Heart Truth's Red Dress Initiative Reception: Feb. 11, White House

I don't even know where to begin. What a grand adventure...it still seems almost surreal that I was there, in the White House, speaking to Laura Bush, meeting many people whom I had been speaking with by phone for the past several months (yes, it got so mundane that I'd see 202 area code on my cell and say, "Oh, it's the White House calling again..." - but my hat's the same size, honest - really...).
This will be the first of probably several posts on this amazing trip. I had to start somewhere, and I figured most of you want to the the "proof", so here we go..

Kathy and I in the Blue Room. I'm not going to do a lot of description on this particular post, there will be more...check out the post following this one, for starters on our touring.

We all treated outselves to new red dresses/suits in honor of the occasion - I've never seen so many red dresses in one room at one time, as we saw in the East Room!

Kathy, Carrie, Courtney, reveling in our moment in time...

The President and First Lady both spoke, we were front and center - our names were on the chairs! I had collaborated with Mrs. Bush's speech writer, Meghan Clyne, on the story of what happened the day of my heart attack and Carrie's part in helping me get to the emergency room, and Mrs.Bush not only used the story in her Feb. 2 radio address, she told it again here and then had us stand up for our moment of fame - the room full of 200 guests and assorted press all applauded - wow. Many came up to us during the reception following the speeches, when we were all invited to have heart healthy refreshments (VERY YUMMY), to congratulate us on our story and being there. It was fun to rub elbows with so many doctors, researchers, fashion designers, models, White House staff, ambassadors, and just plain nice folks like us...
I have to say, she's a doll! I didn't realize she was so tiny, barely to my shoulder. A very personable, gracious and fun lady - I truly felt it was an honor. No matter what the politics are at any given time in the White House, we were there for the White House itself, and the First Lady.
I have to say a word about this circa 1807 couch from France...HARD.

The reception started at 4 pm. By 6:30 it was winding down, Marines were beginning to gently clear visitors from the rooms. Here Carrie, Kathy and Courtney are seated for a reflective moment in the Blue Room (same hard couch). What an incredible day.

Many people made this trip possible for me. You know who you are. Thank you - and again, Thank You. A once-in-a-lifetime memory.