Our Plans vs. God's Will

First, let me just apologize for not writing sooner. My page need serious TLC! So much has happened since my last post...
I've been seriously ill, having to be hospitalized in Intensive Care for six weeks. It felt like everything that could go wrong DID go wrong. I had a sickle cell crisis in my chest (conveniently named sickle chest), the most severe sickle cell crisis leaving you unable to breathe without assistance from either a ventilator or oxygen mask. Every breath you take during sickle chest feels like someone continuously stabbing you in the chest, making it excruciatingly painful and difficult to breathe. I also had double pneumonia, which is pneumonia in both lungs. That adds much difficulty to breathe also. My blood levels went down dramatically causing severe anemia. I received seven blood transfusions that I'm aware of, although it could have been much more. I blacked out often leaving me unaware of my treatment at times. Finally, my legs and feet began to swell to the point where my socks cut off my circulation. A sonagram of my legs revealed a painful blood clot right at the bend of my knee. I'm still enduring very painful physical therapy and taking blood thinners to dissolve the clot so that I may walk without a limp and crutches again. And this sickle cell crisis was by far the absolute worst pain I've ever endured. My husband and parents were constantly by my side, and they are the reason I fought to recover rather than surrendering and accepting an inevitable death.
Since being discharged from the hospital, I don't take anything for granted and my relationships with my hubby, family and friends are iron clad! When I was in ICU fighting to live, I held my husband's hands and told him that whether I live or die its God's will. I told him that he's the love of my life and I've cherished every second of our marriage. I told him I'd love him forever...
My point is that whatever struggles you have in life, God has a purpose for all of us and sometimes its hard to accept that his plan for us may differ from what we've envisioned for ourselves. My sickle cell pain often keeps me from doing what I've planned for the day. But God's plan may be different from my plans. They say the way to make God laugh is to tell him your plans for your life. His will is going to be done regardless!
Sickle cell is the hugest inconvenience for me...I've got countless Doctor appointments, physical therapy, speaking to counselors about my pain, pain management therapy, flushing my Mediport(an implanted device used for receiving blood transfusions and IV fluids), blood thinning injections...the list goes on and on. And I've also got a husband, a wonderful doggie(Isabella),a new house and my job(I own a Public Relations Firm with a non profit division that provides mentoring and scholarship opportunities to children with sickle cell). It gets difficult juggling all my responsibilities, but God has a plan for us all and I find that my pain subsides whenever I think about how blessed I am and that God's will will be done!
I consider myself obsessive compulsive, and I always have a plan...planning for the future, my work, my marriage and just about everything else and I'd get sooo upset whenever I veered away from "the plan". The day I realized that I'm not in control and I'm living to serve God's will was the day I stopped being so obsessive and learned to cherish and learn from every life situation. I encourage everyone dealing with an unexpected life "hiccup" to just stop wherever you are and give Christ all the praise. Thank Him for granting us His favor and thank Him for the struggles. No one is able to love us like he does.
My non-profit business, The Duchess' Dolls, is a mentoring and support group for anyone enduring hardships and pain(whether you have sickle cell, are a caregiver or family member). God works miracles every day. Be encouraged...you're special and in His favor. Please contact me if you need someone to speak to. Any day, anytime.
The Duchess Public Relations, in conjunction with TKay Collections, is working to present the First Annual Sickle Cell Forum on July 17 and 18. We will be having a board of Doctors discussing Gene Therapy, the most recent findings on a cure for Sickle Cell! There will also be discussions on alternative methods of pain management and paint therapy for children! This will be at Hotel Highland next weekend. This forum is open to the public, and I encourage anyone with sickle cell as well as relatives and caregivers to come learn and fellowship with people with similar struggles/challenges.
I'm an advocate for individuals with sickle cell and I want to meet anyone needing support. I understand the pain we endure each day and we can lift each other up in faith. Through God, all things are possible and with Him we can achieve our goals. I love you all, Dolls!

