Quick Utah TV Interview

I'm getting ready to perform a very exciting outdoor concert on June 16th in the Sandy Amphitheater (UT). With more than 60 musicians on stage you'll hear my music with great depth and power as I play with the Lyceum Orchestra. Here are the details.

Paul Cardall Live in Concert with the Lyceum Philharmonic June 16th, 8pm Sandy City Outdoor Amphitheater (Sandy, UT) Premium $17, Priority $15, Lawn $11 TICKETS ON SALE NOW: http://smithstix.com/events/item/root/paul-cardall-jun-16 THE LYCEUM PHILHARMONIC: The Lyceum Orchestra Program consists of four audition-only ensembles starting with students as young as five going through to the most advanced high-school-aged musicians. Students perform masterworks of the repertory alongside sacred music. Named "Best Youth Performing Ensemble" by Best of State Utah in 2009, 2010, and 2011, the Lyceum Philharmonic is one of the nation's premier youth orchestras. And here is an interview about the concert with my friends on Good Things Utah (KTVX)

Time and Oklahoma City

Some pianists compose a beautiful sunset with each key on the piano like a painter with each stroke of the brush. Others force their gift by working to meet a deadline that keeps bills paid. For me, the song that is a defining moment in an artist’s career usually happens in an odd moment, and often while noodling (improvisation). I found this to be true for my composition titled, Time, from Miracles – A Journey of Hope &; Healing (2001) and later put on Sacred Piano (2009).

Time happened while I was on a tour with author Richard Paul Evans who had commissioned me to create a soundtrack to his #1 New York Times best-selling book "The Christmas Box.” I came home for a few days and sat at any piano. I was noodling around with a little circus tune that made me smile. It had a melody that imitated the ticking of a clock. As I played this unheard melody that was coming through me, I realized that although at first I found it quite humorous it reminded me of time and that it was a haunting to those who sit and watch clocks. It reminded me that time seems to stand still in our youth and as adults time moves too quickly. This thought, of course, came to me while also reading Richard Evans pre-published work called Timepiece.

Terrorist attack (1995) Oklahoma City

One morning on tour, I was watching a memorial ceremony on NBC Today Show about the Oklahoma Federal Building Bombing that took place 5 years earlier on April 19, 1995. It was two minutes after nine when a 5,000-pound bomb, hidden inside a Ryder truck, exploded just outside the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. The explosion caused massive damage to the building and killed 168 people, 19 of whom were children. Those responsible for what became known as the Oklahoma City Bombing were homegrown terrorists, Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols.

I remember the devastation and now here America was, on the 5th anniversary dedicating the outdoor symbolic memorial. After a few short sermons and prayer, families of the deceased walked to various sculptured “empty chairs” and placed flowers on the ground next to them. It was then that I heard my compositions from my “The Christmas Box” album being played at the memorial. I was in shock and grateful for the gift of music.

Miracles (2001)

We later learned the organizers responsible for the dedication said families specifically requested that particular album be played through the sound system. Humbled by the grief and choice of music, I wanted to respond to with new music, hopefully to heal my own broken heart and possibly others.

I began composing songs and playing new ones. I asked my brother in law and music mentor Ryan Stewart to help orchestrate the album. After playing a lot of different tunes I had composed, I laughed about the circus tune that reminded me of clocks. He said, “Play that.” I replied that I thought it was a little goofy and didn’t’ know what to do with it. While playing the piece that Ryan got excited and thought it was brilliant. He began to be filled with ideas. Together we came up with a piece of art that somehow conveys the emotions associated with the haunting feeling of life and how quickly it moves along and yet we hope to maintain a sense of longing for time to stand still. It was beautiful to us.

While finishing the album, my distribution team and I decided on the day when the album would officially be released and available in store. Ironically, that day was Tuesday, September 11, 2001. Obviously, the excitement about the album faded as time stood still in that period of American history.

Listen to TIME on paulcardall.com or Itunes

Great News! A Baby Sister

After years of anticipation, waiting, hoping, stress, and prayer I'm pleased to announce that our Heavenly Father is sending a beautiful girl to our home. My wife Lynnette is 5 months pregnant and Eden will finally have a sibling.

Some of you are aware I'm hosting a tour to China from May 14-24th. Fortunately, our little girl is coming in mid June. We don't want to see this child arrive too early or I'd have to fly home asap!

No one knew about this except for a few family members. We've kept it quiet for 5 months just to make sure the baby didn't go anywhere. Doctors say everything is fine and beautiful! We're thrilled.

Of course, it would be hard to tell that Lynnette is pregnant because she barely shows. If you saw her you'd think she finally picked up a nasty habit of drinking soda all day like her husband. But, it's amazing! There is a very healthy child with a four chamber heart living in her body.

Given our history and my poor health, this event is another wonderful gift from a kind and loving God who answers prayers no matter how long his kids have to wait to get an answer.

"Be not faithless, but believing!" -Gordon B. Hinckley, Former LDS Church President

Optimist Cancer Survivor Lacey Furner

This past weekend I met cancer survivor Lacey Furner. She's an optimist and has a great attitude. She e-mailed me her inspiring story. She agreed to let me post it here. I appreciate her gratitude to God for her experience and for what she has learned. She is proof that suffering is not always a horrible experience because of what it can do in helping us grow spiritually.

"Dear Paul,

This is Lacey Furner. I am so grateful I had the opportunity to meet you Monday night (01/23/2012).

I was the person who told you that your song "Letting Go", helped me during my experience with cancer. This song helped me to be at peace, to know that its OK to give it all to the Lord, for He is the only one that knows everything. My life was in God's Hands and I knew I could not control whether I would live or die.

In July, 2010, I was attending my first semester at BYU-Idaho, when I noticed a mole/skin lesion on my left clavicle. I went to the doctor to get it removed and a week later he called to inform me that I had been diagnosed with a serious type of skin cancer.

