Cali Friends Poor Man’s Poison Go Big!

November 16, 2012

For Immediate Release

Hanford based group, Poor Man’s Poison, has advanced to the National Finals of the Texaco Country Music Showdown after winning the Western Regional Finals on November 10, 2012 at Mill Casino in Coos Bay, Oregon. The group will receive am all-expense paid trip to the National Finals in Nashville in January where they will compete with the four other Regional Winners on a Nationally syndicated television special for $100,000 and the coveted title, “Best New Act in Country Music.” Each year more than 50,000 artists compete throughout the U.S. Past winners include: Martina McBride, Garth Brooks, Miranda Lambert, Neal McCoy, Sara Evans, Brad Paisley and Billy Ray Cyrus.

Poor Man’s Poison, who performs all original music, recently returned from Guantanamo Bay Cuba, where they performed for our US Troops. Additionally, they have had the honor of performing at celebrity ECO events for Music Saves Lives. They also made history earlier this year, becoming the first local band to sell out the historic Hanford Fox Theater for a live performance.

For additional information, contact: Doug Archer 559.759.8189

The MSL wristband down in history

Do you have your MSL wristband? You should, it could save your life.
It's been a fad for some time now. They come in so many colors, red for blood donation, pink for cancer, blue for this or that, then you have yellow and people have been cutting those off. A resent South Park hit the ball out of the park with that episode.
Well, Music Saves Lives has magical wristband.
Ours will make you stronger, faster, and live longer. You will be able to see with X-ray vision. Your dog will listen to you and and do exactly what you ask. By wearing our wristband you will find money in your pockets, get front row at concerts and your mom will get off your back about putting the trash out. An "A" will be on your report card, the sky will look bluer and birds will sing around you.
You can get these magical wristbands at our site. Go to musicsaveslives.org and click on the store right now. They are the perfect gift this holiday season.

Be The Exclusive Twitter Reporter For A Night!

Be the exclusive twitter reporter for a night! 

Want to be the official twitter reporter for the Picturehealing relaunch party featuring Music Saves Lives? Here's your chance. Just follow these simple steps, and get the chance for you and a friend to attend the community celebration and relaunch party at Wokcano Restaurant and Lounge in Santa Monica on October 26, 2012. 

-First, follow Music Saves Lives on twitter. 

-Second, with one tweet to Music Saves Lives, tell us why you should be the official twitter reporter of the night using the #hashtag; #BooGood 

The best answer wins! GOOD LUCK! 

Competition Rules

-Must be 21 or over

-Must be able to attend the event

-Must be prepared to tweet 'til your fingers are sore

-Must be ready to have an incredible time! 

 

 

[INTERVIEW] DISNEY STAR DEBBY RYAN TALKS ABOUT GIVING BACK & HER HIT SHOW 'JESSIE'

ACT: For your 18th bday, you asked that donations be made to Music Saves Lives. We love it! What inspired you to donate your bday and why did you pick this org?

DEBBY: I knew I had no desire to have a "celebrate me!" gift-hoarding type of birthday. Most of my friends are musicians, singers, dancers, DJs, so I just wanted all my friends to jam. I threw my party at a local record store and set up a stage full of instruments. It was like band karaoke! I had seen and heard a lot about the awesome people behind Music Saves Lives and the incredible stuff they did, so not only was it perfect with the music theme, it was something my friends and family could get behind.

MORE HERE

MSL Shares the Go Radio album!

We're so excited over here at Music Saves Lives because today is Go Radio release day!

Their new album Close The Distance is now available everywhere. I love it and I wanted to share it with everyone to hear for themselves.

Fat Kid Rules The World with the Director Matt Lillard

This movie will move you.

Need to know about MSL and what we do?

SOBECA Summer Sounds Series Second installment features beer garden at The CAMP

Costa Mesa, CA, July 26, 2012 – The SOBECA Summer Sound Series continues on Sunday, August 5, noon to 6 p.m. at The CAMP, 2937 Bristol St., with performances by Los Angeles natives The Miracals and former American Idol contestant, Jackie Tohn.

