All About me :)

Okay All, I am gonna be real... This is my first blog, and my intention is to let everyone know all about me, maintain friendships and build new ones. I hope that maybe somewhere along the way you find something interesting you can take with you that will help you in life personally or professionally, or at least put a smile on your face. Heck, maybe even make you laugh :) So here we go: My name is Brian Adam Nates. I was born January 8th, 1977 in Da Bronx, New York. My social security number is ....HA GOT YA!!! I grew up in White Plains New York where my incredible parents Ellen and Ron taught me the values of life and family that I still keep close to my heart today. I am the middle Child of 5!! Much Love goes out to My Brother Erik and and my 3 beautiful sisters Lisa, Chrissy and Julie. We have been through much together as a family but know I can always count on you :) Yes my parents were very busy with each other while we were growing up if you know what I mean ;)...You all know there were those times when the bedroom door was locked and as children we were all thinking, "What is Mommy and Daddy doing in there?" You knock on the door and they say we will be out in a little while. HAHA! I know my mother is gonna kill me for writing this! I went to Private (Catholic) School until college. I am very thankful to my parents for my schooling. I still remember I was furious in 8th grade that they wanted me to go to Iona Prep in New Rochelle, New York for High school. Many of my friends were going to the local public High school and I wanted to go there but they made me try "The Prep" for a year and then discuss again. A year later I wanted to stay at Iona. I am so thankful for that... It was the best schooling, experience and friendships a guy could ever ask for. I still have life long friends that have come from Iona Prep! Steve, Bobby Smalls, Ari, Danny, Joey, Mikey Yo-YO, John C (Not from Iona but still part of my boys) Peter Cronin (Not from Iona). Thanks for always being there! While growing up I was a star athlete. My Father, brother and I lived sports. That was a huge bonding and learning experience for all of us.. not just about sports but about life as well. My father used to drop me off on the courts and I would be the only "white boy" playing. I would get teased as the "punk white boy" until I started playing and then I was the "white boy that schooled eeverybody" HA HA! Hey Chad Wright...remember those days...LOL.. My father would even make me play on the courts in the middle of the winter, tying my right hand behind my back so I learned how to use my left hand. He wanted me to be the best I could be no matter what. I still keep those values with me. There are so many things people can learn from playing sports and being in that TEAM environment. I played Basketball, Baseball and Football through High school until I got hurt during Football season. I was a quarterback in H.S. until I got turned into a pretzel and crushed 2 disks in my lower back. I remember that day like it was yesterday. My whole body went numb for one of the longest 60 seconds of my life. I thought I was paralyzed!! Then I started tingling and I was like thank GOD! I still have issues to this day from that. I can tell you about a day or so before it is gonna rain because my back kills me and I get pain going down my legs. I actually kept playing sports at first (in pain) until baseball season. I dove for a baseball through the middle (I was a shortstop) and couldn't move again...It was time to go to a Dr. and stop ignoring it. I was told I needed to stop playing sports for now because I needed Rehab. That was a horrible day for me. I remember telling the Doctor I can not stop playing sports because Sports was my life! At that time in my life that was all I cared about. I absolutely knew I was going to get a scholarship for College to play sports. The Doctor's words at this time were, "Son, if you play like this and get hit the wrong way you will be paralyzed. You need to fix you first before even considering playing again" I felt like my life was over!! All I knew was sports. That was the summer before Junior year and I did not return to play any sport again until Senior year I tried Basketball. Well guess what, My game was still there but I lost that "first step" that made me so good. Once a quick athlete who relies on their quick step and vision loses that quick step they cannot be as big of an impact player as they once were. So, I knew my career was over so I decided I better focus on School. I never cared about school before that, so in a way I take me getting hurt as a blessing in disguise.From there I felt I needed to get away from NY and start fresh. My sister, Lisa, was going to school in Orlando at the University of Central Florida (UCF). I visited her and decided I wanted to go there as well. So, Graduated Iona Prep in '95, and went to UCF the next fall. My College years were good and fun, but not the lifelong friends like I made in High school. I do thank my sister for taking me in almost every Sunday and giving me that Family and Home cooked meal I so needed. I still love those meals to this day! Lisa bring me some food whenever you want! haha! I won't get into too much detail about College, mainly because I do not remember most of it..LOL!! I will not mention any names as to not discriminate anyone, but I do thank my certain individuals for introducing me to a whole