Bonnie,

I loved seeing your show on Kaitlin and what she went through. I teach first aid/cpr/aed course to juniors in high school and alot of times when starting this course I always get the question "why do we have to learn this?" Not a very easy question to answer to teenagers because they always think they are invinceable.

I would love to be able to show my class this episode of your show...do you have it online anywhere? I just saw pictures and videos from other shows.

Also, do you know of anywhere they can get certified for free? I think it is very necessary for people to be aware of what to do incase of an emergency but due to the finicial times it is very hard to get people to do things like this. Also is there a cite where you can get the CPR Anytime Kits for a lower price if you order a large amount. I would love to get them for my class of 42 but again due to financial times the school will only allow me to spend so much.

Thanks for your help. Again great episode!!

~Coach

Can't upload pic for caption contest.

Dear Bonnie,

I just want to tell you how much I appreciate your segment about Kaitlin. Her story is very similar to mine, and it is rare to actually hear stories like this is the media that I can relate to. I had my first cardiac arrest when I was 12. Over the next year and a half, I had four more episodes. Doctors always told me that I was going through "teenage stress" and that passing out was normal. I, however, knew something was very wrong with me, and I became constantly scared for my life. Finally, when I was a freshman in high school, I was diagnosed with Long QT Syndrome, which is an electrical problem with the heart that causes cardiac arrest. Before this diagnosis, I was very athletic just like Kaitlin. Since I refused to give up playing basketball, the best option was to receive an Implanted Cardiac Defibrillator, which I got on December 20, 2001. In the past seven years, I have not had any more episodes thanks to my medicine. People sometimes ask me what my scar is from, and then I remember that I have a heart condition. Usually though, I forget all about it. Even with all of the trauma I went through because of my condition, I managed to become a successful 21-year-old woman. I graduated from UC Berkeley last year and am currently getting my Masters in Counseling. While I try to just live a normal life, I think it is important for me to keep my condition in mind so that I can help others become more aware of the situation. I have learned CPR and how to use an AED, and I participate in the Heart Walk every year. I am still a little scared for my life at times, but each time I see something about heart awareness in the media it makes me feel a little bit better knowing that more people are learning how to react in emergency situations. So thank you very much for getting the awareness out there.

Love your show,
Ashley Maxwell,
Sacramento, CA

Dear Bonnie,

My Mom and I watch your show EVERYDAY and talk about it when we see each other. “Did you see the cute dogs on Bonnie?” or “Did you see that crazy leprechaun that kept interrupting the show?”. I LOVE your class and humor that you bring to all of us. It is a privilege to watch you. Your show is one of the best parts of my day. You are a precious and rare gift!!

Today’s show was so honoring to your Dad. He would be so proud of you! Thank you so much for sharing Maggie and Kaitlin's story. As Linda and Kaitlin were speaking I related to their story. Sudden Cardiac Arrest has impacted my life greatly. I lost my dear friend Jenn suddenly on Thanksgiving. She was happy, healthy and then gone. Then about 7 months later I received a phone call from my Mom saying that my younger brother Jesse's heart stopped in his sleep and that he died. This was a TOTAL shock. He was so full of life just a few days prior when I talked to him. He was gone in an instant. This began a long journey for my family. Especially for my Mom. She has told our story to many other grieving families. When a kindergarten collapsed at our local Elementary school she went and spoke to his class to explain what happened and how the heart works. A great opportunity to educate the kids. We believe EDUCATION is so important.

My Mom is now on the board for SADS (sudden arrhythmia death syndrome). When a family gets diagnosed or loses a loved one she goes and walks alongside them. Giving them strength, love, encouragement and education. She raises money for education and awareness programs. In July we will have the 3rd Annual Climb to Conquer SADS . This climb is yet another testament to the woman she is. She works TIRELESSLY so no other Father, Mother, Daughter, Sister or Friend will lose their loved one. Your show has now EDUCATED even more people.