Thanks to sponsors Planet LA Records, Hubert’s Lemonade and Travel Costa Mesa, the event is FREE to the public. Performers include Sonia Rao, who made the top 40 on NBC’s The Voice, Rudy Love, Jr., Georgia-based Ocha La Rocha, Bryan Titus, Ben Leyland, Fontain's M.U.S.E., Caroline Brooks, Jake Brown, Jon Sherman & Drydad Flutes, and a drum circle to close out the day.  The main stage will be located on the SEED People’s Market patio and the acoustic stage adjacent to taco asylum.

A third performance location has been added featuring a Stone Brewing Co. Beer Garden, both located in the Tree House above ECCO Restaurant, which will benefit charity partner, Music Saves Lives. Guests can also enjoy beverages from Hubert's Lemonade and take part in making instruments out of recycled materials and household items.  Continuing the August 5^th festival across the street, The LAB will feature a live broadcast by Vibe’s & Stuff radio, DJ sets and an art show by Andrew Baker in The ARTery Gallery.

The SOBECA Summer Sounds Series will conclude on the weekend of August 25-26 featuring an extensive lineup of performers, artists and more.   Please contact janet@thelab.com for add’l info!

  #   #   #

The SOBECA District, an acronym for South On Bristol, Entertainment, Culture, Arts, is a renowned indoor-outdoor cultural community in Orange County celebrating the arts through fashion, music, art and healthy living.  At the heart of this district are specialty retail projects, The LAB and The CAMP, across the street from each other on south Bristol Street.  For more information, visit www.thecampsite.com or www.thelab.com. 

PSA episode 'METAL IN MY SHELL

 Supa Pirate Booty Hunt the award winning animated series has

joined forces with Music Saves Lives a non-profit organization whose

mission is to educate people about the importance of blood donation

and the bone marrow registry and to use all forms of music and

entertainment to get the message out. Together they have produced

animated episode PSA's along with a comic book with their life saving

message to reach out to the comic con audience. Each episode pairs Cpt

Zack Stevers & Daniel the Turtle with a different music celebrity.

Last summer's episode 'Nurse Boobies Please' featured Vans Warped

Tour main stage artist 3OH!3 and it took home six awards at the

Burbank International Film Festival.

WHEN: Saturday July 14th from 9 PM - Midnight at Wet Willies located

at 555 Market Street at corner of 6th ave (only a couple blocks away

from the convention center) The event is FREE for anyone, 21 + event.

Meet Supa Pirate Booty Hunt creators Steve Sievers & Dahveed

Kolodny-Nagy as they will be giving out FREE signed copies of MSL/SPBH

comic book (while supplies last) Music Saves Lives director Russel

Hornbeek will be on hand to discuss the charity concept and provide

some free iTunes cards.



Be the first to view the animated PSA episode 'METAL IN MY SHELL' at

the after party. The episode guest stars Dave Mustaine of Megadeth and

Full Metal Jackie. Cpt Zack Stevers & Daniel the Turtle face Dave

Mustaine in a rock off that warps time & space. The episode will be

released on Music Saves Lives youtube channel the following week.

Fame voice actor Richard Epcar will be on hand at the party signing

autographs. Richard has lead his voice to over 2,000 characters, most

notable for Ghost in the Shell, Robotech, Transfomers, Street Fighter,

& Mortal Kombat. Fame voice actor Neil Kaplan from from Transfromers

Robots in Disguise, Power Rangers, Pokemon, Bleach, Starcraft II, Supa

Pirate Booty Hunt, & more will be on hand signing autographs. Other

surprise voice actors & artists will be

stopping by the party so make sure to attend this free event!

I needed blood in a BAD way!