new world! HA HA! Those that were there with me through those years know what I am talking about. Those that were not, use your imagination. I am sure your college years were very similar hmmmm...lol :) One of the best jobs I had was during college... I worked at Zuma Beach (downtown Orlando Club)as a bar back and as a valet parker. It was fun and met a lot of cool people... I graduated UCF in 1999 and started working for Enterprise Rent a car. Worked up the ranks pretty quickly in their Management program and got into the sales division where they resold their fleet. I was sent away by them to St Louis for the best Sales training I have ever received and still use to this day :) While at Enterprise I made some incredible friends that I consider part of my "Friends for Life" Team.They consist of Bill Lundy, Kevin Mcmanus, Phil Herring and Chris Walters. I later introduced Chris to my sister and is now her husband with 4 beautiful kids Ellena, JJ---my Godson, Kimberly and Luke). Me and my good looking godson - an athlete just like me!!! Also, While at Enterprise, I met Kelly Bailey. Her and her Husband Rob are also considered part of my "Friends for Life" team :)A few years later I found a new Job at Cintas Corp. Once again, great experience and great sales training that I will always take with me. However, I wanted something more and always felt a void like I should be doing my own thing and impacting people in a better way. While at Cintas my father got diagnosed with Brain Cancer---I remember that day like it was yesterday also---a moment of the reality of our frailness as human beings. He took it on like a man and was not going to let it get the best of him. It was at that moment that I realized what an incredible father I really had and the values of family were instilled in me because of the love, support and courage my parents showed for each other and the rest of the family. Sometimes, I do not think my mother got enough recognition. She was the glue that kept our family together and focused during a very challenging time in all of our lives. Thank you Mom. We all love you for being who and what you are :) I was then introduced to a business opportunity through my friend Kevin Clark (part of the "Team") to start a wholesale Furniture business. I went for it with him. Things were going great opening multiple locations when my life was changed forever.... I remember this day every time I go by an Enterprise Rent a Car location. I went to the Enterprise office on South Orange Blossom Trail in Orlando near Massey Cadillac to visit my friend Kevin Mcmanus. As I walked into the office I was struck! Love Struck that is. I Found the girl I knew I was gonna marry... It was love at first sight! I knew it! I did not know her name, she did not know me, but I was gonna marry her! I still remember the Grey pants (nice butt! haha! ) she was wearing, the purple shirt and the sexy glasses she had on with the short styled kind of dirty blond/ light brown hair. I asked Kevin, "Who is that? I need to know her." Kevin can tell you that was the beginning of the craziness! Shortly after this, Our relationship began..... Her name was Rachel Lewis at the time...and after me courting her and treating her like the princess she was, she became Rachel Nates on April 23rd, 2005. She was my angel and that was the happiest day in my life. We absolutely blended perfectly together making each other extremely happy. As I have told people in the past, her OCD knew exactly how to control my ADD! HA lol...Seriously, a perfect match. She was there for me when My Father Passed away December 28th 2004 from the Brain Cancer...A most dreadful day in my family. I still remember our Dog, Cassie, Howling like she knew he died.. It was amazing because he passed away upstairs and Cassie was outside 3 stories down in the backyard but she someone knew the moment he passed away and started howling...Incredible the energy in this world huh! However,I thank my father every day for helping me see what a real man is and what family is all about. Thank you dad...I still feel you today as I write this :) Also a thank you goes out to Uncle Blase and Aunt Loretta, my Godparents. They have always been there for me and my family and they have been a blessing to me ever since I was a little boy, taking on the true mission of a Godparent seriously. Uncle Blase and Aunt Loretta you have always been like my second set of parents to me, and Blase thanks for always giving me the advice and understanding that you do. I love you guys for all you do for me and the family...Can't wait to enjoy that next bottle of wine together and some Sambuca!! :) Through Rachel I met another 3 Of my "Friends for Life". Alexis, DJ and Bryan Clark. You guys are amazing. Thank you for all you have done for Rachel and I. I will never forget both Alexis and Bryan taking time out of their busy life to be there for me when I really needed them. I am forever Grateful. You are true friends, and I love you for that. Alexis and DJ, We share many memorable conversations and events!...Rachel and I Thank you. Then the most horrible thing Happened: I will let Rachel explain it in her own words, since it is to hard for me to write without breaking down. I have copied and pasted this from her website: www.rachelnates.com---Please go there and read her whole story from front to back including "How this has Changed my Life" - A true Inspiration! So here is Rachel's story:

The Story

"People tell me how strong I am. But I'm just doing what I have to do in order to live. It doesn't seem like a big deal to me, but if I can help inspire people by going through this, then that is just an added bonus!" - Rachel

Me with my husband, Brian

Also Read about How This Has Changed My Life on my w

ebsite www.rachelnates.com

This is the story...

Let me just start by saying that I've been a Type I (insulin-dependent) diabetic since I was 10 years old. I'm currently on an insulin pump and pretty much have my bloodsugars "under control". That was nothing compared to what I'm going through now. After this, I believe I can handle anything!! (The lung problems I'm having are completely unrelated to my diabetes). Oh, and I've never smoked a day in my life. Go figure. So if you only have diabetes - don't complain. : ) And if you're a smoker - STOP!! Love your lungs...

So... I've had breathing problems for the last 2 years or more. It started with shortness of breath, and I just thought I was out of shape. I started going to doctors, and they thought it was just anxiety. Finally, when I was sick, they did a chest x-ray, but didn't see anything too unusual. They prescribed me an inhaler and some other medications to help. It didn't help.

I went to my primary care physician as the symptoms got worse. I had shortness of breath upon exertion... and it was all the time. I knew this wasn't anxiety. I convinced her that further testing needed to be done.My family has a history of heart problems, so she wanted to rule that out first. She had me do a stress test to see how my heart muscle was functioning. I only lasted about 3 minutes on the treadmill, because I couldn't breathe and they had to stop the test early. But the cardiologist said my heart was fine, so he passed me on the test. Now, I know I'm not THAT out of shape... shouldn't that have thrown up a red flag?

So my doctor decided to order a pulmonary function test. The results came backthat I had mild asthma and they put me on some more inhalers. They said anxiety probably made it worse. I was still not a believer. This was REALLY bad. I would get shortness of breath just walking across the room or even rolling over in bed.

She referred me to a pulmonologist. When I got there, they did a walk test on me to see what my oxygen saturation was. 98% is normal for someone of my age. Mine dropped down to 77%. The doctor freaked out and ordered an emergency CT scan. He thought I might have a blood clot, so they would just check me in to the hospital over night and put me on some blood thinners and I would be good as new! Not the case.After the CT scan, I went back up to the doctor's office (it was at the hospital). The moment after that changed my life forever. He called me into his office where he and the other doctor were looking at my results. The other doctor told me that I had pulmonary fibrosis and needed a lung transplant. I laughed. You're kidding, right? No. Not kidding.

My face turned white and I almost fell over. The nurse grabbed me and put me in a chair as shock set in... I started shaking... My mom was with me and I didn't see what happened to her, but it was about the same reaction. We both started to cry. They ordered oxygen to be delivered to my house by a Home Medical Equipment company.

Everything after that was kind of a whirl-wind. They put me in a wheelchair and my mom got my car to drive me home. Brian was working and I called him and told me to meet us at home because we needed to talk. I couldn't tell him over the phone.

