It has been two-and-a half years since Sheila's surgery and what she has accomplished since then never ceases to amaze me.  She put me to shame even before she had the bilateral hand transplant because she was a good driver even with prosthetic hands; and because I am a failed driver.  I am scared of driving and other drivers; plus, I don't enjoy it at all.  My dream is to have a chauffeur at my beck and call but I can't afford one.

Anyway, back to Sheila.  She is very much into cooking these days.  Given her limitations (she can't chop veggies, etc. yet), she has turned out delicious dishes and invited family and friends to her apartment for dinner.  She goes shopping alone if she doesn't have to carry heavy stuff.  She even sewed a button on her blouse once.  She is also now a Certified Peer Counselor.  Well done, dear!
 
 
The  horrific bombings during the Boston Marathon on April 15 has caused  multiple tragedies
of unknown proportions: from the death of three young spectators, the killing of a police officer, to the injuries of dozens  of spectators, some of which could result in amputations.

What makes some individuals cause damage and destruction to innocent people in the name of politics or religion is beyond comprehension.  We grieve for the victims and their families and friends but Boston and the rest of the country will never be the same.  This act of terrorism from US citizens who lived normally among us will change our lives forever. 
 
 
Sheila is progressing well despite an episode of rejection months ago.  She ironed clothes for the second time since her surgery two years ago.  Recently, she made some fried rice from whatever ingredients she could find in her larder.  Yummy, she said!  She liked it so much that she is planning on buying a set of cookware so she could cook again!  Bravo!
 
 
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From Left: Aimee Copeland, Sheila May Advento, and Katie Couric
Sheila was invited to be in the audience of Katie Couric's new show as a blogger on Tuesday, September 11, 2012.  

Read her interesting blog about the show: 

http://sheilamaya.blogspot.com/

 
 
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Sheila at her sister's wedding on August 18, 2012 with a fan.
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Sheila during occupational therapy, learning to use her leg prosthetics in 2003.






Sheila was invited to be in the audience of the Katie Couric Show today, September 11, 2012.  Her sister, Pamela, accompanied her.  Her blog/story was featured in their website.  Check out the following link:

http://www.katiecouric.com/features/my-life-as-a-quadrilateral-amputee/



 
 
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Sheila and I at her sister's wedding party.  It was a lovely celebration and a rare occasion for a family reunion.

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Sheila dancing with her nephew, Albert.

 
 
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Sheila painting with her donated hands on the left; the three members of her UPMC transplant team: Dr. W P Andrew Lee, Dr. Jaimie Shores, and Dr. Gerald Brandacher. All three are now at Johns Hopkins.
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Sheila was featured recently in an article at the Spring/Summer 2012 issue of Hopkins Medicine Magazine (see link below).  The write-up was comprehensive and well-written.   



http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/publications/hopkins_medicine_magazine/hopkins_medicine_magazine_springsummer_2012/within_grasp#.UBRm8XPWwZo.mailto



 
 

Sheila was featured on the cover of the American Legion Magazine in February 2012. Below is the link to the article:


http://www.legion.org/magazine/161263/whole-again
 
 
The book is now available in Kindle, Nook, ePub, and PDF versions for $9.99.
 
 
Below is the link to order the book.  It is also available in amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com.

http://www.booklocker.com/books/4311.html