July 22, 2012 was my first day of chemo therapy, just one week after I had received the results.

I struggled with cancer for one year and I was on oxygen for half of it. So I pretty much got tons of sympathy dates from guys, which was way cool!

Going through chemo opened my eyes to so many things. I was able to see how many people truly loved and cared for me. I was able to grow closer to the Lord. The veil between life and death was very thin for me. God taught me patience, (when the nurses could not get the I.V. in the FIRST time, or when the hospital food looked like it would give you cancer, or having an oxygen tube on your face 24/7), He always helped me to be patient.

The most important thing that I learned is to love everyone, for all of us are God's children and we are all in this together.

Mr. Cardall your music was the soundtrack to my life for a long time. "Letting Go" helped me fall asleep every night when I was deeply discouraged. It made me feel so warm, and it helped me to give my worry and discouragement to the Lord. It helped me to trust in Him.

Thank you,

Lacey Furner

Children's Understanding of Death

Children's understanding of Death is provided by Hospice of Southeastern Connecticut Bereavement Program. This chart is meant to be used as a guideline and not a checklist. All children develop at different rates and it is important to remember that the parents know their own child the best. I've added a few thoughts of my own at the bottom.

Newborn to Three Years
Child's Perception: Infant/Toddler can sense when there is excitement, sadness, anxiety in the home; can sense when a significant person is missing, presence of new people

• No understanding of death
• Absorbs emotions of others around her/him
• May show signs of irritability
• May exhibit changes in eating, nursing patterns, crying, and in bowel and bladder movements
• Depends on nonverbal communications; physical care, affection, reassurances

Providing Support:

• Keep normal routines and structure whenever possible
• Be verbally and physically affectionate and reassuring
• Provide warm, loving caretaker when parent is not available
• Exhibiting healthy coping behaviors

Three to Six Years
Child's Perception: Child thinks death is reversible; temporary, like going to sleep or when a parent goes to work; believes that people who die will come back.

• "Magical thinking"; believes their thoughts, actions, word caused the death; or can bring deceased back; death is punishment for bad behavior
• Still greatly impacted by parent's emotional state
• Has difficulty handling abstract concepts such as heaven
• Regressive behaviors; bed wetting, security blanket, thumb sucking, etc.
• Difficulty verbalizing therefore acts out feelings
• Increased aggression - more irritable, aggressive play
• Will ask the same questions repeatedly in efforts to begin making sense of loss
• Only capable of showing sadness for short periods of time
• Escapes into play
• Somatic symptoms
• Hungers for affection and physical contact, even from strangers
• Connects events that don't belong connected
• May exhibit little anxiety due to belief that deceased is coming back

Providing Support:

• Keep normal routines and structure whenever possible
• Provide opportunities to play, draw
• Read books on death & loss with child
• Help to verbalize feelings and fears
• Help to identify feelings and reactions
• Be honest and tell a child if you do not have an answer
• Explain in specific, concrete language - not euphemisms; explain what has happened giving specific explanations about physical reality of death
• Gently confront magical thinking
• Make sure child does not feel responsible for the death
• Be tolerant of regressive behaviors
• Modeling healthy coping behaviors
• Avoid clichés; "At least you have another brother", "You can always get a new pet"
• Use specific, concrete words - not euphemisms; Avoid "Mommy has gone to sleep", "God has taken Grandpa"

Six to Nine Years
Child's Perception: Child begins to understand the finality of death; some do and some may not.

• Sees death as a taker or spirit that comes and gets you
• Fear that death is contagious and other loved ones will "catch it" and die too
• Fascinated with issues of mutilation; very curious about what body looks like
• Connects death with violence and may ask, "who killed him?"
• 3 categories of people. who die: Elderly, handicapped, klutzes
• Asks concrete questions
• Guilt - blames self for death
• May worry how the deceased can eat, breathe, etc.
• Continues to have difficulty expressing feelings verbally
• Increased aggression
• Defends against feeling helpless
• Somatic symptoms
• School phobia (especially if single parent)
• Continues to have difficulty comprehending abstractions such as heaven, spirituality

Providing Support:

• Talk with child
• Ask questions
• Make sure child' does not feel responsible in any way
• Identify specific fears
• Provide opportunity for play, drawing, art
• Normalize feelings & fears
• Address distortions & perceptions
• Be honest and tell a child if you do not have an answer
• Help to cope with impulse control
• Help them share bad dreams
• Help them with positive memories of the deceased
• Model healthy coping behaviors
• Avoid clichés; "Don't worry, things will be O.K.", "You're such a strong boy/girl"
• Use specific, concrete words - not euphemisms; Avoid "Grandma went to sleep and is now in heaven", "Grandma was very sick and the sickness made her die"

Nine to Thirteen Years
Child's Perception: Child's understanding is nearer to adult understanding of death; more aware of finality of death and impact the death has on them

• Concerned with how their world will change; with the loss of the relationship, " Who will go with me to the father-daughter banquet?"
• Questions have stopped
• Fragile independence
• Reluctant to open up
• Delayed reactions - at first seems as if nothing has happened, then grief reaction May show strong degree of affect
• Beginning to develop an interest in rituals (spiritual affects of life)
• Disrupted relationships with peers
• Increased anger, guilt
• Somatic symptoms
• School phobia
• Self conscious about their fears (of own death, remaining parents)

Providing Support:

• Encourage discussion of their concerns
• Provide & encourage expressive experiences such as writing or drawing
• Address impulse toward acting out and allow opportunity to identify their feelings
• Allow for regressive behaviors
• Be honest and tell a child when you do not have an answer
• Gently relieve child from attempts to take over adult responsibilities
• Model healthy coping behaviors
• Avoid clichés; Avoid "You must be strong so I don't have to worry about you", "Big boy's don't cry"

Thirteen to Eighteen Years
Adolescent's Perception: Adolescent has adult understanding about death

