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NORTH VALLEY – Michele R. Jones, a fifth‑grade teacher at Diamond Canyon Elementary School in Anthem, is mighty proud of all of her 42 highflying students who participated, and especially the five who won an honorable mention in the Honeywell Fiesta Bowl Aerospace Challenge preliminary competition on Dec. 4. Presented by the Arizona Republic and featuring Microsoft Mission Control, the challenge gave students an opportunity to compete in teams of three to five to construct a "new" generation International Space station which promoted team‑building, communication, problem‑solving and critical decision‑making skills.

Arizona athletes score big for Boise in Fiesta Bowl
by LeeAnn Sharpe

VALLEY – Only 62 seconds left in the Fiesta Bowl game and Boise State was down 35‑28. Fourth and 18, Boise's Jared Zabransky fired a 15‑yard pass to Drisan James who stealthily tossed the ball to Jerard Rabb. The hook‑and‑ladder play tricked Oklahoma's defense into running after the wrong man and resulted in a Boise touchdown, sending the amazing New Year's Day game into overtime.

The drama didn't stop in regulation as Oklahoma scored a touchdown and kicked the extra point to take the lead. Boise State responded with a TD and 2‑point conversion for the overtime win 43‑42.

The man in the middle of the hook‑and‑ladder play that everyone is talking about was wide receiver Drisan James (#11), from Tolleson's Westview High School. He scored a TD in the 1st and 2nd quarters, too. James' 2007 stats show he finished second on the team with 33 catches for a team‑best 554 yards and two touchdowns. He led the team in receiving yards per game (46.2), yards per catch (16.8), and rushed seven times for 54 yards.

As a senior at Tolleson's Westview High School, the 5‑foot 11‑inch, 186‑pound James caught 35 passes for 659 yards and six touchdowns, leading the squad to a conference championship and the state playoffs. He was a two‑time all‑region selection at wide receiver and was named to the 2001 West Valley Dream Team.

Boise State has invested heavily in Arizona players with seven on its roster. Offensive lineman Jadon Dailey (#69), a graduate of Mountain Ridge High School and two seasons at Phoenix College, earned a spot at Boise State. Sophomore line backer Kyle Gingg (#40) from Phoenix Christian High School, junior Jeff Biedermann (#61) of Gilbert's Highland High School, and three freshman including tight end Richie Brockel (#40) of Greenway High School, red‑shirted Xavier Lucas (#17) from McClintock High School, and running back Jarvis Hodge (#28) from Mountain Point High School, are all listed on the Bronco's 2006 roster.

Oklahoma and Boise State made the Fiesta Bowl, held at the heralded Glendale stadium, a game to watch amid the national media, bowl game frenzy. The over‑the‑top, emotionally charged Fiesta Bowl game had millions of viewers nationwide glued to the tube on New Year's Day as the underdog battled, holding the lead all the way until the last two minutes of play, then lost it, only to win it back in overtime.

Glendale's new $455 million University of Phoenix stadium was the venue for an incredible game, with state of the art cameras and lighting, clearly apparent as compared to other bowl games played the same day around the country and broadcast on major networks.

It's a victory that Glendale can relate to with its winning of Glendale Arena home to the Coyotes in 2003 and the Cardinals home, the University of Phoenix Stadium, opening this last August. Both venues were heavily sought by every major city in the Valley of the Sun. Glendale, considered an underdog, won both.

And the Fiesta Bowl is just the start. Glendale's University of Phoenix Stadium hosts the BCS title game in one week and will be the venue for Super Bowl XLII in 2008.

An exceptional game has brought new energy to the BCS college football debate. The question is whether the ninth‑ranked Broncos, with a perfect season and the Fiesta Bowl victory over seventh‑ranked Oklahoma, should have had the chance to challenge top‑ranked Ohio State, the only other team with a perfect record.

Ohio State will play the number two Florida for the BCS national championship at Glendale's University of Phoenix Stadium on Jan. 8.

Bill of Rights (abbreviated version in the Desert Advocate - full article below)

VALLEY – Americans, if they fail to remain vigilant, are in danger of losing the hard‑won freedoms guaranteed in the Bill of Rights, some say.

Freedom of speech, of religion, to assemble, to petition the government, and the freedom to keep and bear arms are all at‑risk because the Bill of Rights these days isn’t the exactly the picture of perfect health, say some Valley citizens who last month gathered at the Goldwater Institute in downtown Phoenix to celebrate “Bill of Rights Day.”

That day marked the 215th anniversary of the Bill’s ratification and it served as an opportunity for some to raise concerns about the security of long‑cherished personal and political freedoms in America.

A group of about a hundred patriotic citizens gathered at the Goldwater Institute in downtown Phoenix to celebrate “Bill of Rights Day”. Most American’s probably didn’t know that Friday December 15^th was Bill of Rights Day. The Bill of Rights was ratified on December 15, 1791, after many years of debate and discussion over the need for and number of amendments needed. At one point there were 47 amendments considered and in the end 12 were actually presented, with 10 being ratified. Of course today we have 27 amendments to the US Constitution.

Organized by author Alan Korwin, such notable citizens as Don Goldwater, recent Republican contender in the gubernatorial race; Russell Pearce State Representative from District 18; Ed Phillips, KTAR meteorologist and coffee shop owner; Richard Stevens, Jews for the Preservation of Firearm Ownership; Landis Aden and Gary Christensen, both of Arizona State Rifle and Pistol Assoc.; new ACLU Director Alessandra Soler Meetze; Tom Jenney, Executive Director of the Arizona Federal Tax Payers Assoc., and many more were in attendance and made comments about their deep and abiding love for and concern about the Bill of Rights in America today.

The Bill of Rights limits the power of the government and protects the rights of the people. Several of the original states would not ratify the Constitution without the Bill of Rights. The freedoms we all cherish including the freedom of speech, press, to read, assemble, pray, petition the government, keep and bear arms are all guaranteed by the Bill of Rights.

After a luncheon, Ben Barr, a Constitutional Policy Analyst for the Goldwater Institute and author of numerous articles on the state of government today, addressed the gathering with a witty discussion of the outlook for the future. Barr speaking on the health of the Bill of Rights asked, “Is there a doctor in the house?”

A poll of the room found most giving the Bill of Rights health in America today a score of 5-6 out of 10 being perfect health and 0 being dead.

