Jussie sails with Clipper 11-12

Jussie sails with Clipper 11-12
I sailed the last leg (8) in 2012 - USA,Nova Scotia,Ireland,Netherlands & UK. Travelling 4,000 miles, approx 22 days at sea, with 4 races in this leg.

Wednesday 28 January 2009

Feedback & Other News

I wanted to be able to thank everyone for their kind messages after my appearance on the BBC 1 Breakfast News, which was repeated throughout the morning. It's quite bizarre really, as the day of the filming - the crew were at mine for about 1hour 30minutes, and about 10 seconds was used for the news clip..hahaha..thats showbiz for you!

I am quite used to that, after editing is done and so on, and, over the last 4 years of Media work - that was probably my shortage footage. However, the whole piece put together by the BBC was fantastic and my little debut, still made a poignant fact, that without my transplant I would have died!

Also, as I have a Facebook account - that meant people I network with globally - were also able to see me (some maybe for the first time). The comments were lovely and pleasing, and even though I was only on for seconds, it still hit home and has encouraged more people to become donors.

If anyone wishes to see the clip - I have put it under Media Articles 2009. I think my next media blitz will probably come about Transplant week (in the UK), the next UK Transplant Games, and also for my first ever marathon!!!!!!!!

I am going into year 3, of being alive from my new lungs, and I have decided that each extra year I get - to set a new goal! The last 2 years have been the Transplant Games and last year also the European Heart & Lung Transplant Games. Even though, I do sprinting events at the games, I am not a runner..not even or ever enjoyed running. But, It's hard to explain....urm...I feel that I NEED to do things with my life, to make my donor and those who knew him proud of me. Also, that I am NOT wasting my extension on life with his lungs or even taking my life for granted. I appreciate every extra day, as I don't know when it will cease. Therefore, by setting myself goals or challenges - I am being pro-active and doing worthwhile things in my life. This will also set about another fundraising scheme to assist either LAM again (raised for LAM in 2008) or Harefield Hospital whereby I recieved my transplant. Details for that will follow later in the year.

So...the marathon you must be asking...when..what????? It's the Bupa Great South Run, Sunday 25th October, in Portsmouth. It is 10 miles, and to be honest, I am not sure that I will be able to run this distance as my training is going very slow, and a bit of a set back by having a gap of 6 weeks (ill before Christmas/recovery..then over indulgement in yummy foods Xmas and New Year/then laziness). But....I have resumed and all that I had achieved, I have now lost..so I need to work even harder to build up my fitness levels again. My training is as - interval training (walk/run..walk/then..then over time increase duration of running). At present, I am able to run about 2.5 minutes/walk 2.5 minutes for a total of 20 minutes (on a good day). It is frustrating, as I do get breathless doing this, as it is putting a different type of exertion on the lungs as opposed to a quick sprint.

However, I will NOT give up! And I intend to keep going as best as I can. Even if, on the day of the run..I walk most of it and run bits here and there, it will still be a HUGE achievement for me.

If anybody would like to join me, that will be fantastic! I have already had 2 people come forward - who I have never met, but know of me/exchanged some messages, and want to run with me (I have told them..to walk...hahaha).

Below is the link to click on and register your details:-

Bupa Great South Run

Please fill in the form asap, as I have no idea how quickly places will fill up???
Then do contact me if you have registered to take part, so we all can meet up and run together on the day. Thanks. x x

Hmmm..think I have written enough for now.

Cheerio 4 now

Wednesday 21 January 2009

Back on TV

Hey everyone,

I have had a busy afternoon and hopefully another productive piece of media awareness - if the clip does get shown tomorrow. I understand with my years of media experience that you can film an item, then another ground breaking story will over rule any work that has been done.

But....hopefully, I will be on BBC 1 Breakfast TV (22/1/09) on the news slots, I think 6am, 7am, and 8am. Or maybe one of the time slots?? who knows?? just get plenty of tea..infact a pot of tea/coffee..slices of toast with ya favourite spread...and don't move away from the TV screen!..hahahahahaaaaaa

I haven't actually done TV work in a while...last media was newspaper/radio..and I'm hoping I come over ok with my story, and DO encourage more people to sign up as donors.

Infact, I am chuffed that the camera man contacted me later today, to say that he and his wife signed up on organ donor register..woohoooooo!!! That makes me SO happy. I just wish more people do and save lives, like mine was 2.5 years ago.

It makes me very sad - to think of all the wonderful friends that I have met/made since my whole journey with LAM and having the transplant, that lost their battle on life/and some because organs were not available for them in time. That really breaks my heart...truly...and I can't help but get tearful and very emotional.

Not so long ago, a lovely lady named, Melissa also had my rare lung disease, LAM...and fought a terrible battle with the illness like I did with many lungs collapses and fighting for her life. I am gutted that she passed away and never recieved lungs in time. It cut me up and tore me apart emotionally as I really believed Melissa's life WOULD be saved. It just goes to show you - that there simply is NOT enough organ donors and also to all the other people whose lives have been cut short for the same reason.

I thought, that I may give the media a break for a while (but Melissa's death - made me realise that I just can't stop raising awareness if it will mean that another person will join the organ donor register).

And also, when asked by some good friends of mine the same question, would I stop the media campaigning...I just went off on one for ages..like a headstrong bull in a china shop!!! After a while of babbling, and seeing their gobsmacked faces as I waffled on and on and on and on.....I stopped and laughed with them. I could have simply said, "No"...only after my babble again, I realised that its so skin deep with me and MEGA deep rooted, and that I'm extremely passionate...and here I go again!!!

I love campaigning..maybe I am tired of hearing my own story and saying it over and over, but it's worth it, as I said if another person signs up (and also raises awareness of the rare disease, LAM).

OOps...just seen the time, I need to take my meds

Happy watching lovelies x x x x

Monday 12 January 2009

Now back to Blogger!!

Hi!

Well..after much thought and chatting with a couple of people - mainly my younger bro, and a rather kool mate in the States (Nelson)...yay u get a name mention..lol.

I have decided, that realisticly..I DO need to get "with it" and "follow modern up to date trends"..ha ha.

I have also realised that my doing my journals on here..it is an easier way moving forward to keep people updated with life post transplant...and all the little and big things that are being planned and guna happen in my life!

To learn of how my continual health remains/updates on hospital visits. My goals in terms of training for the next UK Transplant Games and my first ever half marathon this year!! And anything else..that I decide to waffle on about..

Also the element, that you can suscribe to my updates (if you so wish..or even add to "follow" if you also use this Blogger format).

So...after another nite of pretty poor sleeping...a common thing thing for me over the last 2.5 years since my transplant..and having been awake since about 4am..now almost 6am..I will try to get another hours sleep.

I have an extremely busy day ahead today.......that may just be something very exciting if all works out......can't say much more at the mo.


Have a fab day all x x x

Tuesday 6 January 2009

WEBSITE DIARY UP AND RUNNING!!

I started this E-Blogger as I was having major difficulties with my website software..but now all seems ok.

So to follow my story please look at

MY WEBSITE

click on the link saying my website

thanks xxx

Testing Testing


First entry to try this new blogger...as setting up my website diary has caused more grief than necessary, and really not worth stressing or pulling out any of my curls!! Hope everyone well and happy. I'm doing so far so good...more to follow as I adapt and grow into this new diary format. Oh and to get started, here is a sporty photo of me taken at the Transplant Games in 2008
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