• Death is viewed as an interruption. Death is an enemy
• Bodily changes emphasize growth and life. Death is a contrast
• Increased vulnerability due to many other changes and losses simultaneously occurring
• A sense of future becomes part of their psychology
• Increased risk taking in effort to reduce anxiety or to defy fate
• May intellectualize or romanticize death
• May act indifferent to death of someone close as a protection against feelings
• May show full range of affect or almost no affect
• Wants to grieve with her/his peers not adults
• May need permission to grieve
• Suicidal thoughts
• Represses sadness, feels anger, depression
• Escapes; drives fast, uses drugs or alcohol sexually acts out
• Denial - tries not to think about it, doesn't want to talk about it
• Difficulty with long term plans
• Somatic symptoms
• Questions religious/spiritual beliefs

Providing Support:

• Don't assume they can handle themselves and their problems without help, support
• Be available, but don't push
• Help them find peers who will support their feelings
• Or find other trusted adults
• Give permission for regression
• Be honest and say when you do not have an answer
• Assist in relieving adolescent of burden of adult responsibilities
• Help impulse control toward reckless behavior
• De-romanticize death
• Discuss feelings of helplessness
• Model healthy coping behaviors
• Avoid clichés; "You've got to be strong to help your mother"; "You seem to be taking this so well", "Now you're the man of the house."

Overall, I believe it is important to assure your child and those you love, that you believe in God and that He loves us. For me, knowing that God has a specific plan and divine design for each of His children is comforting. Knowing that when we die our spirits separate from our bodies and go to a realm of peace surrounded by those who went before like grandparents, is comforting. Scriptures teach God's plan of happiness and provides those who grieve an eternal perspective.

If you do not have a particular faith in God, I invite you to learn more about my beliefs at my blog http://thedoctrineofchrist.blogspot.com/

Come See a Show

I'm looking forward to these upcoming events and hope those of you interested can join me.

Paul Cardall's 3rd Annual Celebrate Life Concert in Salt Lake City, Utah

FEBRUARY 10, 2012
Jeanne' Wagner Theatre, 8pm

"For the past two years my musicians and I had a lot of fun performing for more than 2500 people in large venues. Thanks to those of you who came. This year I'm moving the show to the very beautiful Jeanne' Wagner Theatre (a 480 seat replica of Abravanel Hall). Yes, seating is a 1/4 of what we've had in the past, but I love this venue and I am excited to do a more intimate show with their amazing acoustics." -Paul

TICKETS: http://www.arttix.org

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Paul Cardall's 3rd Annual Celebrate Life Concert south of Houston, Texas

FEBRUARY 25, 2012
The Clarion Concert Hall at Brazosport College 45 -50 mins.

Tickets $20.00 For groups 15 or more a 15% discount or $17.00 a ticket.
For those coming from far distances a discounted hotel room near the venue will be available.

TICKETS: Box Office 979-230-3156



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TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES


EXPLORE CHINA
May 14, 2012 Starting at $1099

I'm hosting a tour to China. It's going to be a lot of fun. This tour is full of highlights including: the Olympic sites of Beijing, hiking the Great Wall of China, exploring the Forbidden City, helping at an orphanage, and shopping at designer clothing markets. *Experience a special concert today at the orphanage with Paul Cardall. Call Dick Jensen Travel to make a Reservation 801-917-1131 or visit online for more details: http://alanmckaytours.com/asia/may-2012-china

AND / OR

CRUISE THE MEDITERRANEAN in late Fall 2012
I'm also hosting a Cruise to on the Meditteranean starting October 18, 2012. This tour is full of highlights including: Jerusalem, Egypt, Turkey, Cyrus, Rome, and more. Starting at $1799 + Taxes - Call Dick Jensen Travel to make a Reservation 801-917-1131 or visit online for more details: http://alanmckaytours.com

A Tragedy and Organ Donor Funeral

Ryan and Kelly Pack were driving home on Christmas Eve just minutes after leaving a family Christmas party with their two sons Finn (3 years) and Colum (18 months) when an SUV jumped the median and hit their car in a head-on collision. Ryan, Kelly and Colum were critically injured.

On Christmas Day, Colum passed away.

Through organ donation, Colum's heart continues to beat today. It was put into another child.

Earlier today, a private funeral service was held at the hospital. Both parents, still in hospital beds recovering from their critical injuries, were wheeled into the Chapel by nurses. Side by side they were able to look upon their beautiful blonde haired son, Colum, as his fragile body lay in a small coffin. Surrounded by family and friends, this was a painful scene of heavy grief.

A close family friend invited me to share some words of comfort and play "Gracie's Theme," a song I wrote for another family dealing with losing their child. Speaking was not something I looked forward to doing. I knew this couple was not interested in a religious farewell. I have witnessed a lot of preaching to those left behind by individuals who don't truly understand the pain of losing a child, although it is with pure intent. Often it has the opposite effect and hearts become more frustrated and angry at God. When the young and innocent die there are very few words that can comfort the soul, but music can be one of the best source of deliverance from pain. Yet, I also find that silence and holding each other seems to be an effective remedy that alleviates a small portion of the pain.

In researching what to say before I shared my song, I stumbled upon some words from those who have walked the same path of loss. Although every soul is different and every situation unique listening to those with experience can help provide a drop of sunlight into a wounded heart.

Here are a few quotes I found to be beneficial.

Children are not supposed to die...Parents expect to see their children grow and mature. Ultimately, parents expect to die and leave their children behind...This is the natural course of life events, the life cycle continuing as it should. The loss of a child is the loss of innocence, the death of the most vulnerable and dependent. The death of a child signifies the loss of the future, of hopes and dreams, of new strength, and of perfection. - Arnold and Gemma 1994, iv, 9, 39

When a parent dies, you lose your past; when a child dies, you lose your future.

