Today I have a great giveaway sponsored by my friend Melissa Biggs. I first got to know Melissa after she was featured in Where Women Create Issue 3. Melissa is an actress (if you ever watched Baywatch you may remember her as one of those lovely lifeguards) and a fashion designer (she previously designed for Guess and now designs her own line - but we'll get to that in a minute). But, to me, Melissa's most important role is that of spokeswoman for the Alpha-1 Association.
Melissa Biggs via her website
For those of you who have read this blog for a while, you may recall that my three boys all suffer from
Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (If you don't know what Alpha-1 is OR you'd like to read my boys' story OR both, click here.)
After reading Melissa's feature in Where Women Create, I did something unexpected, I just started crying. I don't know if it is because Alpha-1 is relatively unknown or exactly what it was that moved me, but I knew I had to get in touch with her and find out how I could get more involved in the Alpha-1 Community. Even though it was the middle of the night, I ran downstairs, hopped on the computer and fired off an email to Jo Packham, editor of Where Women Create (if any of you ever wondered what kind of an amazing woman she might be, here's proof). I explained to her that my boys all have Alpha-1 and that I'd like to be able to get in touch with Melissa. Well, Jo forwarded my email, and within a day, I got an email back from Melissa. We emailed back and forth, and a few days later chatted for over an hour on the phone about ways I could get involved with the Alpha-1 community. Needless to say Melissa, who has the disease herself, is a great proponent of Alpha-1 Awareness, and is an inspiration.
Melissa in Where Women Create via her WebsiteMelissa now designs her own line of clothing called P.G.D.Style and has generously agreed to give one reader of the Shabby Nest their own Long Sleeve P.G.D. Basic Tee (a $48 value). This tee is perfect for the cold season, perfect for layering, just perfect.
All you have to do is leave a comment on this post and you're entered to win. That's it. Drawing ends Friday, December 11 at 11:59 EST. Winner will be announced Monday morning.
One last note: Melissa designed the tee pictured above especially for Alpha-1 Awareness. The proceeds from the sale of this shirt go directly to Alpha-1 research. Available on-line soon. I will keep you all posted.The Giveaway is now closed. Thank you to all who entered.
Have a great Thursday~
Have a great Thursday~
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114 comments:
She sounds like an exceptional woman!
I'm impressed by both of you!
Encouraging post. Thanks, too, for th giveaway!
I have never heard of Alpha-1 either, thank you for posting about it and increasing awareness. Melissa sounds like a wonderful person, and her clothing designs look cool and comfy! I'd love to be entered in the giveaway, thanks for hosting! :)
Thanks for the great giveaway. The t-shirt looks awesome for layering.
cpetrienm@yahoo.com
I had never heard of Alpha-1 before. Thanks for posting and giveaway!
Awesome! Thanks so much for sharing!
Great way to get the info out & a great giveaway!
I had never heard of this condition! Thanks for sharing all the information!
Sounds like a wonderful work!
Debbie
rlmdam@sbcglobal.net
I would love to win this! Perfect for cold weather layering!
Wow what an inspiration and such a beautiful shirt.
Thank you for the awesome post
Kate
How wonderful that you got to meet her and that she is such a nice person. Gonna click now on you alpha link, because I have never heard of it.
So cool
Wow...I had never heard of alpha 1. Thank you so much for this post and the information. And the clothing line looks amazing as well. =o)
nice tee
Love the tee. Never hear of alpha 1, thanks for the info. I know what it means to have a sick child - mine was hospitalized for a severe case of meningo-encephalitis when he was a baby!
That tee looks so nice as I sit here at my desk freezing!
I learned something new today ... thank you for raising awareness about Alpha-1. And thank you for the chance to play!
I had never heard of Alpha-1. Thanks for posting and doing what you can to raise awareness!
I love blogging.... yet another way to build a support network or get the word out about things that are important to you and so many others. Thanks for sharing!!
Heading over to read your post on Alpha 1. So glad you have found a friend and an advocate to relate to through your family's journey! Blessings!
Shilo
I have also never heard of Alpha-1. Thanks for sharing, and for connecting us to this great clothing designer!
