate the tissue where the "extra pacemaker" is. My first surgery did not work, the 2nd pacemaker "moved" and I had to have a 2nd ablation and then finally a pacemaker. My only brother died at the age of 36 with a massive heart attack, they thought at first was from a virus , but now think it is hereditary and I just feel horrible that my only child is facing this procedure maybe. I wanted to just slap the doctor when I sat there and heard him say to her what he thought the problem was, and at the same time was grateful that we finally knew what the problem was. I kept thinking that this is my child who took my Grandmothers quilts to a homeless man with food she passed every day on her way to school, this is my child never one time in her life gave me a minutes problem, the is my daughter who was moved to tears when she got a message from Miss Traci's daughter that she would always be in her "top 5" when she didn't make it at Internationals, and told me when she was a little girl she always wondered if she would grow up and be a role model like Helen Holliday, and Scarlet Morgan, and Helen Goolsby at Miss NC were to her, and that those words from Kylee meant more to her than any crown, because she felt she was now indeed one of those role models, and it was all worth just that! I just shut down for a while, it was not a good experience to go through as a Mother I just shut down when I heard it, but held it all inside for not to show fear in front of her, and to be honest I am also just angry as heck!
I take my commitments that I make seriously, and hope all will forgive me for not being able to hold the prelim this year, it was just a little too much to even consider, and Amanda didn't want to really talk about it to anyone at first because of the "stress" diagnosis, which I agreed to until now. and we thought that best as well until we had indeed some answers. She is taking a semester off from school and will have to re audition , but I don't think that will be a problem at all.
I ask that you all forgive me, I somewhat feel that I have let you all down as well, but I hope you understand. The Doctor assured us that if surgery was indeed warranted, we would get it out of the way and it should take care of the problem, I hope wearing the monitor she wore for the last 3 weeks will show them exactly what needs to be done, it is very unusual to have to have a 2nd ablation as in my case, and she will be well enough to compete at State, that was one of her first questions, typical Amanda, she loves this system and knows she is aging out soon to compete. I took her this week and we found her beauty competition gown and have have reserved our rooms for state already along with sending in our deposit, her step-father and I laughed, still my "BELLA"!
Please pray for her that she will be healed, and pray for me for strength, I am not taking her to Baptist hospital, a teaching hospital is not the best place to be at times, my experience there was not the best. We will be at Moses Cone hospital under the care of Dr. Taylor who is wonderful by the way, and a big fan of Opera so he and Amanda hit it off right away. She is doing better with it mentally I think, or maybe just showing me that to "try not to trouble Mom" that is Amanda as well.
Please feel free to forward this to all the prelim directors as well as the State Directors, and again I am so sorry that I let you down this year but I hope you will all understand. I would love to come and help you at some of the upcoming prelims if you need an extra hand, it would be so good to see you all, and be with "family " again. My cell phone number is as follows 336-420-9979, it is the best way to reach me, and again I ask for your prayers, and understanding.
Sincerely,
Lisa Hassell
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 CORRECTION-Miss Aimee's daughter...sorry (NT) -- Lisa Hassell, Thursday, February 28, 07:08:40pm
- Lisa, I have always loved you guys since we meet you. I wase by no means offended or let down by you not being able to have the pageant this year. I too have had to delay having a pageant for far less serious reasons. I looked forward to spending this year at State with you guys again and tell Amanda she will always be one of MY cinderella girls :o)! She blew me and my judges away at Lake Norman last year and continues to amaze us with her beautiful voice and personality. I hope you both get thru you heath problems soon, and are allowed more time to enjoy the Cinderella magic among other things!!! (NT) -- Love, Donna Mullis ( Lake Norman, Union, and Cabarrus County co-director), Thursday, February 28, 07:25:50pm
- Lisa, This is Lisa Everhart, Lillie Bear's mom. I just want you to know that we fell in love with you and Amanda the very minute we walked into the dressing room at Davidson County Cinderella. If there is anything that we can do, please feel free to contact us. We will add you and Amanda to our church prayer list. Please keep us posted on this situation. (NT) -- Lisa Everhart, Thursday, February 28, 11:59:55pm
- Lisa and Amanda, You will both be in our family's prayers. I'm so sorry that you are facing this right now. The doctor's at Cone are wonderful and were a blessing to me as well when my husband had a heart scare two years ago. I know she is good hands there and with the Lord. We are in GSO, by the way, so if you all need anything, please don't hesitate to let me know. Many many hugs and prayers! (NT) -- Lori Land, Friday, February 29, 11:41:40am
- Amanda & Lisa....We will be thinking about you and praying for you. I just wanted to say that we love you and it has been such a pleasure getting to know you and share Cinderella with both of you!...We can't wait to see you at state this year....Amanda, you are so very talented and an absolutely amazing young woman and a role model. We love you, let us know if you need anything at all! Take care and we will see you soon !!!! Love, Laura & Michelle (NT) -- Michelle, Friday, February 29, 11:21:00pm
- Hey guys!! We are always here if you need anything! Just let us know. Always in our prayers! (NT) -- The Foster's, Sunday, March 02, 09:08:22pm
- amanda -- haley livengood Tiny tot, Tuesday, March 04, 11:34:21pm
- Amanda, I have been so busy that I have not had a chance to check the board. I am so sorry to hear about your health problems. I have been so worried since I had not heard from you but I never imagined this!!! Kylee and I will be praying for you! You and your family have been through so much in the last couple of years. You are always so strong and I am sure that some of these things have molded you into the AMAZING young lady that you are today!! Always know that you are in our thoughts. Keep us updated and I will see you at State! (NT) -- Aimee, Tuesday, March 11, 11:27:48pm
- Love you Amanda! -- Patti & Lauren, Thursday, March 13, 08:11:53pm
- Amanda & Lisa, I am so sorry that you are having these problems. You are two of the most wonderful people I've ever had the honor of knowing. You are deep in my prayers & thoughts. I adore you both & will not cease praying. (NT) -- Much love, Holly Urbina, Friday, March 14, 12:23:43pm
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Franklin County Winners?
Miss Aimee is VERY SICK.... please keep her in your prayers. Hey cindy Family... keep my mom in your prayers. Thanks!