The doctors gave me a referral to Shands Hospital in Gainesville, FL to get a second opinion and get on the lung transplant list. My mom explained it to Brian... I couldn't even speak. He spent the next several days calling and explaining it to family and friends. I called work and told them I wouldn't be in the next day... or ever again. I haven't looked back since then.

At Shands, I was actually diagnosed with an extremely rare lung disease called LAM (lymphangioleiomyomatosis) by Dr. Harman, the Chief of Pulmonology. She said it was "textbook LAM". The medical student that wasworking under her even asked her if she could keep a copy of my CT Scan, because she had never seen it in real life before. I obliged.

Here is a short video about emphysema, which is similar to what I'm going through, except my blockage is caused by cysts growing in my lungs - not from damage caused by smoking. Here is a picture of a LAM lung compared to a regular lung. Read the LAMHandbook.pdf for tons of more info.

LAM is so rare that most of my other specialized doctors haven't even heard of it. When I go to doctor's appointments, I find myself having to educate THEM on my disease. It makes it difficult, because you don't want anything else they're doing to interfere with the disease.

My doctor at Shands wanted me to do an experimental study, but I just wasn't ready to make that decision. Since LAM is so rare, there is very little known about the disease. There is no known treatment or cure. She said she wanted me to do the study, and then if that didn't work then we needed to talk about a lung transplant.

For the next several months, I went through pulmonary rehab, tried holistic healing methods and a lot of praying. I kept getting worse - and I finally had a mental break-down. I was ready to do something different.

I asked for a 'sign'. I wasn't sure what to do. The next day, I was shopping with my mom. I had my oxygen on and a gentleman approached me about it. Turns out, he had a lung transplant because of pulmonary fibrosis 12 years ago at Shands. His brother had one 3 years ago for the same thing. He and his wife were able to put me at ease about the whole thing. He said it was the best thing that he had ever done! He said there's no better feeling than taking that first REAL big breath after surgery. That made it all worth it for him. He was on the transplant list for 2 months and his brother was on for 5 months. We exchanged numbers and I will be in touch with him & his wife during the whole process. That was the sign I needed.

I'm just ready to be healthy again. I'm at the point where I'm on 6-7 lpm of oxygen 24/7 and portable oxygen isn't really convenient enough for me to go out... so I stay at home most of the time. I can't do anything too physical around the house, so it's hard to keep up with things. I get REALLY out of breath when I exert myself. It takes me several minutes to catch my breath again... all from walking across the room. But I do have to get strong again, and I'm trying to get on the treadmill for at least 5 minutes a day to help me get stronger for the surgery. I have also been doing yoga (one-on-one) to help with strength and mental relaxation.

I was put on the lung transplant list at Shands Hospital in Gainesville, FL on June 3, 2008. One of the best phone calls I have ever gotten (the next will be when I get the call for my new lungs). I have had a lot of trouble sleeping lately and my breathing has gotten more labored, so I just started taking xanax which has really helped. I don't like taking medications like that but I'll do whatever I have to do to get through this.

We have the car packed and ready to go for when I get the call. I have checklists and I'm pretty sure that I haven't left anything out. I'm 100% ready now.I'm just doing everything I can to get ready for the surgery so I can have a quickrecovery and can get back to my life. I owe it to my family and friends... and especially my loving husband who has stood by me through all of this. I couldn't do it without him. He is doing double-duty right now by going out and working to support us and then coming home and making dinner and cleaning up and taking care of me. I really think if anyone is the strong one - it's him. He is holding us together right now and I owe him a great vacation after I get better!