Dr. Lance Hurley, author of “Endangered Documents” (www.hurleypatriot.org) and a dramatic re-enactor took up the persona of Patrick Henry to discuss his case for the need for the Bill of Rights and the battle to get the rights ratified. His informative and humorous presentation held the audience’s attention with a historic description of the process our forefathers went through to forge a document that would hold together a union through two centuries and still works today.

After a solemn reading of the Bill of Rights, a friendly animated discussion to try and define “what is a right” produced a wide range of opinions. All agreed that we must demand and defend our rights, otherwise they are lost. And that the absolute necessity of the 2^nd amendment is crucial to the preservation of all the rest.

Don Goldwater, rated the Bill of Rights health at 4, expressing, “for rights to be upheld there must be participation in the process.”

Apathy was a common concern among those gathered, with several students present commenting public education is lacking and often slanted toward blindly accepting government’s actions.

Gary Christensen rated the Bill of Rights health at 10 a year ago, gave it a 7 this year, saying, “the demands on the rights have changed.”

Advocates of designating December 15 as Bill of Rights Day to declare America's commitment to civil and human rights to the world suggest a special day would annually remind politicians, bureaucrats, prosecutors, and judges that their authority and power are limited and that the government serves Americans.

The Conventions of a number of the States having, at the time of adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added, and as extending the ground of public confidence in the Government will best insure the beneficent ends of its institution;

Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, two-thirds of both Houses concurring, that the following articles be proposed to the Legislatures of the several States, as amendments to the Constitution of the United States; all or any of which articles, when ratified by three-fourths of the said Legislatures, to be valid to all intents and purposes as part of the said Constitution, namely:

Amendment I

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Amendment V

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Amendment VI

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.

Amendment VII

In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

Amendment VIII

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

Amendment IX

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Amendment X

They are Lipizzaners, a unique breed of horse dating back 450 years. Their tradition continues through the Spanish Riding School of Vienna.

Come January, a unique opportunity to train with one of the masters of the Spanish Riding School is coming to Cave Creek. Assistant Bereiter Florian Zimmermann of the Spanish Riding School will conduct a clinic in the fundamentals of classical horsemanship from Jan. 10‑14 at Silver Spurs Equine Academy, 5725 E. Lone Mountain Rd.

All levels of horses and riders are welcome, and the clinic is open to all breeds of horse. It promises to be five days of hard work and good fun. Even if you don’t ride a Lipizzaner, you and your horse will come away with new skills and confidence.

Zimmermann will be teaching classical riding, lunging, and work in hand. He will teach 8‑10 sessions per day, 30‑45 minutes each, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. with a break for lunch. Cost per session is $150 with a limit of five lessons per horse. Stabling is available.

If you won’t be able to bring a horse, but still would like to attend the clinic, there’s plenty of room for spectators. The cost to audit the class is $20 per day, or $75 for all 5 days if paid by Dec. 30. The cost at the door is $25 per day. Spectators are asked to bring chairs if they wish to sit.

Will your horse learn to do those amazing dance moves and breathtaking leaps? No, but a session can only benefit your horse, and your handling skills.

“Horses and riders alike improve visibly during the week, and better yet, many have been able to take their newfound skills home and continue their improvement,” says Judith Tarr speaking of a past clinic.

“The instructor was unfailingly patient, demanding yet kind, and endlessly encouraging of both riders and horses, many of whom had never ridden in this level of clinic before. This truly was a cut above, but no one needed to be a Grand Prix rider to benefit from it. All levels of riders and horses, from all sorts of backgrounds, came and learned and went away with a whole new set of skills.”

For information and sign‑up forms, e‑mail Judith Tarr at capriole@gmail.com. Or call Joni Bockisch at (520) 682‑8136 or 404‑8824; Kathryn Spangler‑Norby at (480) 595‑3281; or Melani Harris at (480) 216‑2886. The deadline for registration is Dec. 30.

Cave Creek Critters Rugby Club President Joe Freeman says, “We have another match on December 9^th, the final fall warm-up match before our league season starts in January.”

In the 15th Annual Wild West Rugby Fest Dec 2^nd at CAP Basin Sports Complex in Scottsdale, one of the larger tournaments in the valley, Cave Creek Critters Rugby Club won their game 7 to 3 against Pasadena Rugby Club out of California, but lost to Queen City Rugby Club out of Denver, CO, 24 to 12. “This was one of the toughest teams we will have this season,“ comments Freeman. Their most closely contested match was against valley rival, the Phoenix Rugby Club. They lost that one 17 to 12.

Rugby is a full contact sport that has been played in various forms in recorded history back to the 16^th century. It’s “modern history” is primarily in the UK, with the first written rulebook in 1845. It’s been a bit more flexible than most organized sports in that teams can agree on what rules they will play by. Today in America, USA Rugby is made up of seven Territorial Unions (TUs) and 37 Local Area Unions (LAUs), and supports more than 50,000 members.

Cave Creek Critters Rugby Club is a member of the Arizona Rugby Union, which is a member of the USA and Pacific Coast Rugby Unions.

Brian Wall, Vice President of the Cave Creek Critters Rugby Club shares enthusiastically, "I love rugby because of the entire atmosphere of the game. A player plays defense and offense at any given time and the play continues constantly. It is a bit confusing at first, but the laws of the game come to you when you watch and play long enough. There is also a great deal of camaraderie with the team and opposition."

Wall goes on to say, “The perception that it’s a hard drinking wild party crowd is still out there somewhat, but the game has changed and become more professional. There are still some old school brothers out there. But mostly it’s become a more serious sport. We do go have a burger and beer with the other team. So the social function is there too. People become very passionate about the sport. It’s all amateur in America, you have to pay your own way.”

Dues are $150 a year and help to defray some of the cost of renting fields and paying for lights. Uniforms are generally a jersey and black shorts and red socks.

The ball is a little bigger than an American football. There are few other similarities. The game is constant action for the 2 halves of 40 minutes each. Terms like “try” or “scrum” or “line out” are unique to the sport. And everybody has to do everything, offensive and defensive play.

“It’s not a sport for everybody,” comments Dan Allen, Treasurer of Cave Creek Critters Rugby Club. “There’s not much padding and lots of contact, similar to wrestling so you can’t have hard equipment. We don’t wear helmets or shoulder pads. You can not pass the ball forwards, so players can gain ground only by running with the ball or by kicking it. In rugby the most important thing is to maintain possession of the football. The game stops when the ball goes out of bounds. Otherwise it keeps going. Our agenda is to play good rugby and win and have some fun.”