I miss my brother everyday and wonder what kind of an Uncle he would be to my kids. I wanted to share our story not to cause fear in others but to EDUCATE about SCA/SADS. Thank you from all of us!! AED’s MUST BE IN EVERY SCHOOL!!!
With love,
Angela Andrews, Jesse’s big sister
www.sads.org

Bonnie -

I love your show and Tivo it to watch in the evenings when I get home from work. But I've been really disappointed the past two weeks because you haven't had the losers from Amazing Race. How come? I especially wanted to see Mel and Mike White - used to know them many years ago and was so impressed with their attitude. I also began to wonder about something - based on a comment made by the flight attendants the week before about the producers making the 'arrangements' for the taxicabs at each of the stops on the race. Since Mel and Mike had trouble finding a cab on their last episode - and then their cab driver led them seriously astray - I'm wondering if there's anyway this was a set-up. Seemed weird, especially after hearing those blondes say that on your show. I hope not because I think the Race is a great concept, exceptionally well-produced.

Thanks for your consistent fine work - your entire crew and production staff are just terrific. And you, of course, are the best.

Blessings as you continue this good work,

Diana Trautwein

Bonnie, I wrote a nice long note but the darned computer froze it up so I'm back and I'm just going to simply say...Thanks so much for the CPR and AED info...you helped save many lives today and for years to come. I wish I had know about the AED 7 years ago when my husband suddenly passed away from a heart attack we were talking one minute and the next he was gone only 49 I miss him always we were married for 29 years. When you talk about your Dad passing I do feel your pain and it doesn't have to end that way for others thanks to your wonderful information. Thanks so much Bonnie. Charlotte Shumate Louisville, KY

Dearest Bonnie,
Thank you for the story that "Kaitlin" and her mom Linda shared. This is a silent Killer and people need to be informed.
My girlfriend Brenda,experienced the same results @ the age of 14, and just last summer one of my good friends daughter a sweet little 8 year old girl, went from the flu to heart failure within hours.She is a walking Miracle.
God Bless you and the wonderful work you and the team do!
Blessings in Christs Love,
Christine. B
Elk Grove, CA

BONNIE,
I THOUGHT THAT TODAY'S SHOW WAS TERRIFIC. I HAD NOT SEEN BRITTANY MURPHY IN SO LONG, I ALMOST DID NOT RECOGONIZE HER. I LIKE HER IN THE ROLE WHEN SHE PLAYED WITH DAKOTA FANNING(CAN'T REMEMBER THE MOVIE TITLE)BUT I THOUGHT SHE DID WELL IN IT. THE CPR THING IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW. I LOST MY DAD TO HEART FAILURE. HE WAS 59.

NEW FAN KELLY

Bonnie
Kaitlin and Linda Forbes are our heros. Kaitlin was save #18 in New York State public Schools because of "Louis' Law" which requires all NYS public schools to have an AED program.
My son Louis was the inspiration for Louis' Law.
He was a high school lacrosse goalie who died on the lacrosse field from Commotio cordis a syndrome which causes sudden cardiac arrest from a blunt trauma to the chest. In Louis' case he blocked a shot on goal with his chest.
Had an AED been avialable he would be alive t oday.
We are so proud of the journey Kailin has taken after her SCA and the extreme loyalty and dedication to her friend Maggie O'Malley.
Sudden cardiac death can be drastically reduced with the implemantation of more AED's in our communities and having a spokesperson like Kaitlin will help accomplish that mission. Thank you agian for bringing to your audeince such an important topic
Karen Acompora, The Louis J. Acompora Foundation
www.la12.org

Bonnie-

Thank you for sharing Kaitlin and Maggie's story with the country today!

Linda and Kaitin represent a large group of people who have lost loved ones to sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) and do it so well!

They prove that kind-hearted and dedicated indivuals can make a significant difference by educating the public about CPR and AED use immediately after SCA.

You gave them the platform to do it and those of us that lost a child to SCA, couldn't be more grateful!