A wife who loses a husband is called a widow. A husband who loses a wife is called a widower. A child who loses his parents is called an orphan. But...there is no word for a parent who loses a child, that's how awful the loss is! - Neugeboren 1976, 154

In writing about bereavement, Rollo May, the religious psychologist said that the only way out is ahead and the choice is whether to cringe from it or to affirm it. To be able to continue this lifetime journey and to make it manageable and productive, bereaved parents must move ahead and affirm this loss while also affirming their own lives.

Eventually, time will cease to stand still for these parents. Painful and terrible moments will still occur-striking, poignant, but in some ways comforting, reminders of the child who died. There will also be regrets for experiences that were never shared. But at some unknown and even unexpected point, these parents will come to realize that there can be good moments, even happy and beautiful moments, and it will not seem impossible or wrong to smile or laugh, but it will seem right and beautiful and a fitting way to honor and remember the child who died. One day, bereaved parents may come to be "surprised by joy" (Moffat 1992, xxvii).

But in time... nature takes care of it; the waves of pain lose intensity a little and come less frequently. Then friends and relatives say the parents are getting over it, and that time heals all wounds. The parents themselves say that as the pain lessens, they begin to have energy for people and things outside themselves...This is a decision parents say [they] must make to live as well as they can in [their] new world... They can come to be happy, but never as happy. Their perspective on this and everything has changed. Their child's death is the reason for this and is a measure of the depth and breadth of the bond between parent and child. - FINKBEINER 1996,12, 20, 22, 23 http://www.athealth.com/consumer/disorders/parentalgrief.html

For me personally, I take great comfort in my faith my Mormon faith, Joseph Smith. During his lifetime, he and his wife Emma lost numerous children. He said this on the subject:

“… I know that my testimony is true; hence, when I talk to these mourners, what have they lost? Their relatives and friends are only separated from their bodies for a short season: their spirits which existed with God have left the tabernacle of clay only for a little moment, as it were; and they now exist in a place where they converse together the same as we do on the earth. …

“I have a father, brothers, children, and friends who have gone to a world of spirits. They are only absent for a moment. They are in the spirit, and we shall soon meet again. The time will soon arrive when the trumpet shall sound. When we depart, we shall hail our mothers, fathers, friends, and all whom we love, who have fallen asleep in Jesus.



“More painful to me are the thoughts of annihilation than death. If I have no expectation of seeing my father, mother, brothers, sisters and friends again, my heart would burst in a moment, and I should go down to my grave. The expectation of seeing my friends in the morning of the resurrection cheers my soul and makes me bear up against the evils of life. It is like their taking a long journey, and on their return we meet them with increased joy. …

“We have again the warning voice sounded in our midst, which shows the uncertainty of human life; and in my leisure moments I have meditated upon the subject, and asked the question, why it is that infants, innocent children, are taken away from us, especially those that seem to be the most intelligent and interesting. The strongest reasons that present themselves to my mind are these: This world is a very wicked world; and it … grows more wicked and corrupt. … The Lord takes many away, even in infancy, that they may escape the envy of man, and the sorrows and evils of this present world; they were too pure, too lovely, to live on earth; therefore, if rightly considered, instead of mourning we have reason to rejoice as they are delivered from evil, and we shall soon have them again. …

“… The only difference between the old and young dying is, one lives longer in heaven and eternal light and glory than the other, and is freed a little sooner from this miserable, wicked world. Notwithstanding all this glory, we for a moment lose sight of it, and mourn the loss, but we do not mourn as those without hope.”

“A question may be asked—‘Will mothers have their children in eternity?’ Yes! Yes! Mothers, you shall have your children; for they shall have eternal life, for their debt is paid.”6

“Children … must rise just as they died; we can there hail our lovely infants with the same glory—the same loveliness in the celestial glory.”

President Joseph F. Smith, the sixth President of the Church, reported: “Joseph Smith taught the doctrine that the infant child that was laid away in death would come up in the resurrection as a child; and, pointing to the mother of a lifeless child, he said to her: ‘You will have the joy, the pleasure and satisfaction of nurturing this child, after its resurrection, until it reaches the full stature of its spirit.’ …

"Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God." - Jesus

You can help this family by visiting their website and offering a donation
http://www.kellypack.com

A Walking Time Bomb

Those of you who enjoy this blog I apologize for taking a rather long break from sharing my thoughts on life.

Photo: My 2nd annual cardiac catheterization and biopsy test

Ever since I was given a second chance it feels as though time has sped up. I'm not any busier than I was before, but maybe it's that I understand now more than ever how fragile our time here on earth is.

On the downside, I often feel like a walking time bomb with only so many years ahead of me.

Photo: My daughter Eden making a scary Halloween face. She loves the Halloween holiday.

Transplanted hearts usually don't last beyond 10-20 years because your body fights the DNA of that heart like a virus. But transplant medicines are strong. Each has some side effects. These side effects are different in each person. The doctors will try to give you medicine that has the fewest side effects for you.

The biggest problem with any of the transplant medicines is that they make it hard for your body to fight off infections. Also, transplant medicines can make you more likely to get some types of cancer, mostly cancer of the lymph glands and skin cancers.

Doctors will try very hard to make sure your body gets enough transplant medicine to keep your new heart healthy. At the same time, they will try to keep you from having infections and getting cancer.

Photo: With Lynnette on Lake Cuomo in Italy during our fall tour.

Chances for me of receiving a 2nd donor heart is even more challenging that getting the first one. I hadn’t counted on the possibly until this past week when I received peaceful assurance for my own future.

Seven years ago, my neighbor's son Kenny received a heart transplant. However, over the past several months his donor heart was failing. Only 20% of Kenny's donor heart was functioning. Depressed and discouraged, the family was told there was nothing doctors could do for him. He was too sick to be listed for a heart transplant.

However, this didn't stop the family and the doctors from trying. They’d lost their mother recently and with all the faith the father could muster he put his faith in a loving God and hoped for a good outcome for his son.