Allen agrees “The camaraderie is what attracted me to the game. The sport of rugby is growing fast at the high school and college levels. I’ll be 38 next month and have been playing over 15 years. Lots of guys start playing in college and play well into their thirties. Most of the guys are working professionals. Arizona is such a transient state we get a lot of international players.”

There are three divisions in this country. The Cave Creek Club plays in the social club union. We compete in the national 2^nd and 3^rd division. In Arizona we also created an associate division for those who don’t want to commit to a full union schedule. Schools like Thunderbird School, Embry Riddle, and others. There’s lots of practice or “friendly” games

Cave Creek has continually improved and won some matches last year. It’s a fun rivalry with the Phoenix Rugby club

Two of our strongest standout players are Jaco VanRensburg from South Africa is our team captain. James Hocksworth 24, went to Weaton College and has been selected to compete at a National level.

Greg Sarena Wins Bluegrass Competition

by LeeAnn Sharpe

Forty years of finger picking a guitar has taken Greg Sarena , 51, to a good many music competitions and some pretty incredible talent. At the Nov.10-11^th, Wickenburg Bluegrass Festival where several thousand enthusiasts filled the audience, Sarena won 2nd place.

Held the second full weekend in November for 27 years, the Wickenburg Blue Grass Festival featured the Four Corners championship contests for fiddle, flat pick guitar, banjo, mandolin and specialty instruments, Sarena’s category. Specialty instruments include autoharp, dulcimer, accordion, fingerpick guitar, harmonica, dobro, or any other folk instrument.

“When they don’t have a separate category for fingerpick guitar, you get grouped in specialty instruments,” Sarena comments. “I play 6 and 12 string guitar instrumental, totally self taught. I’ve been heavily influenced by all of the masters of the 20^th century and play most every style, a cross of classical, folk, jazz, and bluegrass. The selection of music depends on the venue. Wickenburg is more a country and bluegrass event, where at the National’s in Winfield Kansas, I might play something more complicated.”

For 3 minutes contestants strum their stuff and hope to impress the three blind judges listening through headphones so they aren’t bias by looking at the performers. It’s a tall order to showcase your skills in such a short time frame. Fingerpick is a technique for playing acoustic guitar using the fingertips rather than pick. The music is played from a score.

A Valley resident since 1968, Sarena and his wife have lived in Cave Creek for the last seven years. Sarena says, “I’ve done studio work for years. I’m not in a band. My kindergarten teachers said “doesn’t play well with others” so I’ve stayed solo. Mostly I play in California. I have played the Scottsdale Center for the Arts and I play occasionally at Cave Creek Coffee Company. But since the noise ordinance the city won’t let them hold concerts there anymore.”

Reluctant to toot his own horn Sarena didn’t offer his credentials. But a simple internet search pulls up a discography of his recordings, including a duet with National Champion Todd Halwell playing “Last Steam Engine Train”. Luthiers like McCollum Guitars, boast that Sarena plays their instruments, an endorsement that obviously influences guitarists aspiring to attain his level of artist performance. His concerts take him all over the southwest and California including many music festivals. So watch for him at a music festival in the future. “Nothing in particular is on the schedule right now,” he says. “But I’m sure there will be more on the horizon.”

In a world electrified and amplified into a cacophony of sound, it’s refreshing to listen to the raw simple notes of fingerpicked guitar.

These days Sarena Works in a friend’s art gallery in Carefree between gigs.

Legend Trail fundraiser benefits Child Crisis Center Nov 8, 2006
by LeeAnn Sharpe

Here’s a dilemma most of us wish we had to face–take a European tour, walk the beaches of Hawaii, or drive off with a brand new luxury car.

Some lucky holiday revelers on Dec. 2 will find themselves making such difficult decisions at the Happy Trails for Kids live auction.

Considered by some to be the social event of the holiday season, Legend Trail’s Fifth Annual Holiday Charity Event will benefit the Child Crisis Center‑East Valley. The benefit party will be held from 5‑8 p.m. at the Legend Trail Community Center, 34575 North Legend Trail Parkway in Scottsdale.

Roberta Heine, event Chairwoman says, “It used to be Legend Trail’s holiday party, but now we have fashioned it into an event to support a worthy cause and we have more fun than ever knowing we are helping the children. It took off from the very first year. It’s one of the best attended events on the year’s social calendar.”

“Our community has raised almost $150,000 in the last four years and our goal for this year is $50,000,” says Heine.

The Child Crisis Center is committed to preventing child abuse and neglect. The emergency shelter and other programs have provided aid and comfort to over 11,400 children, according to the center’s Web site.

“They (Child Crisis Center) were chosen after we looked at more than a dozen Arizona charities,” Heine says. “They do wonderful work.”

For the fourth year, the events’s presenting sponsor is Sterling Fine Homes and Land. Platinum sponsors ($1,000 or more in cash or in kind) include: The Desert Advocate, Bell Lexus, Thomas C. Wright Foundation, Windermere Foundation, Kim Baker, The Equitable Real Estate Company, Investors Mortgage Holdings, and Legend Trail Community Association.

Advance tickets are $40 per person or can be purchased for $50 at the door. The tickets, which are tax‑deductible, may be purchased by calling (480) 595‑1948.

Appetizers, desserts and beverages are donated by Abuelo’s Mexican Food Embassy, Albertson’s at Desert Ridge, The Bad Donkey, C. Smith’s Crepes and Frites, Einstein Bros., Elephant Bar, Party Presentations, Safeway at The Summit, and Tonto Bar and Grill.

The live auction will include a new 2007 Lexus LS460 (from Bell Lexus); two first class Eurail passes; two Alaska Airlines round‑trip coach tickets; five nights in San Francisco at the Mark Hopkins Hotel with a Sunday Jazz Brunch at the San Francisco Ritz Carlton; three nights at the Resort Quest Waikiki Beach Hotel; two nights at the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel, and a $500 gift certificate for travel from Hager’s Journeys, a Virtuoso travel agency.

In addition, the silent auction has a variety of merchandise and gift certificates.

