Hello -- my name is Sheila Williams and I am here to tell you all a little bit about myself and how this flower project got started.

I have PPH. I was diagnosed about three and a half years ago. I am 32 years old and have been married for 14 years and counting to a wonderful man and we have a 12 year-old son.

Having PPH has been a blessing for me. I know some of you are saying "is she crazy?". But let me say that this disease has been a reality check  for me. Life is very important and should not be taken for granted and that is what I was doing. Nothing was ever going to happen to me. Then, God stepped in and said "okay if you are not going to listen to me, listen to this". I thank him for putting me back in my place (under his arms). I do not take life for granted anymore.  I have made new friends, my family has been closer than we ever have been and this is why having PPH has a blessing for me.

When we found out that I had PPH the doctor (back then) explained it to us like it was a death sentence. My husband and I just started crying. Gosh, what were we going to do? Which direction were we going to head to first, transplant or death? How were we going to tell our son that mommy was going to die? It has been a long and trying three and a half   years but God has seen us through it and will see us through it again and again. I now have a fabulous doctor and he started me on flolan back in July '99. (He saved my life). Then, I found the PHA message board in August and that brought me to the list.

When I came aboard the list there was some talk about a flower for PH. I started to ask some questions about it. Was there a flower for PH? If not, can we get one? I received confirmation back that there was not a flower and was asked to head it up. I was thrilled to do so, hence the process of the flower.

I wanted it to be special, so that is where my new family of PH-ers came in. I also wanted this flower to be picked by them, because it is for them. I want the world to know that this beautiful flower was picked by PH-ers and not a committee. This is very important to me. I want this community to have the privilege of telling everyone out there that "I helped with the selection of this flower" and "I am proud to wear it".

I was scared at the beginning of this project because no one was really participating. Then all of the sudden I was getting nominations almost every day. After the process of eliminating flowers and choosing the top ones was done, the voting began. What an overflow this has been, everyone has been great and I appreciate all of you. Because this affects the entire family, please have them vote on a flower too.

I would like to hand out a special thank you to Kathryn for the outstanding web page that she put together for the flowers and to PHCentral for their support and time they have shown to me.

Let me close with this - do not let this disease destroy you and your family. This is the time for togetherness, not destruction. I know it can be very devastating at first, but take control of it and don't let go of it. You are in control and don't forget it.

My prayers and thoughts are with everyone out there during this very emotional time in your life.

My God Bless Everyone,
Sheila Williams - PPH

Blue Girl Rose