Eventually, Kenny began to get some strength. Last Tuesday doctors made the decision to list him. He was approved and less than a week later he received his 2nd donor heart. This is a rather unusual event especially for someone with the most popular form of blood type, O.

Photo: At the leaning tower in Italy during our fall tour.

Grateful for Kenny’s new life, I continue to enjoy my own donor heart. I think about my donor every day. I often feel he’s close by. I pray I may live worthy of the miracle I received from my donor and from our Creator. Through the knowledge and wisdom of doctors, the Lord has given me more time.

Every minute of every hour in life, matters. What you do with your time matters. This holiday season; make the moments in the lives of those you love matter.

Back Soon . . . Stay Posted . . .

Enjoying our summer. I'll be back soon.

Performing Wasatch

Inspired by the mountains that overshadow my home in Utah each morning as the Sun rises from the east. I have performed Wasatch at several of my concerts. This particular performance is on a DVD available with my new album New Life.

Ive been fortunate to share the stage with many of these musicians; David Tolk, Jon Shults, Ryan Tilby, Craig Miner, Steven Sharp Nelson, Marshall McDonald, Kevin Davis, and more.

For more information visit my website http://www.paulcardall.com

It'll All Go By In A Flash

My daughter Eden graduated from pre-school after two years of learning from wonderful teachers. They gave her a diploma. She’s had fun and made good friends. But when you put her schooling into perspective we still have16 years to go before she graduates from college with a bachelor’s degree.

It feels like a long ways away. But, I’ve been reminded by a friend whose’ daughter is about to get married that it will all go by in a flash.

Still, it is sad to see them grow and yet it’s exciting at the same time to watch them have the desire to learn new things, go new places, and make friends.

Can you capture these moments in a photo or on a video? No. They don’t truly capture the beauty of our children’s innocence, intrigue, and curious nature. Like taking a picture of the Grand Canyon it’s just not the same as being there and experiencing the view with your family.

Photo: Eden with her Aunt Bonnie. They're silly.

The same goes with our children. Are we present during their big moments and the little ones? Have we captured our experiences with them in our minds? Time goes by quickly. Only the time we spend with our kids creating memories can that experience become a nostalgic moment we can draw upon when our wells of happiness dry up.

My daughter is growing. She’ll be in kindergarten this year. It’s been almost two years since my transplant and the time has flown by. I’ll admit, I’ve been extremely busy, but fortunately I’ve had time to spend with my own daughter hopefully creating a wonderful world around her filled with opportunities for the optimistic.

My Friends Inspire Me

My friends and colleagues pianist Jon Schmidt and cellist Steven Sharp Nelson inspire me to be a better musician. Steven is one of the artists on the record label I own and manage Stone Angel Music, Inc. (http://www.stoneangelmusic.com)

Look Familiar?

My daughter Eden and I recognized this gentleman and thought we should get a picture with him. We have a lot in common although he's much wider than me.

My Old Heart | Diet & Exercise.

When I left the hospital with a new donor heart, after surviving years of heart failure, I weighed 139 lbs. Today, I'm 170 lbs. and I can feel it. Ironically, when pathologists weighed my defective old ticker it was 7 lbs vs. my new donor heart that weighs 2.7 lbs.

Photo: Holding my abnormal heart in pathology the day I left the hospital with a new donor heart. A large section had been taken to the University of Utah Hospital for study leaving behind this section. In most cases, your normal human heart is the size of your fist.

Feeling like I need to change my diet and exercise more I have reread some valuable information that certainly might be helpful for those of you with normal hearts.

Columbia surgery.com says the following:

Lifestyle Changes after Your Heart Transplant Operation

1. Maintaining Your Optimum Weight

To give your new heart the best advantage in restoring your health, keeping your weight at an optimum and steady level is very important. Excess weight increases the work your heart must do to pump your blood to all the cells of your body. Excess weight will also cause stress on your joints and lead to pain; it also stresses your bones, making them more prone to breaking.

The best way to control your weight is with proper diet and exercise. After transplantation, diet becomes a very important part of your life. The drugs you take to prevent rejection have several side effects which make a "heart healthy" diet a necessity. The nutritionist on the transplant team and your physician work with you to develop a healthy and controlled eating plan to help you maintain your optimum weight.

Caffeine, Alcohol and Tobacco

These commonly-used substances will need to be eliminated or severely restricted in your new healthy lifestyle.

Caffeine is a stimulant of the central nervous system and can over stimulate your new heart. Some are more sensitive to the effects of caffeine than others. It can cause insomnia, heartbeat irregularities and diarrhea. Even a moderate amount of caffeine can promote headaches, trembling and nervousness. Your doctor will advise you on your need to limit your use of caffeinated products like coffee, tea, chocolate and sodas.

Alcohol consumption should be eliminated or severely restricted after your transplant. Alcoholic beverages are high in calories, low in nutrients and can increase the level of triglycerides in your blood. Even more important is the fact that alcohol can impair your liver's function. Cyclosporine and other medications are broken down in the liver. So, for your medications to work properly and safeguard your new heart from rejection, it is essential that your liver be healthy and properly functioning.

Smoking tobacco is a high-risk activity. We strongly recommend that you do not smoke. Smoking lessens the ability of your red blood cells to carry oxygen; less oxygen reaches your tissues, decreasing your ability to heal. Smoking constricts your blood vessels, especially those in your legs, arms and heart. All of these problems are accentuated in individuals taking immunosuppressive medications.

2. Physical Exercise

After transplant surgery, an active, progressive daily exercise program is vital for your full recovery. It will rebuild your muscle strength. It will boost your mood and enhance your mental state.

Photo: Climbing Mount Olympus last year, June 9, 2010, 9 months after my transplant. I am still amazed I was able to do that difficult climb.