From Nov. 14 ‑28, the group’s Third Annual Online Auction for Child Crisis Center‑East Valley, Happy Trails for Kids will be open at http://www.happytrailsforkids.cmarket.com.

Over 100 items are being offered online including gift certificates to over 35 valley restaurants, pet services, arts and entertainment, general merchandise, home services, autographed sports memorabilia, a 2007 Super Bowl package, getaways, glider and hot air balloon rides and more. “We urge everyone to go online and bid,” Heine says.

For more information on both benefits, call (480) 595‑1948

‘The Creator chooses His own messengers’ Nov 8, 2006

Jd Challenger drew inspiration from a Holy Man at a Ghost Dance.

Taos New Mexico philanthropist artist Jd Challenger will be visiting Carefree Arizona Nov 17‑19th for the Jd Challenger Gallery Re‑Opening and book signing. Widely recognized as the most significant native artist in the world today, Challenger spends most of his time outside of his studio involved in charity work. He unveils the new 2007 Parada del Sol poster (“It’s a real dramatic native American with a horse”), and attends the Cancer Awareness through Research and Education (C.A.R.E.) Art Show at the Mayo Research Center in Scottsdale, (by special invitation only) where he has donated several works to the cause.

Challenger says, “You have to give something back. I’m a firm believer in that. I’ve been very, very lucky; very, very blessed. I was crazy enough to have a dream and blessed enough that it came true.”

It’s unlikely you would happen upon the Challenger Gallery by accident. It’s upstairs looking west onto Hum Road, 37555 Hum Road to be exact, in a Spanish colonial style building. The gallery has a candle‑scented tranquility with softly lilting native flute music and Challenger paintings and giclees on all of the walls and room dividers. Cowhides and native rugs are on the floors, and massive Spanish influenced desk and chairs make the space comfortable.

Challenger comments, “We used to live there (Carefree, Arizona) about three years ago and still maintain a home in the area. We’re having fun with that gallery. We own that one and I have one in Taos too. I’m real proud of that gallery in Carefree. With the two galleries, sometimes it gives me a chance to really play. I’ve released some pieces that are real cutting edge.“

Challenger paintings have dramatic colors richly tied to the earth with Native faces full of character and eyes that speak. He came to realize his mission in life after witnessing a Ghost Dance ceremony many years ago. "As I stood there watching the chanting and the dancing, I knew I wanted to paint Native stories.” A Native Holy Man told him, "There has to be a messenger and he doesn't have to be one of our People. The Creator chooses His own messengers. Your path is to tell our story and educate people about the past and about what is still happening today." Challenger says, “I’ve got a mission and my work isn’t done. As long as the Creator wants me to, I’ll stick with this mission.“

Born in Oklahoma in 1951, and living there “long enough to get the accent, but Arizona and New Mexico have always been home.” Challenger has a creative passion that began when he was a very young child. “I’ve always been an artist. It was the only thing I could do,” Challenger shares.

“Everything pretty much broke in 1988‑1989. That was the time that I totally changed my style,” Challenger explains. “My best friends in the world have always been natives, and still are today. I grew up around the culture. I’m not native at all. I’ve been around it all my life. All of a sudden one day I just knew this is what I’m supposed to do. It was very, very clear. Through the years I’ve learned to kind of listen to my heart or whatever you want to call it... that inner voice will take you where ever you need to go. Sometimes it will take you down a dirt road to just to give you a lesson. Anyway I knew it was very, very clear and this is what I had to do. There’s a difference between what I wanted to do and what I had to do. And that’s how it started. It took off and it has never slowed down.” Challenger now has paintings commissioned over two years out.

“The people themselves are what gives me inspiration, I’m talking about the tribes I work with, they are real people, no models. I’m just basically telling their story. It’s not a white man’s version and I don’t want it to be. I get a lot of guidance. A lot of times these guys just show up with regalia, ancestral artifacts from their history. Or the tribe will send them. Awhile back I had a whole delegation from the Seminole Tribe in Florida. All of their history is passed down orally. They tell me “We believe this.” This was a story told by the elders. Or this was a person who was a hero to us. This is such a gift. I get to tell their stories.” One of his favorite models is close friend Rodney Grant, who played Wind‑in‑His‑Hair, in the movie "Dances with Wolves".

“Taos is my favorite place in the world. I love Arizona and we have a place over there, our gallery and friends. But this place here I can look out the window and see the mountains and the whole place smells of pinion. This is where I stay charged up. There is something magical about the place the way it smells.”

What does Jd Challenger do to relax? “Muscle cars! Denise bought this car for me 5or 6 years ago. It’s a Dodge Charger and it was a pile of junk full of spider webs. I saw the fenders and fell in love with this car. It took three years to restore and it’s won every show I ever put it in. I get to go to Bondurant School of Driving and that’s fun. I get to go play.”

The Challenger Gallery, 37555 Hum Road, Suite 203, Carefree, AZ 85377, Phone (480) 575‑0012 or (800) 511‑6773 and online at www.jdchallenger.com.

Record numbers walk for diabetes cure Nov 8, 2006
by Lee Ann Sharpe

VALLEY – How do you explain to a child that they must endure finger pricks and insulin shots every day? How do you make them understand that because they have diabetes they can’t eat candy, cakes or cookies?

About one in every 400 to 600 children and adolescents has Type 1 diabetes, often called juvenile diabetes, according to the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse’s Web site.

To combat diabetes, a record number of people–23,400 souls literally put their soles to the pavement for the “Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation 5K Walk to Cure Diabetes” on Nov. 4 at Tempe Town Lake.

Members of the Desert Southwest Chapter of the JDRF, said the walk raised $1.9 million for research.

The real hope is a cure is very near,” said Anthem resident Tari Skousen, whose 8‑year‑old daughter Page is diabetic.

“With financial support for research, Page, Mitchell and Trenton may be cured by the time they get to High School.”

Skousen’s daughter and the two other students she mentioned attend Gavilan Peak Elementary School. The school’s Junior Student Council (grades 3‑5) has been selling paper shoes for $1 each to support their classmates.

“Page is a typical 8‑year‑old girl who has endured drastic life altering changes over the past year. In only one year she has had over 1,500 finger pricks and over 2,000 insulin shots,” Skousen said.

Skousen may be correct in her prediction about a cure.

Scientists believe diabetes, the most widespread disease in America today, has the best chance of being cured in the next decade.