Kaitlin is alive today because New York State has required AEDs and people trained to use them in all public schools since 12/01/02.

Today all NY State run colleges and universities also are required to have AEDs on campuses.

The New York State Teachers Union took the lead when reminding the legislatures that all prisons had them, why not schools?

Does your state require AEDs in your child's school?

If not, it should. Ask Kaitlin or Linda.

By Rachel Moyer April 8, 2009 7:37 PM

Bonnie-

Thank you for sharing Kaitlin and Maggie's story with the country today!

Linda and Kaitin represent a large group of people who have lost loved ones to sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) and do it so well!

They prove that kind-hearted and dedicated indivuals can make a significant difference by educating the public about CPR and AED use immediately after SCA.

You gave them the platform to do it and those of us that lost a child to SCA, couldn't be more grateful!

Kaitlin is alive today because New York State has required AEDs and people trained to use them in all public schools since 12/01/02.

Today all NY State run colleges and universities also are required to have AEDs on campuses.

The New York State Teachers Union took the lead when reminding the legislatures that all prisons had

It's finally happened! You know how as we get older we can see our mom's in ourselves? I've finally become my grandmother! She held regular conversations with the TV set and we all laughed. Now I have a running monologue with you throughout your show just like we were in the same room. I never, of course expect answers from you, but I do actually just jabber away commenting to you about whatever is happening. Luckily, my husband already knew I am "a little" odd sometimes---so he just ignores me.

Bonnie & staff, Thank you for including in your show the importance of early CPR & AED use. What a great invention!
Is there a way to inform your viewers about a great free camp that is for children that have had open heart surg., heart transplants and/or pacemaker/defib insertions? It is called Camp Del Corazon and is held every summer on Catalina Island. It is FREE for any child with a history of congenital or aquired heart problems. They also are always looking for older "kids" to volunteer there as counselors & Nurses......pass the word! Many Children like Kaitlyn feel "different" because of large scars and bumps under their skin. At this camp the are freed from the feelings of being different.
Thank you for listening!!

Dear Bonnie,
Thank you SO much for doing a show about the importance of AEDs and CPR and letting the Forbes tell their story. The show was so informative and we need to let more people know that SCA DOES happen to our youth more than the population thinks and knows! Everyone needs to learn CPR and AEDs need to be in every school and public entity.

We lost our seemingly healthy 20 year old son, Nicholas on this very day April 8 in 2001 to a SCA due to an undiagnosed heart problem so watching your show today brought many tears but we commend you for taking the time to do a show on a very important issue.
Sincerely,
Cris Over
Nicholas Ryan Over Foundation
www.nrofoundation.org
An Affiliate of Parent Heart Watch
A National Voice Protecting Youth from Sudden Cardiac Arrest

Happy mid-week Bonnie/BHS crew/viewer brethren,

Gotta make this quick for my Wed. rituals of LOST/American Idol awaiteth (go Adam and Allison), but a few thoughts on opening segment of 4/8/09...

Seeing those kid's reactions to your Muppet buddies was just wonderful. Took me back in time to when I was 6 years old and helping mob Winnie The Pooh at the local Sears :-) -- You gave those young 'un's something they'll be writing about with smiles on their faces "many years from now."

OMG! Don! There's a spider on your..(insert faint here): So Peter Brady/Brady Bunch in Hawaii...But loved, loved, loved it! And even funnier? Alec's reaction to the motorized spider under the desk...I have a very similar behind-the-scenes video from my days in TV which I will share with you all/upload next week if I can find it.

Finally, how about Giles/Cheryl not resting on their laurels after a flawless dance last week? Love such qualities; never stop upping your game...but I thought Cheryl had hurt herself when she went down at the end....I could almost picture Bergeron getting ready to point the DWTS ambulance service to the stage :-)

Have a great weekend back home, go Cubbies (less than 36 hours 'til The Leadoff Man on WGN) and never stop what you're doing, Bonnie...We just love ya (and please stop about the weight deal...you're prettier than a dozen movie stars...Take that Marisa Miller!!! :-)

Best always,

Jeffrey (aka the Marquee Man...)