Emily Tantuccio – denim jacket – is a Blood transfusion recipient.  She was diagnosed last summer with a Factor 7 clotting deficiency and needed many transfusions of platelets and red cells.   She now encourages everyone she knows to donate and is helping out and recruiting donors for several Music Saves Lives blood drives, including the EB one, that brought in many donors.  She lives in Old Bridge NJ with her friend Traci Rubin.  They worked together on the blood drives while in school at North Brunswick High School and is a regular donor.  They are both volunteers for this Music Saves Lives / Vans Warped Tour drive.   They were so successful recruiting donors, spreading the word at the mall, and helping out at the drive.

 You Can Still Donate for VIP check out www.musicsaveslives.org/donate.php 

KARtv Dance Awards: Lil' Mama, Allstar Weekend, Poreotix, SoulEscape, SYTYCD Alumni

Incredible Line Up, Great Causes, and a perfect Venue.  MGM Grand Hotel Las Vegas

DanceKar.com

Social Networking Impacts Lives Using Hash Tag #GIVEBLOOD.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 May 8, 2012

Nonprofit Music Saves Lives and “B” Corp Picture Healing Partner Up To Save Thousands Of Lives With A Snap Of A Camera Lens.

Social Networking Impacts Lives Using Hash Tag #GIVEBLOOD. 

                                                                                                                                                 

Seal Beach, CA, For the last 7 years Music Saves Lives, a nonprofit that encourages youth blood donation, has been instrumental in over one million blood donation and now with partner PictureHealing the plan to impact the summer blood supply will be at record numbers.  

The simple social network call to action is to use the iPhone app that Picture Healing developed to take a picture of yourself donating blood.  Alone, these two organizations are your average nonprofit and iPhone App Company, but together they can change the world.  

Music Saves Lives each summer offers a printed voucher to blood donors that attend pre-arranged blood drives across the nation.  The voucher is good for upgrading a concert ticket at the Vans Warped Tour, a touring festival that see over 600,000 kids each summer.  These vouchers are very successful at reaching about 50-60 thousand young people, but now with the advancement in technology and social networking the doors open to many more people that want to be part of the program.  Instead of kids trying to attend a pre-arranged blood drive, they can now go to any blood center, or any hospital and just snap a picture of themselves donating.  The picture is then uploaded and shared across the massive social network scene with hash tag #GIVEBLOOD allowing the companies to track every attempted donation.  The blood donor then goes on-line to order the picture and uses it as the voucher/concert upgrade.   The simple process has already begun to go viral across the US and can be followed by searching #GIVEBLOOD.     

ABOUT: Music Saves Lives a 501(c)3 organization based in Southern California was established in 2006 by founder and now director Russel Hornbeek.  Music Saves Lives has focused on blood donation, marrow registration and life saving education to a demographic of 14-27 year olds.  This has been done in College and High Schools across the US and Canada.  Music Saves Lives has directly encouraged over 1 million blood donations, and with over 30,000 marrow registrations, has saved 15 people with blood disorders or leukemia.  It has been awarded for being the largest youth blood donation program in the US history from the American Red Cross six years in a row.  The Music Saves Lives motto, “Saving Lives Has Never Sounded So Good™”.  Information about Music Saves Lives and its life saving efforts visit: www.musicsaveslives.org

PictureHealing develops community, awareness, and support for charity through photo-sharing on your iPhone. There motto “Be a Hero, Change the World” has started a photo sharing revolution helping nonprofits.  As a California “B” Corporation over 50% of their company profits go back to the nonprofits they work with.  Visit PictureHealing on-line to find out more. www.picturehealing.com

Official Music Saves Lives / Vans Warped Tour T-Shirts

Today we launched the official Girls and Guy's Music Saves Lives T-Shirts through the great company of Merch Network. The Vans Warped Tour logo is positioned on the sleeve.   These are top quality shirts and can be ordered right NOW.   