Diabetes is a disorder in which the body has trouble regulating its blood glucose, or blood sugar, levels. Diabetics must take insulin in order to stay alive. This means undergoing multiple injections daily, or having insulin delivered through an insulin pump, and testing blood sugar by pricking their fingers for blood six or more times a day. People with diabetes must also carefully balance their food intake and their exercise to regulate their blood sugar levels, in an attempt to avoid hypoglycemic (low blood sugar) and hyperglycemic (high blood sugar) reactions, which can be life threatening.

JDRF is focusing on ways to restore blood glucose control through human islet transplantation. Islets are clusters of cells in the pancreas that produce insulin from a healthy donor. Clinical trials have been showing limited short‑term success.

Another walk participant, Peg Koop, said, “It’s so inspiring to see all the people working for the same cause. It really gives my son, Mitchell, hope that there will be a cure some day.”

Koop’s son is 10 years old and was diagnosed with diabetes when he was just three. She said juvenile diabetes is a disease that is often misunderstood.

“People just assume juvenile diabetes is like the adult‑onset, (diabetes)” Koop said. “They don’t understand that diet and exercise and a little pill are not going to help these children. If people realized these children are not overweight and they have to prick their little fingers six times a day and get insulin injections and there is not a cure, we might get more pressure for federal funding of research.”

Over the next five years, some $2.5 billion will be spent worldwide on Type 1 diabetes research.

JDRF will focus on six therapeutic targets during that time frame: Perfecting islet transplantation; creating safe, stable, and widely available universal donor sources of insulin‑secreting cells; regenerating the body’s own beta cells without islet transplantation; preventing Type 1 diabetes; creating novel approaches for predicting, preventing and reversing complications, and perfecting a closed‑loop artificial pancreas.

Donations can be made online through the end of the year at www.jdrf.org.

Revolutionaries wanted in Anthem Nov 8, 2006
by LeeAnn Sharpe

ANTHEM – There’s a revolution taking shape in Anthem, but don’t expect the revolutionaries to wield clubs, pitchforks or muskets.

They’ll be armed instead with a spirit to serve the community.

Anthem has grown to sufficient numbers to warrant the formation of it’s own chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, said Emory Maxwell, a DAR organizer. “With over 30,000 residents predicted to populate Anthem in the near future, it’s time for a local chapter of DAR.”

DAR is a volunteer women’s service organization dedicated to promoting patriotism, preserving American history, and securing America’s future through better education for children.

There are over 3,000 chapters across the country with 168,000 members. About 40 chapters have been organized in Arizona already. The new Anthem Chapter plans to draw members from all of the North Valley’s communities, according to a news release from the organization.

DAR members volunteer more than 55,000 hours annually to veteran patients, award over $150,000 in scholarships and financial aid each year to students, and support schools for the underprivileged with annual donations exceeding $1 million.

In order to become a member, applicants must prove lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution, making DAR one of the most inclusive genealogical societies in the country. Any woman 18 years or older, regardless of race, religion or ethnic background, can apply if they meet this initial requirement.

Founded in 1890, DAR is headquartered in a building spanning a full city block in Washington, D.C. The organization’s Web site ww.dar.org links to e‑mail for every chapter.

Their museum, “The Americana Collection” contains more than 4,000 diverse American manuscripts and rare imprints highlighting persons and moments of historic importance. The focus of the collection is on Colonial America, the Revolutionary War era, and the Early Republic.

The Continental Congress, the DAR annual national meeting–named after the original Continental Congress which governed the American Colonies–attracts approximately 4,000 members to Washington, D.C., each year.

Luminaria Run set for Dec. 9 Nov 8, 2006
by LeeAnn Sharpe

CAVE CREEK – In a span of just four short years, The Desert Advocate Luminaria Run has grown into one of Cave Creek’s biggest events.

Expected to draw over 1,000 runners from across the country, Runner’s World magazine describes the event as a “top pick” for December. The run is set for Dec. 9.

Cave Creek’s 54‑year tradition of placing luminaries on trails, showcasing the rustic beauty of the desert community, makes it the perfect setting for the run, which benefits Black Mountain Elementary School PTO. Last year’s registrants came from throughout Arizona, 11 other states, and from several countries.

The Kids Desert Dash, a 2‑Mile Fun Run/Walk, and a 4‑Mile Run offer opportunities for the entire family.

“The Luminaria Run is a great community event. It’s wonderful to see the community come together for a fun evening,” says Susan Folts, a local resident. Folts and her husband Randy, along with children Lauren, Justin, Cody and Connor, participate in the run every year and work with crews to set out the luminarias.

The course runs through quiet, desert streets and downtown Cave Creek, including two large hills at the beginning. Over the past few years, the event has developed a following of non‑runners who come out to enjoy the nighttime spectacle.

Desert Dashes are approx‑imately 100 meters (for ages 5 and under) and 200 meters (for ages 6‑12), so kids can take part in the festivities.

The 2‑ and 4‑mile run/walk will start at the same time. Walkers are asked to line up behind the runners for the start. The 2‑mile walk follows an out‑and‑back course and is not timed.

Participants registered by Dec.1 will be guaranteed a Luminaria Run T‑shirt. Pre‑race activities start at 4 p.m. and the first race starts at 5 p.m. from Cave Creek and Schoolhouse roads.

Black Mountain Principal Pam Sitton says, “The 2006 funds will go to campus beautification and completing the purchase of Smart Boards for all our classrooms.”

Smart boards are a classroom teaching tool similar to white boards. But unlike white boards, smart boards can be connected to a computer, which adds educational possibilities to their usage.

Event organizers expect to raise about $12,000 this year.

Meribeth Reeves, Luminaria Run race director, says, “We have so many great people–entire families–who volunteer and support this run.”

Jessica Befort of Cactus Shadows Key Club helps oversee the luminaria crews, and her sister Megan served as co‑chair last year.

It takes a lot of volunteers to make this event happen–over 100 for luminaria crews alone, and about 140 total volunteers work to make the event possible.

The event is so popular, all gold, silver and bronze‑level sponsorships have already sold out. Gold Sponsors include The Desert Advocate, Ric’s Body & Paint, Renaissance Exterior Development, Desert Forest Realty, Ride On Cycling Studio, Premier Property Inspection, and R.E.S. Design Enterprises, LLC.