As a heart transplant recipient, you will find that your sensory experience of exercise is now very different from before. Your new heart does not have the same nerve connections as your old. In most patients, the nerves severed during surgery do not grow back like other structures in your body. We refer to your new heart as a "denervated" heart. Because your heart is denervated, its responses to exercise are different. Your heart functions perfectly well despite these differences; they do not limit what you are able to do.

Another important difference is that you will no longer experience chest pain, or angina, when you exercise. The nerve connections that conducted this pain are gone. Any chest pain during exercise will probably be caused by the ongoing healing of chest after surgery. This lack of sensation is the rationale for receiving coronary angiograms each year following transplantation.

After receiving a new heart, we expect you to participate fully in all of life's activities. This means enjoying family activities, returning to work, leading a normal social life and contributing back to society.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Cardall's Taser death inspires Utah police training

“Out of tragedy comes good things,” Utah Governor Herbert said, before signing the resolution known as S.C.R. 1. “Our state is in a better place in many ways because of the Cardall family and their tragedy.”

By Melinda ROGERS

The Salt Lake Tribune
First published May 11 2011 07:05PM
Updated May 12, 2011 10:08AM

He was supposed to be finishing school this week.

Two years ago, Brian Layton Cardall, 32, earned a prestigious fellowship to conduct research for a doctorate in biological sciences at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff.

Photo: Governor Herbert, Senator Jones, my parents, brother's widow Anna with Brian's kids and her sister

His dreams of embarking on a career in science were cut short on the side of a southern Utah highway in 2009 when a Hurricane police officer deployed a Taser on him as he experienced a bipolar episode. Cardall’s wife, Anna, called 911 to ask for medical help, and watched as police instead used a stun gun on her confused husband, who later died.

On Wednesday, Anna Cardall brought her daughters Ava, 4, and Bella, 18 months, to the state Capitol to celebrate their dad’s legacy in a way the family never envisioned: By observing Gov. Gary Herbert hold a symbolic signing of a resolution that encourages the state’s police departments to participate in a program designed to better train officers on how to handle encounters with the mentally ill.

Photo: Salt Lake City Police Chief Burbank expressing his departments support

The Cardall family listened as Herbert complimented the family for sharing their story about losing Brian — and highlighting the need for a better understanding among police forces about mental illness.

“Out of tragedy comes good things,” Herbert said, before signing the resolution known as S.C.R. 1. “Our state is in a better place in many ways because of the Cardall family and their tragedy.”

Photo: With Governor Herbert and my father.

State Sen. Patricia Jones, D-Holladay, introduced the resolution during the last session to endorse the CIT Academy and the education and training it brings law enforcement. Her resolution, which came after working in conjunction with the Cardall family and the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Utah, calls for law enforcement to recognize that the CIT Academy improves the outcomes of police officers’ encounters with the mentally ill. It asks police agencies to put officers through the academy.

Salt Lake City Police Chief Chris Burbank praised the program at Wednesday’s ceremony at the Capitol, saying that officers who have a sharper understanding of mental health issues are able to help the community. The department adopted the program in 2001.

The Salt Lake City Police Department was recently chosen by the Council of State Governments Justice Center as a “mental health learning site” — a place where other law enforcement agencies can look for guidance on how to improve their responses to the mentally ill. Only six police departments in the U.S. received the designations, which were chosen by national experts and the U.S. Justice Department’s Bureau of Justice Assistance.

Salt Lake City Detective Ron Bruno, who oversees the CIT Academy, has previously said the Brian Cardall case appears to have motivated other police departments to enroll in the program. The Hurricane Police Department is among the agencies that started attending the CIT Academy after Cardall’s death.

About 12 percent of Utah’s 1,200 law enforcement officers hold CIT certification; more have likely undergone the training but have had their certifications expire, Bruno said. Continue Reading on the Salt Lake Tribune website

Members of the Salt Lake City Police Department with Governor Herbert

AT A GLANCE:
The Cardall lawsuit

The family of Brian Cardall has filed a federal lawsuit against two Hurricane police officers involved in the use of a Taser on the 32-year-old man as he suffered a bipolar episode on the side of State Road 59 near Hurricane on June 9, 2009.

Brian Cardal's Presentation at the 2009 Tamarisk and Russian Olive Research Conference, Tamarisk Coalition, Grand Sierra Resort, Reno, Nevada, February 19, 2009

Anna Cardall had called 911 to report her husband behaving erratically, and told dispatchers her husband was unarmed, had bipolar disorder and had taken Seroquel, a medicine used to treat manic episodes associated with the disorder. The lawsuit alleges police could have contained Brian Cardall differently. The complaint, which is pending in federal court, alleges several missteps were made by Officer Ken Thompson and Hurricane Police Chief Lynn Excell at the scene.

Thompson deployed a Taser 42 seconds after arriving at the scene, despite information from a 911 dispatcher that Cardall was bipolar and was waiting for medication to take effect. Dispatchers told officers that Cardall spoke of meeting the president and was jumping in front of cars on the road — indications of mental illness.

Thompson and Excell went to the scene, even though the incident was outside of Hurricane city limits and within the jurisdiction of the Washington County sheriff’s deputies who were en route.

When Thompson arrived at the scene, the 156-pound Cardall, nude and unarmed, was no longer in the road. Thompson drew his Taser and began shouting commands. When Thompson yelled, “Come here,” Cardall put his hands up.

Thompson and Excell did not make any effort to take Cardall into custody after he was hit by a Taser. He remained on the ground, breathing and moaning after the first Taser cycle. Thompson waited only two seconds before firing a second shot at Cardall; Excell then rolled Cardall facedown in the gravel and handcuffed him.

Thompson did not use a can of pepper spray. Neither officer tried to use their hands to restrain Cardall.

The officers did not render aid to Cardall before paramedics arrived, even though he appeared not to be breathing. They did not evaluate Cardall’s airway or turn him on his side so he could breathe more easily. Cardall was left handcuffed.