No Room for Rockstars, the Vans Warped Tour Movie, Available Exclusively on iTunes

No Room for Rockstars, the Vans Warped Tour Movie, Available Exclusively on iTunes

The new Vans Warped Tour movie, No Room for Rockstars is now available exclusively on iTunes.  Directed by Parris Patton (Amazing Journey: The Story of the WHO) and produced by Stacy Peralta, Agi Orsi and the team that brought you Dogtown & Z-boys, No Room for Rockstars depicts true stories of modern era rock and roll from the kids in the van playing parking lots hoping to be discovered, to the veteran stage manager whose life was saved by the tour, to the musician who crosses over to mainstream success while on the road.

The film features music from acts such as Suicide Silence, Never Shout Never, Mike Posner and Forever Came Calling and Warped favorites Pennywise, Bouncing Souls and Sum 41. 

Extras include more than two additional hours of videos, interactive
playlists to find your favorite songs and a "Create Your Own Poster"
feature. You can also share clips and explore bands in-depth including Bring Me the Horizon, Mike Posner, Suicide Silence, Pennywise and many more. 

Bonus Videos from: Alesana, Anarbor, Andrew WK, The Bots, The Bouncing Souls, Bring Me the Horizon, The Casualties, Dillinger Escape Plan, The Exposed, Fake Problems, Mike Posner, Never Shout Never, Pennywise, The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, Suicide Silence.

An accompanying album, The Vans Warped Tour Greatest Hits, is available separately for purchase and features classic songs by bands who have performed on the tour throughout the years, including Sublime, Descendents, Buzzcocks, Pennywise, Suicidal Tendencies, No Doubt and more.

For more on No Room for Rockstars, please visit: www.noroomforrockstars.com

MONSTER ENERGY GIVES BACK PARTNERS WITH MUSIC SAVE LIVES TO HOST A CELEBRITY K1 KART RACE FUNDRAISING EVENT TO RAISE AWARENESS AND GIVE BACK TO THE ORGANIZATION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                         CONTACT:            Kim Dresser

C: (949) 300-5546

E: kimpaigedresser@att.net

MONSTER ENERGY GIVES BACK PARTNERS WITH MUSIC SAVE LIVES TO HOST A CELEBRITY K1 KART RACE FUNDRAISING EVENT TO RAISE AWARENESS

AND GIVE BACK TO THE ORGANIZATION

RACE AND PARTY WITH THE STARS

SAVE LIVES, CHANGE LIVES, GIVE, ROCK

CORONA, CALIF (March 12, 2012) – Monster Energy is excited to partner with Music Saves Lives for a special evening to host a Celebrity K1 Kart Race event on April 1 at the K1 Speed in Irvine, CA featuring celebrities, athletes, media and industry influencers.  Red carpet starts at 6:30 pm.

Music Saves Lives (MSL) is a nonprofit organization that focuses its main efforts on blood donation and marrow registration, reaching out by sharing facts and educating young people on music tours nationwide.  MSL began in 2006 and has reached over 2 million youth blood donors and registered over 20,000 for the marrow program saving as many as 15 people with leukemia.  Their efforts have changed lives across the US and Canada.

"Music Saves Lives is excited to have the Monster Energy Gives Back Program support the Music Saves Lives Fundraiser, the first annual Celebrity K1 Kart Race,” said Russel Hornbeek, Director of Music Saves Lives.  Our life saving programs reach thousands each summer and the proceeds from this unique benefit will provide the needed resources to save lives year round.”

Rick Thorne, professional BMX rider, musician, actor, and TV and radio personality will host this amazing event, act as a celebrity driver and perform with his band, Good Guys in Black.  Other celebrities will include the cast from the reality shows, Millionaire Matchmaker and Storage Wars, as well as Monster Energy’s professional skateboarders Jake Brown and Pierre-Luc Gagnon (PLG), Jason Britton – stunt rider, Joslyn Davis - Clevver TV Host, Kyle Mohan - pro formula drift driver who will be bringing his Mazda RX8 to display, Anastasia Ashley - pro surfer and Jeremy Wright – professional body border to name a few.