But, seriously, this is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I was so miserable before my diagnosis, life just wasn't right... and now I have a whole new lease on life and the things that used to bother me just don't anymore. I love my husband in ways I never thought I could... I'm genuinely happy and excited now about getting my new lungs. (Don't get me wrong... waiting as my health gets worse is very difficult... but that's my health... mentally I'm better than ever.) I feel like a totally different person than I was a year ago. I have also been able to meet some really amazing people because of this. I've made some friends for life. I have been able to see God bless my life in ways I never thought I could. I truly have something to live for now.

To read what else has happened with the lung transplant doctors, etc. Register for my CarePages website. You will get e-mail notifications whenever a new update is added. You can also read past updates to see what has been going on. The link should take you directly to my page after you register, if not - search for my CarePage name: abreathofhope.

I think it's the right decision and it's been a long road... with even further to go but I feel good about it. I know I can make it through this.

On June 3, 2008 I was put on the lung transplant list at Shands Hospital in Gainesville, FL. Please pray that I get my new lungs quickly! Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers!

I lost my dear wife Rachel at the age of 28 on July 21, 2008 to a horrible disease called LAM which only effects women of child bearing age. Go to the website to learn more about it and be an Organ Donor! Save a life!! Rachel was on the List to receive a double lung transplant but did not get one in time.. More Donors=More lives saved! You can't take it with you, right? So, that was almost 7 months ago and I am doing much better. I want to take a moment and thank all my family and friends that helped me through the most horrible experience of my life. A special thank you goes out to all of my family - Mom, Lisa, Chris, Chrissy, Erik, Jen and Julie - and my friends - Bryan, Alexis, Jen, Nicole, Ari, Mom Huet, Terry Carlson, Kevin and Josh Lewis...and the list goes on and on...You all know who you are :0) Thank you from the bottom of my heart.... Here is a message I sent out at the end of December:

ALL PLEASE READ---Might Pertain to YOU...Reflection on last few months.

.. Current mood: optimistic Category: Life

Okay so I have been doing a lot of thinking this last week about 2008 and what this year has meant to me. 2008 has easily been the most challenging, but yet rewarding year of my life. As most of you know, I lost my late wife Rachel to a horrible Lung Disease called LAM. She died July 21,2008. For those that do not know her story, please go to www.rachelnates.com. It is by far the hardest thing I have ever had to deal with and has changed me. Because of her I live life to the fullest and appreciate every breath I take.

Also, my business is exploding. I am making more money than I ever have and I love what I do, changing lives! Rachel was the one that told me to look into U First Financial and what it could do for us. For that along with many other things I am forever grateful…

That's me - Expert Trainer in Action!!!

Okay now the main reason for this letter. I have been doing some reflecting on myself and my actions for the last couple of months. I want to say sorry. I have not been myself. Those that have known me for a while know I am normally a very confident, Fun and positive person and try to do anything I can to help others stay positive as well. However, these last couple of months I have been pretty bitter and sometimes even acting arrogant at times. That is not me and that is not fair to all of you. Some of you I have asked way too much of your time and attention. I normally am not dependent on others like that, and for that I am sorry. Others I have actually avoided. I think for the most part I have avoided you to try to avoid reminders and feelings of my own uncertainty of life and what it really means to me. At times I just did not care and did not want you knowing this. What I realized through all this, is that it is time for Brian Nates to be the way he used to be. I love my Family and Friends for helping me through this and putting up with me and my actions through all of this. I promise to not be bitter anymore and not depend on anything else except my love for life! I owe that to My Father and Rachel. Both shared their love for life no matter how bad it got for them… We all have it easy compared to what they had to go through.

2009 is a Fresh Start and I look forward to making it a great year. Some of you reading this I just met in the last few months and believe it or not some of this letter pertains to you. I truly cherish my new friendships just as much as my old ones.

I look forward to growing with new friends and old alike so we can all have a rewarding time in this thing we call Life. Thank you all for taking the time to read this and I look forward to being FINE in 2009!

All my love,

Brian Nates

So here we are it is February 13th 2009. I am very thankful for all the old and new people in my life and I hope to develop even more than what we already have. I love all you guys! :)