Performing "Super Hero Fantasy" in my Bledsoe jersey!

On this day, children with CHD, their parents, grandparents, siblings and other adults living with CHD were given the opportunity to share experiences, network, find support, gain valuable information and, at least for one day, forget about hospital trips, surgeries and medical expenses and just have fun. 

 ”ROCK The Fight Against CHD” Concert Raises Over $10,800 for CHD Support and Research

Sept 2010 – All the bills have been paid, and Tara with the Boston Children’s Hospital Trust just received our final check from courtesy of Jacob’s Fund.  I want to extend my most sincere THANKS to all of you who made this event possible.  I wanted to make sure all of the money was submitted to the respective charities, with no outstanding expenses, before I disclosed the final number.   Drumroll please…   

*****WE RAISED $10,820 CHD SUPPORT AND RESEARCH*****    

Thank you to all of my valued corporate sponsors, who are also my friends, who wrote checks to cover the expenses for the event.  Thank you to all who took the time to solicit and/or donate to our silent auction which people are still raving about.  To all of the performers, you really made this event a hit because I am STILL getting comments on the quality of the entertainment.  I think many people who were planning on popping in for an hour ended up staying the entire evening.  To the sound (Rob Lima, Rick’s Music World), lighting, and video professionals (Russ and Video Excellence) it was great knowing we had top notch people making everything look and sound great.  To the ladies who ran the show that night, Gloria Wilson (mom), Karen Benz, and Kelly Weglowski (there would not have been a silent auction without your guidance!), you made the difficult seem easy as the evening went as smooth as could be.  Thanks to my friend Ginny Shea of Mixed Media and Barbara Morse Silva for running the piece on WJAR 10, as well as Paul and Al from WHJY, George Mason from the Spectator, and Hector Gauthier from WSAR.  Thanks to Miss Massachusetts 2006, Michaela Gagne for being a wonderful hostess and for bringing Miss Massachusetts 2010, Loren Rabinowitz, along with you.  Thank you to Monte Ferris at the Venus DeMilo, Copy Inks, Alex Agronick, and Heidi Caron-Guay (Dragonfly Interiors) for helping with the decorations.   Thank you to my dad for being the accountant when the show was over!    

Thanks to my wife Jayna (and my three kiddies) for her help with our auction as well as for her support with the planning of this event and the recording of my album.     

To the rest of the volunteers who gave of their time and resources to be a part of this special evening: from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU!    

I hope I did not forget anyone, and feel free to forward this message of THANKS to anyone I may have missed that was involved in any way.  CHD will always be a part of my music, and the mission of CHD awareness and funding for research is so very important to children like Jacob and thousands of other CHD kids around the country.  Thank you for making “ROCK The Fight Against CHD” a success in year one.  I hope you are all ready to take next year to an even higher level, as we intend on doing the event again next August.  We welcome any and all feedback in an effort to make the show even better next year.    - Donnie Wilson, SEDATED ECHO  

The biggest gig of my life…

This is not only my first attempt at organizing a large fundraising event in the fight against CHD, it also represents the release of my first CD project since 1997.  I will be performing music from my new CD with my band, Sedated Echo, along with four other fantastic local artists:  Mia Boostrom (Top 20 Finalist from NBC’s America’s Got Talent), Matt Borrelloand the Quality Dogs, Blue Light District (with CHD survivor, John D’Amato), and 13 year old pianist and singer, Andrea LeClerc.   The evening will be hosted by Miss Massachusetts 2006, Michaela Gagne, who speaks internationally regarding her experience as a CHD survivor.   There will be a huge silent auction, free appetizers, a cash bar, and a ton of fun for the entire family.  Come out and support an important cause while listening to some great music.  All reservation proceeds will be benefit “Helping Hands, Healing Hearts of RI” (A Chapter of Mended Little Hearts), and all corporate donations, along with silent auction proceeds, will be donated to Children’s Hospital Boston through “Jacob’s Fund” for CHD research.  Reservations for adults are only $20 ($25 at the door) and $10 (18 and under).  