“In an effort to give back Monster Energy created The Monster Energy Gives Back Program to support nonprofit organizations through fundraisers and charity events,” said Terri Sacks, director and founder of the Monster Energy Gives Back Program.  Music Saves Lives is the perfect organization to align with since we both share a common passion for music and how it connects and inspires us all.”

-

Sponsors include: Prodigy Entertainment who will be supplying the DJ and event production. All Smiles Solutions will set up a mobile photo booth where guests will receive printed photos. Evan’s Lager, Status Vodka, Karma Tequila, The Wine & Artist & PRP Wine as well as Socially Sweet Events featuring delectable gourmet cupcakes while incorporating Monster beverages and signature cookie sandwiches, and Night & Day Productions will be staffing expert mixologists to craft innovative drinks.

For ticket purchase and information visit: http://msl.ticketleap.com/k1fun/.  For more information on Music Saves Lives visit: www.musicsaveslives.org.  For more on Monster Energy Gives Back and our athletes visit our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/MonsterEnergyGivesBack or check out www.monsterenergy.com.

For further information, bios and images please contact Kim Dresser at (949) 300-5546 or kimpaigedresser@att.net.

###

Vans Warped Tour Band Announcements Continue With Six More Additions

Ten Second Epic, Justina, The Jukebox Romantics (Pictured below), Cold Forty Three, The Darlings and We Are The Ocean added to the list of bands heading out on VWT 2012!! Check out the complete VWT 2012 lineup as it's announced here!!( http://www.warpedtour.com/bands)

Pre-registration is currently open for 2012 Warped presale tickets going on sale on March 30th. This will be your first crack at these specially priced, 3D commemorative tickets that include jump the line access and more. Limited number in each city and while supplies last. Register here (links to http://bit.ly/AkfpwP) VWT 2012 kicks off June 16th in Salt Lake City, UT and runs through August 5 in Portland, OR. Check out the DATES (http://vanswarpedtour.com/dates) page on www.warpedtour.com to find out when we are coming to your town!!