Thank you for showing the spot on the AED. A similar thing happened to me on the first night on a Carnival Cruise while at sea and they revived me with an AED within 4 minutes -- THANK YOU CARNIVAL!!! I can't recall, but I do not remember if you said that the AED's are relatively inexpensive (all things considered) and that individuals can purchase them and can get training on their use. Maybe you can mention that as a follow-up?
Thanks - maybe this would save at least one life.
-- Daryle Domanico

I paid close attention to the demonstration on CPR today. I hope to never have to use it but the gentleman made it very clear and simple and you relating the compressions to Staying Alive was wonderful association.

I truly love your show as I loved watch Dean Martin with my parents and your set is so similar. Your skits are hilarious too!! Love the birdhouse ones.

Keep up the good work.

Judy

I loved the video of the little girl who couldn't talk when she was meeting Elmo! Priceless...speachless
lol

Please put this on your list serv. If there is a problem please let me know. Thank you very much.

Hi Bonnie,
We watch your show all the time and are big fans.
You are a very caring, kind and smart person. Thank you for discussing Sudden Cardiac Arrest in chldren/youth. Your show about Sudden Cardiac Arrest with Kaitlin and Linda Forbes was terrific!!!! People must be made aware that many thousands of children die of Sudden Cardiac Arrest in the US alone each year. Our only son, Andrew was the epitome of health and died May 25, 2005 at age 18 years old from Sudden Cardiac Arrest with no warning. We did not have an AED and he died. Andrew was healthy and did not have anything wrong with him. It was electrical and we still dont know what caused his fatal cardiac arrhythmia. There is no mandatory registry so true numbers of deaths are not known. There are so many children that have died like this. We also belong to Parent Heart Watch made up of parents like us that have lost their children to SCA and are trying to save other children from dying.

We try to promote awareness of Sudden Cardiac arrest and want the public to know of the countless children that have died and also the parents that are devastated and left without their children. We have started the Richard Andrew Helgeson Foundation and promote awareness of SCA in children/youth, cardiac screening, AED and CPR training, AED placement and the passage of laws that mandate placement of AEDs. We had Andrew's Law passed in 2006 that mandates all MD high schools have AEDS and at all school sponsored games. It has saved lives. Last year a law was passed that gives immunity to the operator of the AED and we just gave testimony to promote passage of a law giving immunity to facilies that have AEDs. we need to get AEDS into the community.

Please do a follow up show in memory of all of ourt children that were victims of SCA. You could run their pictures and you could fill your audience with all the parents like me that have had their children die. Healthy children are not suppose to die like this and the sad thing is that no one speaks about it. It is not rare. I would love to send you a picture of Andrew. Our SUN would have enriched the world and everyone he touched. He had a full academic scholarship to college and he had his entire life planned and it was all denied him. Andrew was a really wonderful and loving person and his death will never make sense. Our hearts are broken and our family is devastated. Parents should be aware and have a choise to have their children cardiac screened actually it should be mandatory but of course the insurance companies would not like that. If they can cardiac screen childrne in Italy and in Japan then it should be mandatory here also.

Healthy children should not be dying in the US. It is a secret that is kept quiet and every day children continue to die from SCA. We need to demand money for research and stop SCA from killing our children but we need awareness.

Thank you for your attention to Sudden Cardiac Arrest in Children/youth. We need you to help widen awareness. Over 400,000 people die like this in the US but very little is ever said about the children that die of SCA.

Your background as a nurse makes you a wonderful, understanding spokesperson on the behalf of our children that died from SCA since they do not have voices for themselves and we find it very difficult to get people to listen. WE would love to meet you. Thank you again. We do all of this since we dont want others to have their children die like Andrew and have their families suffer as we do. Thank you.

With much admiration,
Rita & Richard Helgeson
"Andrew's Parents"

Can't upload pic for caption contest.