Date:  Wednesday, August 4, 2010  

Time:  6pm – 10pm  

Place:  Venus DeMilo Restaurant, 75 G.A.R. Hwy, Swansea, MA  

For More Details And To Make Reservations Online:  www.riheartgroup.com

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Donnie Wilson writes song about those who assisted son

By GEORGE AUSTIN (Editor)  

SOMERSET, MA — About 15 years ago, Donnie Wilson was trying to make it in the music business. He hoped to get a contract witha record company. He had an album, played on stage with Jimmy Buffet at the Comcastcenter. He was in Jesus Christ Superstar. He was packing the old Somerset Lodge with his uncle, Ed Violette, and their duo, Back to Back. He was close.  

Wilson never became a rock star, but many years later he is back to his music and he has a different focus this time.  

What has inspired Wilson’s music today is his 10-month old son, Jacob, who was born with a heart defect.  

During the trying time with their son, Wilson and his wife, Jayna, found healthcareworkers from three different hospitals and their family and friends around them to be so supportive. It was so inspirational, that Wilson decided to try to describe it in his lyrics for a recording.  

“I started to write this song about how all these people are literally super heroes, saving my son’s life,” Wilson said. “It was one of the best songs I’ve ever written.”  

One part of the song is about the cardiac intensive care unit (CICU) on the eighth floor of the Boston Children’s Hospital. He was trying to find a way to recognize the doctors and nurses in the song and so in the lyrics he did it by spelling the words differently: “See I, see you, see everything you can do.”  

The name of the song is called “Super Hero Fantasy” and Wilson will be playing the rock and roll ballad at Cupper’s Cafe in Somerset on March 19.  

“It’s really a song about hope and about people,” Wilson said. “There are heroes around us every day.”  

Wilson will be playing a full scale concert for the first time in about 10 years at Cupper’s Cafe, located on County Street in Somerset, on March 19, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.  

“I’m going to play a lot of the songs I used to love playing,” Wilson said. “I’m going to be a little selfish and I’m going to play some of my new stuff.”  

Wilson said the heroes to his family were not just the doctors and nurses, but also friends, who did things, like take care of their children when they had to go to the hospital or who made them meals during the months they were going to the hospital.  

“Heroes come in many different forms,” Wilson said.  

All of the proceeds from the sale of the single will go to Boston Children’s Hospital to help youths with congenital heart defects. Wilson and his wife have raised $2,000 for the hospital so far. People can donate to Jacob’s Fund to help him and others like him who have heart defects. To donate to the fund, people can go to donniewilson.com/nite and click on Jacob’s Fund where they can hear the song and read about his story. Wilson will have copies of the CD at Cupper’s.  

“It is a very good example of how very wonderful things can come from very difficult experiences,” Wilson said of the song.  

Wilson is on the board of directors for Helping Hands, Healing Hearts, which is part of the Mended Little Hearts organization, which provides resources and a support network for parents with children with heart defects and heart disease, which has asked his permission to use his song on its website.  

Wilson said his son’s heart defect cannot be fixed with one surgery. He said it will be a lifelong concern for Jacob.  

“My son is doing very well,” Wilson said.  

Wilson was married 10 years ago. He and his wife have three children. The logo for the single was designed by Wilson’s two daughters, Delaney, 7, and Jocelyn, 5. The logo has a heart with a music note for a face.  

Wilson, a 1988 graduate of Somerset High School, earned his master of business administration degree and went to work in the mortgage industry. He paid for his MBA by playing out at night while he was taking classes during the day. But a couple of years ago, he got the urge to go back to his music. He had been singing the “ABCs” and the Wiggles songs for his children, but he wanted to go back to his days of classic rock.  

“You miss music and you just want to play,” Wilson said. “Something big would have to happen for me not to do mortgages anymore and just play music.”  

His goal was to start a website, showing what he did in music many years ago, and then make an album that would coincide with his 40th birthday. In the middle of writing his album, Wilson’s wife was seven months pregnant and started bleeding. They found out that the son they would be having was OK, but he had a heart defect. The diagnosis was done in Women and Infants Hospital in Providence, Jacob was born in Brigham and Women’s Hospital and was taken to Boston Children’s Hospital for surgery.  