For more information, visit www.luminariarun.com.

Participants in the first ever “Ride for the Walk” charity trail ride raised more than $7,500 for breast cancer research.

The trail ride at Granite Mountain on Oct. 21was a living tribute to Robin Hilditch who died of cancer on April 6. Proceeds from the ride will benefit the upcoming 3-Day 60-mile walk for The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Arizona Team Corazon will be walking those miles Nov. 3-5.

“This started as a tribute to my friend Robin and then everyone came to me with stories about their loved ones who have battled cancer,” said Cortland Parks, the ride’s organizer.

SCOTTSDALE— Few 9 or 10‑year‑olds can call themselves a World Champion, but Scottsdale sisters Madelyn and Malloy Sells can claim such titles.

The Sells sisters recently won Championship and Reserve Championship titles at two prestigious horse shows—the Region VII All‑Arabian Horse Show in Scottsdale and the All‑Arabian Youth National Horse Show in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Young riders from all 50 states competed in the shows.

“Our advice is to never give up, find the right horse and don’t be nervous, or your horse will get nervous too. There is always another show if you don’t do well in one,” said Malloy Sells, fifth grader at Grayhawk Elementary School .

Like many young girls, the Sells sisters always wanted to have their own horses. Their dream came true. The sisters started riding Arabian horses about five‑years‑ago when the family moved to Arizona.

NORTH VALLEY – Carol Ruh, president of the Arizona Women’s Shooting Association, came to realize that women shooting instructors were scarcer than cool nights in August.

“Some of the women coming for instruction were more comfortable talking about their fears with another woman,” she explains.

That’s when Ruh decided to become a certified instructor for the nation’s largest firearms lobby, the National Rifle Association.

“Women take shooting instruction for any number of reasons. Some are totally new to shooting, and some have had experience years ago and are rusty and need a refresher,” Ruh says. “I give them the safety instruction and basics they need to get ready to shoot, usually about an hour and a half in the classroom, and then we have an hour and a half on the range shooting.”

Black Mountain teacher to run 100 mile endurance race Oct 18
by LeeAnn Sharpe

VALLEY – Black Mountain Elementary schoolteacher Jody Chase is going to be in a world of H.U.R.T. this January.

And she’s looking forward to that.

Chase, a physical education teacher, is going to be a member of the Hawaiian Ultra Running Team as they compete in the Trail 100 Mile Endurance Run on Jan. 13‑14.

Among the toughest endurance races in the world, the H.U.R.T. race follows pig trails through the tropical rain forest along the slopes to the summit of Maui’s Mt. Haleakala, the world’s largest inactive volcano. One of Chase’s students, third grader Daniel Hofer said, “She is absolutely crazy!”

Chase responded with a chuckle, “I’m not crazy. I just want to see if I can do it. I get a lot of support from my students.”

Daniel’s mother, Pam Hofer said, “I can’t believe it. It’s a hundred‑mile run, and it’s nonstop.”

Hofer, who is also a physical education teacher at Black Mountain, described Chase as “an awesome PE teacher.”

“She’s very quiet and I’ve never heard her raise her voice, but still she handles the kids real well,” Hofer said.

Chase knows how to prepare for an endurance race. In her five years of endurance running, she has consistently finished in the top 20 percent of the field. “I’m usually in the top five women finishers,” Chase said, adding she has completed three 100‑mile races in the past few years.

Chase’s students enjoy seeing her medals and hearing stories about her race experiences.

The forthcoming Hawaii race is a pretty steep goal–with more than 24,935 feet of elevation gain and loss over the course. The trails are described as very technical and the terrain is not easy. The entire race is either uphill or downhill. In addition, much of the race is run in darkness and runners have to keep moving over dangerous ground in some portions. They will traverse ridge tops that have steep vertical embankments. Runners are warned in a guidebook to take caution, “Broken bones are a real possibility on this course.”

The guidebook goes on to state, “It is recommended that runners carry a whistle on their person at all times. Should you become incapacitated or lost, the whistle may be your lifeline.”

Additional dangers include dehydration, hypothermia, road crossings, lack of lighting (heavy forest canopy makes the trail very dark), and wildlife like wild pigs roaming the trails with teeth and tusks that can do serious damage. Runners must cross as many as 10 streams and rivers, they are warned to not drink the water, as there is a leptospirosis problem in Hawaii.

Aside from the rugged terrain, the weather poses a challenge to participants as well.

“January is the beginning of the rainy season. Rain can come down in huge quantities over a short period of time. I expect to be wet the entire race,” Chase said.

When asked how a desert dweller will deal with the extremely high relative humidity, Chase said she drinks large quantities of water and makes certain she is getting the necessary nutrients to maintain an adequate balance of electrolytes.

“It’s important to promote a healthy lifestyle. And the positive example of setting high, rigorous goals for oneself is part of being a role model forstudents,” Chase said.

Her goal is to finish the race and bring back her experiences to share. Chase expects to complete the race in about 32 hours and feels her chances are good to be the top woman finisher.

Runners must carry their own supplies and are advised to carry the course map. The guidebook reads, “There’s always the possibility that some of the course markings may be removed during the event.”

“Yeah, that happens,” Chase said, undaunted. “A friend and I will be out the day before the race helping to mark the course, so I will be familiar with at least a small part of the course.”

Those who complete the run will be awarded belt buckles and special awards will go the first three male and female runners to cross the finish line.

Chase said she intends to seek sponsors to offset the tremendous cost of the trip.

SCOTTSDALE – Cortland Parks is a Scottsdale/Rio Verde cowboy, well‑known in these parts as an active participant in charity events for more than 30 years.

He has a reputation for his “get it done right” ability to make any endeavor a success. And he has been called on to head many projects. But to him, the one he tackles this fall has a very special meaning.

The former Phoenix Jaycees Comancheros Rodeo boss is heading up the “Ride for the Walk” trail ride as a living tribute to his partner, Robin Hilditch, who died of cancer on April 6.

“Her passing was a major blow,” said Parks. “With her death I was compelled to do something in her name within the realm of my experience to help cancer research so others won’t have to suffer the same fate.”

An entry donation of $25 is requested, and participants are asked to collect donations from others, with checks payable to “Breast Cancer 3‑Day.”

Participants who would like to receive lunch and a limited‑edition commemorative T‑shirt can do so for $100.