Peter Stirba, a Salt Lake City attorney representing the Hurricane Police Department, maintains Hurricane police responded to the Cardall situation in accordance with their training. After an investigation last year, Washington County Attorney Brock Belnap found the officers were justified in using a Taser on Cardall.

My Community College

" My Community College offered me tremendous opportunities for growth in our world."

How did your college experience impact your life? I learned valuable lessons that have helped me throughout my career. However, my education didn’t always come from the classroom.

Photo: Prior to the SLCC Commencement 2011 at the Maverick Center

Fifteen years ago, I had the privilege to be a student at the University of Utah as well as Salt Lake Community College (SLCC). A bulk of my experience was at SLCC for which I take great pride. My most valuable memories were the extracurricular activities associated with leadership and serving the SLCC student body in the after hours.

Before college, as a high school student I enjoyed being involved, organizing school events, and taking on leadership roles. So naturally I applied for the SLCC Freshman Leadership Scholarship with hopes of two things. First, I was hoping to alleviate some of the financial stress associated with attending college. Second, I wanted to continue working with other creative people to learn from them and together improve the lives of those around me.

My freshman year of college was exciting and there were more than 40,000 students attending our community college. I appreciated the rich diversity, unique cultural differences and various religious views shared by the student body.

Photo: Receiving an honorary doctorate of humane letters from Salt Lake Community College and the State of Utah Board of Education Friday, May 5, 2011

I became a member of the college activities board. United, it was our desire to help other folks have a good experience while attending school.

Under the direction of our faculty, we held barbeques on the quad with disc jockeys and live bands, flew in comedians, and enjoyed guest lecturers like Barry “Greg” Williams from the Brady Bunch. Schindler’s List hit theaters and we organized a sobering evening watching the film after which a holocaust survivor told his frightful story.

I left college after one year to serve a mission for my church. Two years later I returned to the SLCC campus to visit friends and faculty mentors. The nostalgia of my previous experience drew me back to that institution where I then chose to pursue my associate of science degree.

Photo: Celebrating with family at the SLCC Presidents dinner held the night before commencement.

Over the next year, I took great pride in working on campus as the Fine Arts Board Chairperson and briefly as the Student Body Public Relations Vice-President where I learned how to develop, organize, market, and manage campus events. In addition, to earn money, I took a part-time job in the student development office visiting high schools and college fairs to encourage other students to go to college.

To this day, I have often found myself applying these principles of leadership to the everyday aspects of my career. I also learned that outside of my career it’s that extra time devoted to my family, church, and other organizations associated with my expertise that truly give me greater purpose, direction, builds self esteem, and provides a wonderful sense of belonging to a community.

Photo: Keynote address was by Morgan Spurlock, made famous for his documentary "Super-Size Me" and "The Greatest Movie Ever Sold"

Because of the countless acts of kindness shown to our family during my heart transplant crisis and my love of SLCC, our family foundation created an endowment and annual scholarship in an effort to help students born with congenital heart disease or another similar disorder.

Often times, people born with life threatening illnesses, do not for see a long life and set aside their educational pursuits. Others can’t afford education because of medical bills. By creating this scholarship it was my hope that these individuals who thought college would never be a possibility, will be empowered, find hope in the future, and purpose in pursuing an education despite their circumstances.

Last year’s recipient of The Paul Cardall Scholarship for Congenital Heart Disorders was Sydney Porter from North Sevier High School. She has devoted time as a volunteer to the Special Olympics and is pursing a business marketing degree.

This year’s 2011-2012 recipient is Barbara Burns, a mother from Kamas, Utah. She is pursuing a career in radiology, is a member of National Honor Society, associated with Hospice, and volunteers for the Boy Scouts of America. Despite her complicated heart defect, Barbara has said, “I expect to graduate school as I continue this journey with great enthusiasm.”

Photo: Enjoying the honor with my wife Lynnette

Last evening, I had a rare privilege to attend the SLCC commencement ceremonies. More than 4000 degrees were awarded to graduates of Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) from the nation’s 3rd ranked best community colleges based on degrees awarded. As an alumnus, I was honored to be among these graduates to receive an honorary doctorate of humane letters.

I am grateful for my association with my community college. I believe SLCC to be one of the finest institutions that has offered me tremendous opportunities for growth in our world.

Life Long Survival with Congenital Heart Disease

"If your doctor can't draw your defect on a napkin or piece of paper, and has less than 20 patients with CHD, then you need to find a new doctor."

There are over a million adults living with congenital heart disease.

Last week, the Adult Congenital Heart Association gathered for a conference in L.A. that brought together a majority of physicians who specialize in caring for potential life long survivors in the field of congenital heart disease.

Photo 1: Enjoying the conference with my wife Lynnette and Utah's adult congenital cardiologist Angela Yetman, M.D.

I was fortunate to attend with my wife and meet many of these doctors along with several adult survivors who like me are enjoying a good life despite it's many challenges.

I walked away from the conference believing adults who have survived with CHD and the doctors who care for them are clearing a path that will enable even more children born with abnormal hearts to grow up and enjoy life. This requires, however, patients never stop seeing a congenital cardiologist just as you would not stop seeing your dentist to avoid cavities.

The average cardiologist, even if they have a little bit of experience with birth defects, usually do not understand how to treat deformed hearts.

Photo 2: Adult Congenital Cardiologists discussing life long care at the ACHA Conference in L.A.

Specialists or congenital cardiologist understand the anatomy and know how to treat symptoms and find corrective surgical procedures. Many patients with complicated heart problems often can develop long term complications associated with their particular heart problem. For example, liver failure or arrhythmias. Only adult congenital cardiologist know when to start looking for early signs as well as provide up and coming medical therapies and treatments for these adults before it becomes too late.

Above all, "if your doctor can't draw your defect on a napkin or piece of paper on the spot, and has less than 20 patients with CHD, then you need to find a new doctor," said Daniel Murphy, Jr. MD from Stanford.

I discussed the ACHA conference and adult care on the CHD Show with Jim Ferretti.

