" 2010 Rockland County Honored Hero "...

... I am humbled and thankful to have been named "The 2010 Rockland County Honored Hero" from "The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society". I have been battling this deadly & rare type of Leukemia (A.L.L. with PH+) for about 3 1/2 years. I gave a speech about 2 weeks ago to the Rotary Club about my life with Leukemia since I was diagnosed. I will also be speaking to other organizations the next several months.

... During my speech, my voice broke and I cried a few times. I guess when I relive the nightmare of this cancer in details, it gets me very emotional. However, I enjoy talking about my journey with Leukemia. It is a form of mental therapy for me. I've always been the type to feel better after I share the hard times in my life. I'm not one to hold things in. People that know me, know I'll tell you like it is. I wear my heart on my sleeve.

... As part of being named the 2010 Honored Hero, I will be walking/marching with a few hundred people on October 24, 2010 at Nyack Memorial Park in Nyack, NY. I encourage anyone who has a desire to walk with me to please do. I will probably be making a speech that day and will mention all the love/support I have gotten from my "Family & Friends".

...Please try to participate in "The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Light the Night Walk" to help those with blood cancers and raise money for important research that gives us living with blood cancer hope for the future. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society has been a blessing to me. Thank you all so much.

God bless you all.

... I love you all.... Lorenzo A. Fortunato... :-)

"Sense of Taste"...

... I lost my "Sense of Taste" for about about a year after I was diagnosed with Leukemia in November, 2006. I had so much Chemo that it destroyed my taste buds. The week before my Bone Marrow Transplant, the doctors told me I was getting a triple dose of Chemo to kill most of the blood cells in my body. I was about to get an entire new blood line and immune system.

... People do not realize how blessed they are to have the "Sense of Taste". I was reminded this past Memorial Day Weekend that having the "Sense of Taste" is a beautiful thing. I was enjoying & "Tasting" all the food I ate during the holiday weekend. I was also having back flashes of when I was in the hospital for 5 months and then sent home on bed rest with "No Sense of Taste". Everything tasted like "Metal" to me because of all the Chemo I had.

... Taste buds contain the receptors for taste. They are located around the small structures on the upper surface of the tongue, soft palate, upper esophagus, and epiglottis, which are called papillae. These structures are involved in detecting the five elements of taste perception which are: Salty, Sour, Bitter, Sweet, and Savory.

... I thought I was never going to be able to taste again. It took about a year for me to get my taste buds back. I was so thankful when I was able to taste again. One of the first things I wanted to taste was my mother's homemade sauce & my wife's cooking. I really began to appreciate food more than ever. We take so much for granted in life.

... So I tell everyone out there.... be thankful that you have your "Sense of Taste". Anyone one of you can get cancer and lose your taste buds. Enjoy your meals and give thanks that you have food on the table and your taste buds to enjoy the food. Its too bad that it sometimes takes a tragedy to truly appreciate the simple things in life... I hope you all enjoyed your Memorial Day Weekend...
... God Bless you all... Ciao & Shalom.... :-)