The trail ride includes a silent auction, with proceeds also going to benefit breast cancer research.

For more information or to contribute, call (480) 250‑2704.

Scottsdale teen wins World Championship Oct11, 2006
by LeeAnn Sharpe

SCOTTSDALE – Faye Leerssen, a 14‑year‑old freshman from Scottsdale’s Desert Mountain High School, took the crown as Ladies Champion at the 2006 Mounted Shooters of America World Championships.

Youth and experience won the day at the Mohave Crossing Arena in Bullhead City, Ariz. Leerssen and her Paint horse “Chief” rode hard and clean to take her to the top of the sport.

“Chief has been one of the most important things in my life,” Leerssen said. “I ride almost every day. My room is covered with pictures of Chief, my school notebook has pictures of Chief, everything I do centers around him.”

What’s most remarkable is that Chief required extensive surgery for an intestinal blockage in August 2005, an operation many horses don’t survive. Not only did he survive, but with Faye’s gentle loving attention, he has returned to his fully competitive and now world championship form.

Scottsdale riding instructor Mariette Kort said of her student, “Faye has gained so much self‑ confidence in this sport. She is totally dedicated and has worked hard to achieve her goal.” Kort has been training Leerssen since the age of 6. She started learning the sport of mounted shooting when she was about 9 years old.

Mounted shooting combines top equestrian skills of riding with lead changes, rating a horse to the speed needed, making tight turns around barrels, and being able to strategize the best route within a course’s requirements based on the horse’s ability.

The rider must to all this while shooting a single action revolver, loaded with a special black powder blank, to break balloons situated atop cones at distances of about 10 to 15 feet. Only 5 chambers in the revolvers are loaded. Competitors are required to shoot the first five targets in a pattern, then change guns to engage the second set of five targets.

The sport requires a combination of top equestrian skills and precision shooting. Top competitors complete the course in 11 seconds.

To win a World Championship title requires years of experience and skill. And it requires a fast and well‑trained horse.

“Faye is the only one to ever ride Chief. She has done all of the training herself,” said Kort.

This is unusual as many top competitors often send their horses to the experts for fine‑tuning.

“Everyday after school and all weekend long Faye is out riding and working with Chief.”

Leerssen said, “From the first time I rode Chief at Festival of the West almost 4‑years‑ago, I knew he was special. When we got him, everyone was worried that he was too young and that I was too young to handle him. T.C. (MSA President T.C. Thorstenson) said if I could handle my crazy pony, I could handle anything.”

Zoo walk and run to benefit Autism research Oct 11, 2006
by LeeAnn Sharpe

The 2nd Annual Zoo Walk/5K Run for Autism will be held on Oct. 21 at the Phoenix Zoo. Participants can register in person at 6:30 a.m. the day of the run or online at www.zoowalk.org

A $50 tax‑deductible donation gets you a T‑shirt, a wristband for all day admission to the zoo, and participation in the 1.1‑mile walk. The walk starts at 8 a.m. and follows along an easy, paved, and shaded path that affords participants the chance to stop and view the animals. The terrain is ideal for strollers, wheelchairs and wagons. Bikes, skateboards, and roller blades are prohibited.

Entry fee for runners is $25. The run starts at 7 a.m. and covers five kilometers along two 2.5‑kilometer loops inside the zoo.

Autism, a complex developmental disability that affects a child’s ability to communicate and have social interaction, now affects 1 in 166 children, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

The affliction is growing at a rate of 10‑17 percent per year and could reach 4 million Americans in the next decade, the Autistic Society of America reported on its Web site.

Fifty percent of the Zoo Walk funds will go directly to the Autism/Asperger’s Research Program at Arizona State University with the remainder going to the Autism Research Institute, according to a news release from the event organizers.

The Phoenix Zoo is located at 455 N. Galvin Parkway in Papago Park. For more information, call (480) 831‑2047.

Non‑profit horse rescue saves 25 from slaughter Oct 11, 2006
Canadian mares and foals find a caring home in Arizona
by LeeAnn Sharpe

NEW RIVER – For Susan Thompson and her daughter Jaime, their horse rescue operation in New River called “Dream Chaser” involves a great amount of labor–and mostly theirs as they seldom receive help. But it’s a labor of compassion to save the approximately 30 horses they watch over at their ranch.

Another 25 horses arrived late last week from Alberta, Canada, rescued from slaughter.

“There was a window of opportunity to buy these horses before Sept. 15 or they would all go to the slaughterhouse. I took as many as I could,” Susan Thompson said.

She pointed out that all the rescued horses have had a veterinarian check and Coggins test, both of which are required of horses before they are permitted to cross state and national borders.

The horses Thompson’s rescue group saved are known as PMU horses. PMU stands for pregnant mare’s urine, used to produce estrogen for the most popular drug in the United States to treat menopausal symptoms–Premarin.

To capture mares’ urine for production of the drug, thousands of mares stand in narrow stalls for months on end with collection devices strapped to them. The stalls are deliberately narrow to prevent the pregnant mares from turning or lying down and detaching the collection cups. Water intake may be restricted to concentrate the estrogen in their urine, which can lead to swollen legs, sore hooves and other health problems.

Many of these mares get little or no exercise for the six months they are forced to stand in the barns. And once they deliver their foals, they get a brief turnout to pasture with a stallion to get pregnant again.

In recent years, publicity about the terrible conditions these horses endure has brought about some change within the drug industry. New drugs made from plants are becoming more popular, and many PMU production facilities are being closed down. The result, however, is a larger than usual inventory of PMU horses on the market, and to date thousands have gone to slaughter.

Thompson said each rescued horse “cost about $600 to ship plus between $500 and $1000 to purchase, depending on age and condition.”

Some are registered Quarter Horses. Most have good breeding lines on their papers, stated Thompson. “The owners got smart about breeding horses people would want so they could sell the foals,” she explained.

Her goal is to gentle these horses to the point they can be put into good homes.

“Most are going to be pretty wild when we get them. They haven’t ever been ridden and will need some time to be gentled to the point they can be handled,” she said. “We’re not looking to make a profit when we sell these horses, but just recoup what we have invested so we can continue to rescue more horses.”

Thompson has been rescuing horses, birds and dogs for the last five years.

“Just this last year we got nonprofit status to allow us to get tax deductible donations. We could sure use some donations to keep these horses fed,” she related.

