For me, it began with you

You may not remember me, but I certainly remember you.

I was diagnosed with cardiac sarcoidosis in 1997 and given one year to live. My children at the time were four and one, and as soon as I was told that I began planning to die, I planned my funeral. I wrote letters to my children and my family and basically went home and expected that my life would end within a matter of months. I was probably 2 weeks in when I was sitting on the couch feeling sorry for myself and thinking that this was it. This was the end. And I turned on the TV, and you were on The Oprah Winfrey Show talking about the same disease that I had that I'd never heard of before, nor could I spell at the time. I listened intently to every word that you said after that episode. I felt a fire immediately in my belly and that somehow, somewhere, somebody could help me, and for me, it began with you.

I wrote the Oprah show as soon as the episode was over. Their people put me in touch with your agent, I believe, and you ended up contacting me by handwritten letter, and I still have that letter to this day. Through the sarcoidosis foundation that you talked about and the information that you gave, I started looking for doctors in the U.S, I found one at the University of Southern California. I'm Canadian. So it wasn't cut and dry and wasn't easy. But ultimately, Dr. OM Sharma, a doctor that specialized in sarcoidosis of the heart. Seven years ago was my last appointment with him because, unfortunately, he has since passed away, but he saved my life. Seven years ago, he told me that I was the longest living document patient in North America with sarcoidosis of the heart, and I have you to thank. I got off the couch. I compiled a plan. I contacted you and the right people that they needed to keep me alive. I was able to raise my children, watch them graduate, become a grandmother and this year, I celebrated my 50th birthday.

I just need to thank you for that. I need to thank you for everything that you did for me. Even though I'm sure, you have no idea. I hope you're well because I am. Thank you to you. I think about you all the time. I think about the letter that you wrote to me. I think about how you changed things for me from planning to die to plan to live. And I can't thank you enough. My children, my grandson, my whole family, can't thank you enough. So from the bottom of my sarcoidosis filled heart.

Thank you,

Love and peace Kelly Wilson