DEBBIE DURKIN’S ECO-OSCARS TO BENEFIT MUSIC SAVES LIVES®

                                                                      ***SAVE THE DATE***     DEBBIE DURKIN’S ECO-OSCARS TO BENEFIT MUSIC SAVES LIVES® AND FUR FITNESS FOUNDATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23 AND FRIDAY, FyEBRUARY 24, 2012     What: ​In celebration of the 84th Academy Awards sustainable film and television producer Debbie Durkin hosts “ECO-OSCARS” Music, Celebrity and Pet Style Lounge benefiting Music Saves Lives® and Fur Fitness Foundation.   Honorees and guests will be pampered and gifted with eco-luxury lifestyle brands at the breathtaking historic Pickford Mansion where “The Artist” was shot.  Music Saves Lives will feature live acoustic performances while promoting blood drives for the American Red Cross.     Fur Fitness will host the Red Carpet Pets area where Celebrities can schedule to have Pet Portraits taken with their four-legged friends and design and paint signature pet bowls that will be auctioned off for charity.     Who:​Expected guests include Oscar nominees Gary Oldman (Actor in a Leading Role – “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy”), Siedah Garrett (Music/Original Song – “Real in Rio” from “Rio”), Dan Lindsay and TJ Martin (Documentary Feature– “Undefeated”), and Rebecca Cammisa and Julie Anderson (Documentary Short – “God is Bigger than Elvis”), plus Dennis Haysbert (“Luv”), Raphael Sbarge (“Once Upon a Time”), Wendi McLendon-Covey (“Bridesmaids”), Kirsten Bell (“House of Lies”), Sofia Milos (“CSI:  Miami”), Goran Visjnic (“Beginners” and “K-11”), Deborah Gibson (“Celebrity Apprentice”), Ken Davitian (“The Artist”), Kevin Sorbo (“Soul Surfer”), former NFLer Willie Gault, Emmanuelle Chriqui (“Entourage”), Victoria Justice (“Victorious”), Michael Jai White (“For Better or Worse”), Carolyn Hennessy (“Cougar Town”), Rachel Carson-Begley (actress and green activist), Joe Mantegna (“Criminal Minds”), and Kelly Hu (“Phineas and Ferb”). ​   When:​Thursday, February 23 and Friday, February 24 12pm – 6pm. By appointment only.   Where:​Private Estate in Hancock Park   More:​Sponsors include luxurious Minky Couture blankets, HUGRZ™ boot wraps, Main Event Red Carpet Lounge & Green Suite Gift Bags & Apparel by BlingIsTheNewBlack, eco-friendly designer original patched jeans from SONAS DENIM, SOLZ ultra-comfortable stylish roll-able and fold-able lifestyle shoes,  the artful makeup of D'Mademoiselle Pure Mineral Makeup and Skintastic skin care products, pampering mini-massage treatments compliments of Absolute Vital Body Works neckwork expert, Yvonne Larson, sought-after Celebrity Brow and Lash expert Stefanie G with her boutique line of Stefanie G Fine Cosmetics of BH, TINTURA SALON featuring styling and blowouts, feather extensions & clip-ons, hand paraffin treatments, and hand massage, OXYwater TM healthy hydration, delicious sustainable gourmet Mexican and Italian buffets by reknown "South of the Border" Chefs Len & Tony, Socially Sweet Events featuring Oscar-themed mini cupcakes, cookie sandwiches, and "Red Carpet Pet" Dog Treats, Kanon Organic Vodka serving up signature organic cocktails "Kanon Rosemary Lemonade" and "Kanon Firecracker", water in reusable bottles served by LifeSource Water, America's most recommended eco-friendly home water system.   Celebrity Gift Bag Sponsors: Shaklee Get Clean Kits, Stone Soup Jewelry Designs, Author Beth Aldrich's book "Real Moms Love To Eat", HAI Hot Tunes Flat Irons, and more!       **For credentials to cover, please Shari Mesulam at shari@themesulamgroup.com or 310.663-0056**     Music Saves Lives® is the bridge between music, entertainment and important life-saving causes. We bring a simple concept connect the music and entertainment to a lifesaving community action: blood donation and the bone marrow registry. We educate about the importance of simple life saving actions they can participate in. Donating blood, running a blood drive, and registering for the marrow program to save those with leukemia, all connect back to the community.  As a recognized 501(c)3 organization we have grown from our home base in Southern California launching at “Eco Hideaway” Music Saves Lives® to a worldwide presence. “Saving Lives Has Never Sounded So Good™!” www.musicsaveslives.org   Fur Fitness Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide educational resources and help pet parents navigate the confusing world of pet health, fitness and nutrition. The Foundation also directs a special emphasis on helping pet parents and veterinarians address the growing trend of the pet obesity... epidemic with the goal of reversing and eradicating this preventable health crisis. Fur Fitness Foundation is devoted to inspiring a revolution of change in the current status of pet health and well-being. www.furfitness.org     About Durkin Entertainment: Durkin Entertainment is an indie TV/Film production company specializing in TV/Film/Celebrity product placement. Credits:K-11,The Expendables, ECO Hollywood (KCBS-LA), CW Network, The A-List , NBC TODAY Show, Chelsea Lately,Two Jacks, Bonnie Hunt TV Show, Blades of Glory, Rocky Balboa, National Lampoon's Cattle Call, LAPD Hollenback Happy Planet documentary, Walk A Mile in My Pradas, Living With Ed-HGTV-Planet Green, LA Ink, Celebuzz, The Sexiest Women of Reality TV & Calendar, Los Angeles Confidential Magazine, 944 Magazine, Kevin Sorbo's Celebrity Golf Tournament, IFQ Magazine, and Sundance Celebrity Swag Hunt. LA’s leading sustainable producer, Debbie Durkin, produces a series of Main Event Red Carpet Lounges & Green Suites each year during Sundance, Green Grammys, Eco Oscars, Eco Hollywood Earth Day, MTV Movie Awards ECO Lounge, and Eco Emmys, each lounge benefiting charities. For additional information stay tuned for the launch of our new website in March 2012: www.durkinentertainmentgroup.com

Maggie's on her 71st Blood Transfusion. Why you should donate TODAY!