Wilson has been reconnecting with old friends from Somerset High School and people he knew when he was playing music many years ago through Facebook.  

“It’s funny,” Wilson said. “It’s amazing how your chops come back. My vocals are as strong as ever.”  

Wilson grew up liking bands like Boston and the Christian rock group Stryper, but he said Violette was his biggest musical influence. He actually auditioned for the open vocalist job of Beatlejuice, the Beatles tribute band that former Boston lead singer Brad Delp fronted before passing away a few years ago.  

Wilson recorded his new album with Russian Alex Krepkikh. Wilson recorded all of the vocals and played guitars for the album. Krepkikh played guitars. Roland Audette is the drummer.  

“I like a lot of harmonies, a lot of guitars,” Wilson said. “It’s got a classic rock sound to it, with a 2010 edge.”  

While he has copies of the single Super Hero Fantasy already made, the full-length album will be done later in the summer. With job and family obligations, Wilson said he does not have as much time to devote to his music as he used to, having to find pockets of time here and there to work on it.  

Wilson said Jacob may or may not be in attendance when he play’s at Cupper’s on March 19.  

While Wilson never became a rock star, he now feels that is not what was meant to be for him. But he says what was meant to be was for him to use his music to help children with congenital health defects.  

“You never have a mission until something like this comes across,” Wilson said. “We have a goal of raising $100,000 in the next few years and a million dollars someday.”  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – February 1, 2010

“Super Hero Fantasy” – The anthem for CHD research and hope now available on MP3

Super Hero Fantasy (sample below)  

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By musician Donnie Wilson

“Super Hero Fantasy,” a catchy rock ballad, written by singer/songwriter, Donnie Wilson, was inspired by the birth of his son Jacob in May of 2009.  Like 1 out of every 100 children, Jacob was born with a congenital heart defect (CHD).  Dealing with heart disease, especially when it comes to children, can be extremely difficult and in many ways life changing.  “We want listeners to know that there are heroes at places like Children’s Hospital Boston that perform miracles on a daily basis,” says Wilson.  

Donnie Wilson was a full time musician in the 90’s, playing acoustic guitar and singing at clubs and colleges throughout New England.  In 1997, not long after the release of his first CD titled, “Lather, Rinse, Repeat” with his band Deep Sneakers, Donnie left music to pursue a career in the mortgage industry.  In 2009 Donnie was in the midst of launching www.donniewilson.comwith the goal of recording a new album and getting back into music before turning 40 in March of 2010.  “Right in the middle of writing this new music, along came the news about our son.  My wife Jayna and I were devastated!   As I sat in the little bed next to him in the Cardiac ICU it occurred to me that these amazing doctors and nurses were literally saving my child’s life right before my eyes!”   This notion evolved into the song, “Super Hero Fantasy”, a message of hope which hi-lights how we all have the ability to be the hero that saves the day, even among the most dire of circumstances.  

Profits from donations to Jacob’s Fund will go directly to CHD research at Children’s Hospital Boston.  Everyone kind enough to make a donation will receive the MP3 of “Super Hero Fantasy”, which is becoming the anthem for CHD awareness, support, and research.   CD singles are in production and should be available by spring 2010.  “I’m humbled by the gift my son gave me in this song, as I feel it’s the best I’ve ever written.  I’m hopeful that it makes a difference.”  Wilson intends on performing in 2010 to support this song as well as the release of his full length album titled, “Grateful”, which is pegged for summer release.  Wilson now serves on the board of Helping Hands, Healing Hearts, a RI based organization created to support families with children inflicted with CHD.  