XoXo,

The Duchess
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

All Hail the National Champions

Alabama vs Texas..victory for UA! Roll Tide! We are National Champions in The Heart of Dixie now, even being recognized on the highest possible level: an invitation to tour The White House and meet/dine with President Obama.
I've always been extraordinarily proud to be from Alabama, and I find it humorous when people ask why I chose to house my PR firm in Alabama, saying,"why don't you move to a state that's more hip/current/able to make you rich and famous?" Obviously, they have NO idea the amount of businesses, fashion, culture, prestige, and talent that this wonderful state possesses. For the 1st time, because of the courage, drive, determination, and hunger of a team, the whole world now knows what we Alabamians have known all along...
Alabama is a fabulously diverse, culturally rich, elite, and prestigious state that produces the hungriest individuals I've ever had the pleasure of knowing. Nick Saban, Mark Ingram, the entire Crimson Tide Football Team, Ruben Studdard(American Idol), Bo Bice(American Idol), Taylor Hicks(American Idol), Brian McKnight, and countless others: all Alabamians; all extremely driven individuals that possess a certain hunger. Not hunger in terms of food/famine, but hunger that's a driving force deep in our souls which motivates us to be number one. And now, because of our fabulous Crimson Tide, each and every Alabamian can proudly say that they are proud to live in The Heart of Dixie. "Sweet Home Alabama"-there truly is nowhere else in the world like it. And don't expect that hunger in each of us to disappear...I think there are tape worms in that Southern cookin'!
Now to the business executives, how do you capitalize and use the free publicity/exposure of the game to make your business known? While its true that the Tide won, this publicity for Alabama is good for ALL cities..you just need to utilize it! Case in point: Dicks Sporting Goods, Alabama Fever, and Academy Sports. Each of these businesses made the brilliant decision to re-open their stores immediately following the game(if victorious) to capitalize on profits by selling Championship merchandise. Genius!
As a Public Relations expert, I make it my business to know my clients businesses (as well as their competition) both inside and out. It can be quite exhausting to visit a business at 1AM to investigate customer flow, but I sincerely want/guarantee both financial and consumer growth at any cost. Business was booming at all the locations listed. Truly a brilliant move!
So, how can your business capitalize from this new found fascination with Alabama? The first step is setting up a complimentary strategic business mapping session with me, The Duchess. After all, a Duchess doesn't give it all away at once! Check out my blog for free daily PR advice and updates on how I juggle career, love, my terminal blood disease, and life as The Duchess!

xoxo,

The Duchess
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Presenting: The Duchess of Birmingham

Working in Public Relations, I know that you shouldn't start telling people tidbits on your life before you tell them about your beginning. After all, you can't really know where you're going until you know where you came from. Presenting: The Duchess of Birmingham...
Born July 2, 1982, I grew up with the notion that all girls were princesses. "It is our right," I heard repeatedly from my favorite childhood movie, The Little Princess. And thus, a Duchess was born. I'm the daughter of a Mobile Provider Mogul mommy and a Commercial Business Services Director daddy, and looking back on my childhood calling me spoiled would be an understatement. I'm an only child and my husband repeatedly informs me that I can be a tad selfish. Apparently, I can be a bit possessive of my things and not want to share(but this comes from having my friends always return my things either ruined or not at all-it's not due to my upbringing). My childhood came complete with debutante balls, sweet 16(and the customary car), cotillions, events, and galas. I was raised to be a polite, educated, productive member of society. And although I was a spoiled princess, I was never a brat. Everything I received as a child was the result of great behavior, making the honor roll, becoming head cheerleader, or some other milestone/achievement. It was customary that good behavior was "celebrated" with wonderful things! But I always had to work for the things I received...a concept that instilled a firm work ethic in me. Working for what you want in the world-imagine that!
At the age of 15 I was invited to become a Student Ambassador representing the USA in the United Kingdom. It was an amazing honor, and I went to live in England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales without my family at a very young age. Life overseas was amazing, and I spoke at Parliament about improving foreign relations, and was even invited to an evening at Buckingham Palace! While overseas I was continuing my education/cultivation into a refined woman of society, complete with courses at Finishing School on social graces and the art of being a polite woman. It was a life changing experience that still impacts my life very heavily.
I returned home a distinguished woman, and I enrolled at the University of Montevallo with a dual major in Spanish and Music Education and a minor in Business. At Montevallo, I was invited into the prestigious Golden Key International Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Music Honor Society, President's List(3 years), and Dean's List(1 year). I finished with a 3.9GPA.
After school I began working as a teacher but ended up having to change career paths after complications with my blood disorder, sickle cell anemia. Sickle Cell is a blood mutation that causes extreme pain, crescent shaped blood cells, severe anemia, and eventual degeneration of bodily organs and bone mass. It is a very painful and terminal disorder. About 50 years ago, the life expectancy of someone with sickle cell was 25-30 years old, but today it can be managed and life expectancy has increased to 50+ years. After I gained a new career focus, it seemed natural to utilize my minor and pursue something in the field of Business, but what? I began working for an elite Salon Spa, and that led to a career at the Spa in Public Relations. I slowly was re-entered into a life that I knew very well. Organizing events and galas, planning and promoting events, and contacting the media outlets for media attention became customary. I slowly developed contacts and began working for other elite businesses in Alabama, cultivating myself into a PR machine! It seemed so natural and glamorous, but everything isn't always picture-perfect in life. I was diagnosed with cervical cancer on top of battling sickle cell, and ended up undergoing a surgical procedure that left me unable to have children. But something positive came from the ordeal...my husband entered my life!
This blog is a glimpse into my life as The Duchess. I am extremely blessed and I know I've got a wonderful personal story to tell about life and overcoming obstacles. You'll get a peek into my fabulous career that enables me to live a glamorous life complete with media relations, premieres, events, galas, and PR. But as I previously stated, everything is not always picture perfect. I have health issues that only one in 600 (of minority culture) endure. I've been hospitalized more times than I care to remember, and I stopped counting the number of blood transfusions I've received after 100 units (and that was when I was 19 years old...a significantly long time ago!). While every life has its ups and downs, this blog is a look into my life. My glamorously wonderful, happy, fabulous, painful life. Enjoy!

xoxo,
The Duchess