This is Maggie's story direct from her Mom and Dad.  They post a Wordpress blog here: http://theruds.wordpress.com/

Maggie is just one of the thousands we work so hard for.  Her story has so much meaning to Music Saves Lives.   

Today Maggie had her 71st blood transfusion.  That means 71 people donated to save her life so far.  It's so important that we make this summer a summer to remember.  Can we hit 80,000 blood donations with the Vans Warped Tour and Mayhem Festival?   Not without your help.

Maggie started giving us trouble from the time she was in the womb. At a routine 10 week ultrasound she was found to have a large Cystic Hygroma on her neck . This led to 9 months of worry, tons of ultrasounds, many fetal echo-cardiograms and a CVS test. She kept us on our toes but when she finally entered the world on August 19th, 2008 she was not only the most beautiful little girl I had ever seen, but she also seemed completely healthy. My OB and his office all referred to her as a miracle baby, and we were so happy she was ours.

We brought Maggie home from the hospital when she was 3 days old with a clean bill of health..we quickly settled into life with 3 kids. Little did we know everything was about to get scary yet again. On September 22nd when she was just shy of 5 weeks old I decided to take her in to the pediatrician’s office. She had been fighting a cold and although I knew colds were nothing to panic about, I couldn’t shake the feeling of worry. We had a late appointment and so my husband came home from work and stayed with the boys while I brought Maggie in for what I was sure was going to be a quick appointment and assumed her pediatrician would tell me to stop being so worried about her..that she was fine.

As you may have guessed, things didn’t go exactly as planned. Her pediatrician was concerned. Maggie had hardly gained any weight at all since being born, despite eating every 3-4 hours. He thought she was pale, he heard a loud heart murmur and mentioned something about how the whites of her eyes were blue. He thought it was best to have some lab work done and told me as results came in he would call me. Maggie and I then left his office and headed for the lab, they did a heel stick to collect blood for the various tests they were running…I remember her little heel would not stop bleeding. The lab tech seemed a little alarmed and told me to make sure I informed the pediatrician about this. 5 band aids later and we finally got out of there. The whole drive home I was in a panic..I called my sister, my mom, Andy..they all told me everything was fine, this was just a precaution, but mommy’s intuition told me otherwise.

About a half hour after Maggie and I had returned home my phone rang..it was her pediatrician and as soon as I heard his voice on the other end I knew my intuition was right. He told me Maggie’s labs were very alarming and I was to immediately bring her to the emergency room where he would be waiting for us. My heart sunk the most when he told me to make sure I brought my husband with me. 10 minutes later as we were getting ready to leave he called again, this time he said to hang up and call 911, this was serious enough that she needed to come by ambulance. I am pretty sure it took my 5 tries to actually call 911 because my hands were shaking so bad.

We arrived at the hospital and the craziness began. She was immediatly rushed to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and they started the poking and prodding. All I could do was stand by the window and cry. I felt so helpless. They finally told me she had a hemoglobin count of 3, this is critically low. Her heart was enlarged from working so hard to pump around such a small amount of blood. They started a blood transfusion..the first of many. Maggie spent 3 days in ICU and then another day in the regular pediatric unit before being discharged. We continued to get Maggie’s blood tested constantly and then a few weeks later she had her first bone marrow biopsy. She was eventually diagnosed with a very rare blood disorder called Diamond Blackfan Anemia. So rare that she is one of 750 in the world with this disease. In a nut shell, having DBA means that her bone marrow does not produce it’s own red blood cells.