I just read your other post. You've raised my awareness of it, for sure.
Thanks for sharing and the giveaway!
Oooooooh, I would love to win! Thanks. Melissa
I've never heard of this before, but will definitely be reading more about it. Thanks for doing the giveaway and getting the info out there!
It is great when we don't have to walk a journey alone and that someone has gone ahead of you! Having someone who can understand is so important.
Many blessings,
Stacey
What a great voice she is for the
A1A cause!!
I'm so glad that you are finding more and more that you are not alone in the A-1 fight. What wonderful women you both are!
I had never heard of Alpha 1 until I read your posts.
Thank you for sharing that information and I hope and pray they find a cure.
completely in the dark about alpha1--off to read your info.
xo
Thanks for a great giveaway - she sounds like an inspiring woman!
I'm glad that you are able to work together for a great cause. Hopefully awareness of Alpha-1 has increased greatly due to your story and Melissa's designs.
Thanks for the giveaway!
What a neat story of how you got connected. God works in such amazing ways to bring people together. So cool.
Thanks for the chance to win that fabulous shirt!
Hope everyone is doing well. We miss you guys!
What a great way to raise awareness.
Very cute, hope I win :)
Great info. Thanks for the opportunity to be enlightened.
Its so nice when those in the public eye give back. And what a nice giveaway. Thank you!
I had never heard of this, either. Your story is so touching-no mother can help but recognize the pain and angst you must have gone through with the first diagnosis and then the subsequent two.
May you and your family have a wonderful holiday season!
What a great giveaway. I recently found your blog and have bookmarked it. You've inspired me. Thanks.
If I win and put that shirt on, will I look like Melissa?? Cause that's what I'm hoping!
What a great cause she is involved in, too!
Kathy
A great woman, a great designer, and a great cause!
Talent and a good heart--both of you.
MoniCue
Thanks for the information on Alpha-1, I was unaware of this condition.
It is nice to see a beautiful designer/actress using her talents to spread the word and be a good example of perseverance!
Thanks for the info and cute giveaway.
That is wonderful that you can be more connected to a cause that means so much to you.
Wow! How great is she! Thanks for another very interesting post.
Very awesome. Great women for a great cause!
How awesome! Awareness of medical diseases/conditions is SO important! And please enter me in the giveaway too! :)
Blessings,
Stacey
A great way to further the cuase! well doone! your so very strong!
That's an inspiring story! I wish you and your boys success with dealing with the Alpha 1!
Oh, please enter me too! What a great way to make an impact. P.S. Love your tips on your blog - I have learned some neat things from you!
Thanks for the post. I would like to be entered.
Christina
Thanks for sharing.
Those tees look so comfy so please count me in on this great giveaway.
How wonderful that you found her! As a mom of a child with her own medical issues, I can certainly relate to the desire for awareness and fundraising to help raise awareness and possibly find a cure/ease suffering. Kudos to you both!
Wow that's amazing! I'm so glad you got in touch with her so you can be more involved. Great giveaway too!
Happy Holidays!!
-Elizabeth
What an inspiring story...& Melissa's designs are lovely. Thanks for the introduction.
As always, I am impressed by you Wendy and how you manage your family especially with a health issue. We too work every day with a health issue with our children. I do remember Melissa from Baywatch and her clothes are beautiful.
Thanks for sharing and good luck with all the packing.
Lise
Wow, I had no idea. I'm going to read your post about your son...
AWESOME...Thanks :) We have 14 inches of snow right now and it's below zero...that shirt looks like something I could snuggle up in :)
Awesome giveaway!
lmerritt49903@gmail.com
She sounds like a true gem. I'm so glad she took the time to help and encourage you.
The shirts look soooo cozy, too! Yum!
Jen @ Jentility
twodigs@mrlebendig.com
So glad you found a teammate in your journey with Alpha-1 - thanks for the great blog and giveaway...
You rarely hear about the good things people do and this is definitely someone doing good with her creativity. Love it.
Thanks for sharing. I love to layer with tees!
Wow, she's super talented! I love the t!
Thanks so much for bringing Alpha-1 awareness to us all. I used to be a nurse (life before kids) and I've never heard of this disease before coming to your blog.