“We are also looking for volunteers to help out with watering, grooming, and walking the babies. I tend to do the feeding myself, as I want to keep a close handle on what these horses are getting so as to keep them healthy,” said Thompson. “Anyone who loves horses has to be touched by the lives these mares have endured. We just want to give them a happy life now.” The ranch is located off New River Road near 15th Avenue. For more information or to assist, call (623) 910‑6530.

A group of award‑winning traditional cowboy musicians played at one of three stages throughout the weekend. Among the performers were Paula Strong and Walt Richards, who won the Western Music Association Best Duo Harmony of the Year in 2005; Tom Hiatt, known as an Arizona cowboy balladeer, along with his Sundown Riders; and Bill Barwick, “voice of the Western Channel,” sang and told his western yarns.

Moontee Sinquah, noted Native American flute player, drummer and vocalist, and his Indian dancers added to the traditional western flavor of the event.

Most popular were the gunfights with Kowboy Kal, Joey Dillon, Gary “Bad Dog” Bennett, DR “Buck” Montgomery, and Pioneer’s stunt cowboys shooting it out. Crowds gathered early for seats in the grandstand or to stake out a place along the fence to catch the action up close. These gunfighters used more humor than fear in their act, and the crowds enjoyed their antics.

Tramonto residents launch new crime watch effort Sept 27, 2006

by LeeAnn Sharpe

NORTH VALLEY – Tramonto citizens, in conjunction with Phoenix police, are launching a new crime prevention effort to include volunteer patrols and Neighborhood Watch signs.

Christian Wittenberg recalled his neighbor going outside carrying a baseball bat to investigate a “would be car thief” and getting shot in the foot. It was a rare occurrence in Tramonto, but one the Phoenix Neighborhood Patrol (PNP) would like to prevent.

With grant funds of $4,700, the PNP is installing 50 Neighborhood Watch signs that read, “Warning: This area protected by neighborhood watch and Operation ID. To report suspicious activity, call Crime Stop at (602) 262‑6151. Take a bite out of crime.” A picture of McGruff, the “crime fighting dog” completes the sign.

Reports indicate these signs are effective in warning criminals that residents are on the lookout, making it more likely they will avoid the area. The grant funds also pay for patrol mileage, uniforms, cell phones, flashlights and office supplies.

Seven volunteers have gone through a full day of training with the Phoenix Police Department. The all‑day Saturday class educates recruits on what they can and cannot do as civilians on patrol. Subjects like graffiti, recognizing suspicious activity, and patrol guidelines are discussed. Recruits must be over 18 years of age, have no felony arrests on record, and pass a background check. There is no pay, just the satisfaction of helping to protect the community.

“I learned a lot of things in the class–like you cannot grab someone and detain them against their will,” said Wittenberg. “We just have to call the police to apprehend the suspects. We don’t carry guns as part of our agreement with the Phoenix Police Department. The training teaches our patrol how to safely handle a situation until the police arrive. Basically, we are there to observe and report to the police.”

Wittenberg is retired and the only full‑time PNP worker at Tramonto. All the other volunteers work full‑time jobs and conduct their patrols weekends and evenings.

“Right now we get two patrols a month,” Wittenberg said.

“I wish we had more volunteers. We would like to get more frequent patrols.”

“One way citizens can help the PNP is to keep cars off the street overnight,” he said. “Any car on the street overnight is suspicious. Also, emergency vehicles cannot get through if cars are parked on the streets.”

Tramonto is considered one of the safest communities in Phoenix with very low crime statistics, and Wittenberg says the PNP intends to keep it that way.

Yuma man first in Arizona to receive new heart pump Sept 27,2006
by LeeAnn Sharpe

Can you imagine being strong and healthy, then one day waking up with a little cough signaling an infection which will lead to congestive heart failure?

That’s what happened to Ruben Delgadillo, 41, of Yuma.

That prognosis came four years ago, setting him up for the battle of a lifetime.

“Before, I would be out playing baseball or bowling. I was a pretty strong guy,” said Delgadillo, a produce manager for Food City. “Then my heart got this infection and for four years it got worse.

A few months ago I collapsed at work and have been in the hospital since.”

Delgadillo’s heart was failing fast and measures to keep his heart pumping were not enough. He was barely surviving on blood flow of less than 10 percent. “The doctor at Good Sam referred me to doctors at Mayo Clinic,” Delgadillo related, “and that’s where they asked me if I wanted to go on this new pump. It was my best option.”

He became the state’s first resident to receive the technological breakthrough HeartMate II®, a battery‑powered pump implanted in his chest, to maintain a steady flow of oxygenated blood until heart transplant surgery could be performed. The pump gave Delgadillo normal blood flow, which allowed him to regain strength prior to a transplant.

The life‑saving device, with a single moving part, presents both doctors and patients with significant advantages over previous heart pumps, according to Mayo Clinic.

“I started feeling better right away. There’s just a wire coming out of my side to a battery or electric outlet. It didn’t make any sound unless you listened with a stethoscope, and then you hear a whirring sound,” he said with a grin. Doctors were just about to release him from the hospital two weeks after the HeartMate II® was implanted, when the call came– they had his new heart on the way.

The transplant surgery on Aug. 12 went well. Five weeks later, Ruben Delgadillo is up and about. “The swelling has gone down and the natural color is returning to my face and legs,” he says. “The only pain is where the incision is healing; it’s a little tender.”

He even feels up to a family reunion this weekend in Yuma. “My brothers and sister and mom will all be there. It will be good to see everyone,” he said with a big smile.

“I feel pretty good. I think I am healing ahead of schedule because I was so strong before. I start physical therapy next week, and I’m looking forward to getting stronger,” he added.

“I was in three hospitals and the Mayo Hospital was the best. The doctors came to see me several times a day and were calling all the time to check on me.”

But ask him about the food and he emphatically states, ”It was terrible! They gave me these little tiny pancakes. I lost 85 pounds.” He continues to lose weight as his heart healthy, low‑sodium diet continues at home. “My sister Eva watches me real close to be sure I eat right,” he related.

For now, his full‑time job is taking care of his new heart and working toward returning to a normal life. “It’s just good to be up and around again. I feel pretty good.”

Delgadillo’s transplant is the 14th such procedure conducted by the Mayo Clinic Scottsdale since the program was established last year