Take a listen to the podcast:
http://paulcardall.com/Congenital_Heart_Disease.xml

or on Itunes
http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-chd-show-jim-ferretti/id414133851


THE ACHA
Learn more about ACHA and find detailed information for adults with CHD

Inspiring Story about My Cousin born with CF

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

My Tribute to a Friend

Saturday afternoon after a long Utah winter, the sun was bright with the grass becoming greener, and many could be found outside enjoying the warmth of spring. Yet, the following day the valley floors were covered with the wintry pure white powdery snow reflective of a painting of heaven.

Inside a quiet basement apartment south of Salt Lake City a young husband was tenderly caring for his dying wife. They had returned a year earlier from Australia where Quintin had studied at the University and Holly, who was born with a severe heart defect, had enjoyed the physical blessings of living at sea level while reeling in the joy of young married love.

Photo: Holly & Quintin's wedding day

Sadly, Holly’s abnormal heart, which had undergone numerous surgical procedures, began failing, which forced the devoted couple to come home to Salt Lake City in hopes of extending her life. No matter how hard they tried, no matter where they looked, this beautiful couple was denied an opportunity to receive a donor heart because of additional organ complications in Holly’s body. Experiencing the various roller coaster emotions of grief in the realization that her life was at the end, and she would be separated from Quintin, she began to feel the overwhelming peace that comes from accepting life’s predicaments.

I visited her in the hospital months ago. She had actually died for several minutes, before doctors were able to bring her back to life. Lying in her bed as friends with similar health experiences who understood each other, she told me through her confident smile something to the extent; “I’ve come to that point where I can say ‘whatever you want God.’ Since I’ve done this I feel as though He has donated his heart to me and I am ready. I am not afraid anymore and actually looking forward to going to the other side.”

Photo: Holly & Quintin

Saturday morning in their basement apartment, knowing that her time of transition was near, and this might be their last chance together, her family gathered. They spent the day watching on TV the annual general conference for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Most of the sermons centered on Jesus Christ and finding happiness in life and death by believing in the Savior’s redeeming love.

Shortly before 4:00 pm, in the afternoon session’s final sermon, Elder M. Russell Ballard said, “Great things are wrought through small and simple things. Like the small flecks of gold that accumulate over time into a large treasure, our small and simple acts of kindness and service will accumulate into a life filled with love for Heavenly Father, devotion to the world of the Lord Jesus Christ and a sense of peace and joy each time we reach out to one another."

Around 5:30 pm, with winter snow approaching the valley and surrounded by family, Holly transitioned to the other side. She was like the small flecks of gold in this world that had become a great treasure and now has opportunity to share a treasure of kindness with those who have also passed on.

It’s a fact that no matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow. We live to die and we die to live again. Though the wild gentian always blooms, the wildflower’s apparent beauty at times appears over for the season. Often, though, the wildflower season is extended throughout the winter and one can view the remnants of the flowers that remain in the fields and forests of our area.

Though Holly’s spirit has moved on, her legacy remains and those who knew her are better and more righteous for having been her friend.

In her last blog entry Holly wrote, "I want you all to know how much I love you, and if I haven't met you than you are a friend I haven't met yet. I don't believe in strangers . . I'm ok, I am very aware of where I'm going and how wonderful I will feel there. "

Holly loved her Savior. She understood His plan of happiness. She had charity in her soul. She displayed kindness through humor, love, and friendship throughout her earthly life. She suffered much, but considered it a gift to help her grow. She now offers this comfort and peace to others who have passed through the veil of death.

I believe she will tell those who are struggling that the doorway leading to happiness is through Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son. Holly understood this eternal message and has been "chosen to declare liberty to the captives and preach to them the everlasting gospel of Jesus Christ, the doctrine of the resurrection, and the redemption of mankind from the fall of Adam, and from individual sins on condition of repentance." (D&C 138: 18-19) Holly will offer her heart to anyone who will listen.

Though we do not fully understand our Father in Heaven’s purpose in allowing his sons and daughters to suffer, and at times endure burdens beyond mortal comprehension, we would all do well to embrace Holly’s spirit of understanding and acceptance of her illness with a smile and the ability to see it as a gift from a loving Father in Heaven.

Truly, Holly has received the generous new heart of an Eternal Donor, even the heart of God, which can make us pure, holy, happy, and full of life. And like the spring tulip rising up out of the ground until it has fully bloomed, Holly and the rest of God’s children will rise again from the grave because Jesus conquered death. That transcendent gift gives each of us an opportunity to follow His example and become partakers of God's great plan of happiness, which is to bring to pass the mortality and eternal life of mankind.

As Shakespeare wrote:
Sweet are the uses of adversity,
Which like the toad, ugly and venomous,
Wears yet a precious jewel in his head.

(As You Like It, act 2, scene 1)

Playing My Heart Out?

David Burger from the Salt Lake Tribune wrote a nice piece about my recent adventure hitting #1 on Billboards New Age Chart much to surprise of Billboard.

Paul Cardall plays his heart out on No. 1 album

By david burger

The Salt Lake Tribune

Published: March 31, 2011 11:14PM
Updated: April 1, 2011 12:18AM

The researcher who compiles the Billboard New Age chart expressed surprise that Salt Lake City pianist and composer Paul Cardall’s new album “New Life” ranked No. 1 for three weeks earlier this year.

“I’m not sure how they did that,” said Gordon Murray, chart and research manager of Billboard magazine, about Cardall and his Salt Lake City-based label, Shadow Mountain Records, a division of Deseret Book.

The album’s popularity seems even more surprising when you consider that Yanni, the undisputed king of New Age music, released his new album just six days before Cardall released “New Life.” For three weeks, Cardall, a little-known pianist and composer from the Beehive State, sold more copies nationwide of his new album than Yanni did.

But Cardall considers his biggest, and happiest surprise is that he’s alive.

CONTINUE READING