Cute shirt! If you throw in that pair of jeans pictured, I would be in HEAVEN!
Karen M
I have never heard of Alpha-1. Great way to spread the awareness.
And you two ladies are sooooo talented. Seriously. Envious.
great give away...great way to spread the word on Alpha 1. Thank you!
what a great post girlie.
sorry i haven't been over in a while..
i'm just regrouping.
xo
What a neat woman! I'd love one of her T's.
I had never heard of Alpha-1 until you posted about it last year. THanks for the giveaway chance!
As a mother of a young son with special needs....I know what it's like to make every possible effort to try to make their life better. The Lord is soooo good to have put you two on the same path like that! I'd love to be entered! Count me in!
The long sleeve tee is just what I need to keep warm in the frigid weather we are experiencing here in Utah. Thanks for the info on Alpha-1.
Wow...what a great way to get your message out....so encouraging...thank you for sharing and giving...I'm so happy to be entered in this giveaway!!
She sounds like such a wonderful person and I am so glad you connected with her.
I LOVE layering t's...thanks for the giveaway!
sarah
smatti78@yahoo.com
Cool giveaway--great way to spread awareness!
coupontyree @ gmail.com
Love the t-shirt... perfect for our cold days here in Wisconsin. My blessings (and prayers) to your family. You sound like an amazing mom!
.. yet another example of the wonderful connections and bonds we make in BlogLand!
Michaele
I loved learning more about her! Thank you for the giveaway!
Love the t shirt thanks for the giveaway!
Something about people telling about their lives...joins us...bonds us...and reminds us that we are all in this together! Thank you for opening up and sharing this part of your life with us!
I don't want to win anything. I just wanted to let you know that I was touched by your story!
Your sweet children will be in my prayers. And you, too, because I am a mother and I understand on that cosmic level how we feel about our little miracles!
With gentle care,
Kolein - NY
thanks for letting us know about this condition, and thanks for the giveaway.
Like many others, I had never heard of Alpha-1 either. Thanks for sharing, and for hosting such a great giveaway!
Love it!
Thanks for the information. I have never heard of that before.
Now that's a talented lady! Thanks for the giveaway!
count me in! love those kind of tee shirts... although I'll have to wait until baby arrives to be able to flaunt it around!
~Meg
I had never heard of Alpha-1 thanks for the info and thanks for the giveaway
ejxd95@gmail.com
The tshirt is really cute! I had never heard of Alpha-1 either. Thank you for sharing this with your readers.
Melissa sounds so inspirational! Thanks for the chance to win one of her shirts!
Thank you for all you do and thank you for making me aware of something I had no idea existed.
Hugs and prayers for your family.
I love connections like that!
I hope I win!
kstoner@crosspointe.org
I hadn't heard either! Loving the info and the cute shirt!
what a great way to make others aware! trishajones29@gmail.com
I had never heard of Alpha. Thanks for using your blog to share this information!
Melissa is truly an inspiration...talented, beautiful, and kind with a giant heart to boot!
Thanks for the giveaway and God bless.
What a great idea! It is so empowering to be an advocate for your children.
Great giveaway! I love that it means something!
Great giveaway, thanks for the chance :)
eod_army_wife04(at)yahoo(dot)com
I learned so much from your blog about Alpha-1. What a blessing that they were able to diagnose it now so you can pray daily for a cure. What a great mom for getting involved.
Thanks for the giveaway!
Awesome giveaway! Thanks for the inspiration!
awesome giveaway- the shirts look long & lean which is awesome to find!!
thanks so much for stopping by today!! :)
xoxox,
lauren
What a wonderful story!
It's so cute!!! Count me in!!!
xo,
LuLu
never heard of alpha1 before. Great Post!
Wow, Wendy. I had never heard of Alpha 1 before today. I will join you in praying for a cure. Please enter me in your giveaway. Thanks, and blessings.
Thank you for posting about this..I am one of the many that hasn't heard about Alpha 1 before.
Encouraging post. Thanks, too, for the
Work from home India
giveaway!
I hadn't heard of alpha-1 before. Thanks for sharing
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