Since being Diagnosed Maggie has had to get blood transfusions every 2 to 3 weeks..we are up to 64 so far. She has had numerous bone marrow biopsies, a broviac central line, a port,a trial of steroids (didn’t work), hospital stays for low counts and infections, 6 echo cardiograms, ultrasounds of her spleen and kidneys along with an ultrasound of her brain, a liver biopsy and 2 MRI’s of her liver, multiple visits to the ER, 3 VCUG’s  and probably at least 200 blood tests. She is my HERO.

Right now Maggie has what they call “Iron Overload” from all her blood transfusions. Iron has built up in her liver and other organs. Because of this she is on a medicine called Desferal for 10 hours a night, 5 nights a week. She gets this subcutaneously in her thigh,which means 5 nights a week she sleeps with a needle in her leg while the medicine infuses. It causes pain and swelling in her thighs yet she rarely complains about it. She is so strong.

A bone marrow transplant is the only “cure” for DBA, and it has been recommended for Maggie. Her brother Lucas is a perfect match and should we do transplant he would be her donor. Right now we are unsure if transplant is the way to go for Maggie but we are talking about it. I know that no matter what comes her way, she will get through it.

Bands Needed For ECO OSCARS. Submit today

"Eco Oscars" Music, Celebrity & Pet Style Lounge Submission FORM

 Music Saves Lives is accepting applications to play a 30 min set one at the "Eco Oscars" Music, Celebrity & Pet Style Lounge. You could be selected for either Feb 23rd or 24th between 12pm and 6pm. This Event will be held at a gated estate in Los Angeles. If selected details/ load in times / address will be shared. As a nonprofit, this submission is used as a fundraising opportunity for Music Saves Lives and all submissions must include a $50.00 submission donation. Fill out the needed information below the text. DONATE HERE https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=GVFSZZP7BBQ2L This is an acoustic set. A PA will be provided, but no back line. Small information about the event: "Red Carpet Pets" presented by Fur Fitness Foundation TM www.furfitnessfoundation.org A Celebrity Pet Pavilion" with Pet Portrait Studio & Celebrity-Designed Pet Bowls honoring our 4-legged friends "Uggie" starring in the OSCAR-nominated BEST PICTURE "The Artist", and "Cosmo", starring in "Beginners", and the pets nominated for a 2012 Golden Collar Award: BEST DOG IN A THEATRICAL FILM COSMO as Arthur – BEGINNERS (Focus Features) UGGIE as Queenie – WATER FOR ELEPHANTS (Fox) DENVER as Skeletor – 50/50 (Summit Entertainment/ Mandate Pictures) HUMMER as Dolce – YOUNG ADULT (Paramount/Mandate) UGGIE as The Dog – The Artist (The Weinstein Company) BEST DOG IN A FOREIGN FILM KOKO as Red Dog – RED DOG (Roadshow Films, Australia) LAIKA as Herself – LE HAVRE (Janus Films, France) BIINA as Alf – THE DAY THE DOGS DISAPPEARED (Nippon TV, Japan) ICHICO as Tao – THE DAY THE DOGS DISAPPEARED (Nippon TV, Japan) Live acoustic Music Performances on the Music Saves Lives® Artists Stage. Savings Lives Never Sounded So Good! TM www.musicsaveslives.org "South of the Border Catering" Chef Len's Mexican Buffet & Chef Tony's Italian Bar Green Carpet Arrivals Signature Organic Cocktails Celebrity Style Lounge: Get green-carpet-ready, styled by the best brands: Red Carpet Gowns, suites, shoes, handbags, jewelry, makeup, hair, nutrition, fitness, tanning, Celebrity transportation, and more! Pampering by LA's Neckwork Expert All Talent Selected will be able to meet the sponsors and dine on Chef Len's "South of the Border" Taco bar and Chef Tony's Italian Bar.