• Website – www.donniewilson.com/nite (Click Jacob’s Fund )
• Email – dwilson@provincemai.con
• Cell – (508) 505-5655

“Super Hero Fantasy”  

Words and Music:  Donnie Wilson  (copyright 2010  - Donnie Wilson Music)  

Produced, Mixed, Mastered:  Alex Krepkikh  (Alex K Studio)  

Lead and Backing Vocals:  Donnie Wilson  

Acoustic and Electric Guitars:  Donnie Wilson  

Electric Guitars and Bass:  Alex Krepkikh  

Drums:  Roland Audette  

1/7/2010

HAPPY NEW YEAR, AND BEST WISHES IN 2010

“Super Hero Fantasy”, the song my son inspired that we hope will create a lot of funding for CHD research has been delayed one more month with a new release date of February 1^st.   The original recording plan fell through as well as the first version of the song being scrapped.  It’s hard enough just to find recording time, and when things were not working it was hard to accept.  But, I’m a believer in “The Secret” and I know all of my misfortune getting this song recorded this fall occurred so I could meet Alex Krepkikh, owner of Alex’s Wonderland Studio (www.alexkstudio.com).   When things were going wrong I called my good friend Todd Keating, bassist extraordinaire, for advice, and he directed me to this guy (I owe you one Todd!).  Alex is a tremendous local talent of Russian descent, who is an amazing engineer, producer, guitar player, etc. who is also simply a wonderful person.  

I’ve recorded a few projects in my past music career, and nobody has extracted music out of me like Alex.  “Super Hero Fantasy” is coming out so good, that today, after I recorded the lead vocals, I literally cried when I listened to it.   For those awaiting this release that have ties to CHD and this noble cause, I think you’ll be thrilled with the final product.  I’ve already asked to record the rest of my album with Alex, and now it’s just a matter of making the time.  It’s a challenge with a full time job I enjoy and three active children, but I’ll make it happen!  

I’m also excited to perform a bit this year.  Community Auditions was a nice start, but I must say it was a bummer to miss out on performing in the finals.  I was ready to hammer out Boston’s “More Than A Feeling”, and believe it or not, Boston’s drummer from the 70’s, Sib Hashian, was a judge.   But, it was just not my time.  My time will come, and I’m hoping to see many of you along the way.    I’m hoping to play a small show over at Cupper’s in Somerset, and I’m performing at a CHD fundraising concert in April.  

Good times ahead!  

p.s. – Jacob had his first appointment with his cardiologist since September, and it went VERY WELL!     Next one not until his first birthday in May.  

Jacob Wilson:  “Lovin’ Life and Doing Well”  

Jayna and I are truly blessed as Jacob has been doing very well.  The last procedure on Jake’s heart was a planned balloon dilation of his aortic valve back on September 30th.  The doctors wanted to do that to relieve some of the pressure that has been building up across that valve due to his critical aortic stenosis.  

So, how did it go you ask?  It didn’t.  When they went in with the catheter and measured the pressure gradient (it’s much more accurate than echocardiogram) they found that the pressure was in fact not bad.   We’ve been looking at numbers over 80 and they found it to be around 50.  This is still high, but for a baby Jake’s age, they determined to hold off on the dilation.  This is mostly due to two reasons: 1. He is NOT in danger by leaving the valve like this and his heart, specifically his left ventricle, is performing well,  2.  Due to the fact that he’s been doing so well eating, growing, and developing, there’s no indication clinically that his heart is not supporting his body.  If he were 12 years old and wanting to play sports… we would have had a different decision.  

For now, they will watch him closely and probably schedule another catheterization to check the valve when he is one year of age.  So, is this good news??   YES!   His next appointment is not until January 2010.  

Our doctor shared that if we were to take Jacob to 100 hospitals that do infant heart care, probably 95% would have just dilated the valve or replaced it.   Once you cause regurgitation by over-dilating, or if you decide to replace the valveyou open up many doors that are ugly to walk through.  The research through Boston (the best of the best) shows it’s better to wait it out and let the child develop while the heart can support the body’s activity well.  We agree with their decision.   We may need more dilations or even a replacement down the road, but if he’s much older, he will handle it much better!  

Also, “Jacob’s Fund” is officially up and running.  The song “Super Hero Fantasy” is currently in production and it sounds great!  I performed the song for the 1^sttime in public recently at my friend, Julie Ostiguy’s home and it was a huge success.  Please click on the link for Olivia’s Fund to learn more about her little angel.  This weekend is CHD Day in Wayland, MA, and I’ve been asked to perform the song before each keynote speaker.   What an amazing journey!  

Thanks AGAIN for the prayers, and take care!  

Donnie