We offer walk-in services as well as Catering for breakfast, lunch and business meetings. “"Jim, we need to start prepping you for a heart transplant.”"
I couldn'’t believe what I was hearing. Over my lifetime, I played the tough guy role and acted like nothing bothered me. In 2005, I spent most of the year tired and short of breath. I thought it was from the stress of being in business, getting
old, no exercise, etc. At the start of 2006, I consistently felt like passing out and my extremities were weak. It wasn’'t long before I found out that my heart was failing, because I had severe cardiomyopathy potentially due to a viral infection. I immediately became a candidate for a heart transplant. For the first time in my life, I was faced with my own mortality. After spending a total of 105 days in the hospital during the remainder of that year, there were times when I doubted my ability to fight back and, yes, there were times when I felt like giving up. Although today, I still teeter on-and-off the transplant list, I just feel fortunate to be with my family for this long. After losing my business and dignity to this health scare, I was faced with many healthcare bills. My heart transplant doctor told me about NTAF, National Transplant Assistance Fund. The folks that represent this well-run organization have been amazing. They supported a fundraiser for me, which assisted with my healthcare bills and preparation for the inevitable heart transplant. In my struggle to come back, I am determined to help my wife, who has worked her fingers to the bone supporting me. My wife has always left the cooking and baking to me because it is my passion. That's right, I said it guys, baking bread products, especially bagels and soft pretzels, has helped to clear my head when I was down about my health. I like how it felt to warm up people’'s hearts and bellies with my breads. My wife’s friend at work, Janet, knows my story so she said why not call your business “Heartfelt” Bagels and Bread. My bread in exchange for your bread, my dough for your dough, will allow me to give back to NTAF, so they can provide support to all the adults and children who need an organ transplant and catastrophic injury. If you would like to read more about NTAF and the Heartfelt stories, go to www.ntafund.org (a national organization rooted in Pennsylvania, started in 1983)
