So let me start from the beginning...I'm 24 and I was born with a small hole in my heart (a murmur). The doctors decided not to do anything about it then because they thought it may close up or, if it doesn't, may not cause any other problems. Well back in November, I went to the cardiologist for a routine check-up (I had gone to one my whole life but hadn't been for awhile).
They did some tests and told me that the hole had caused my aortic valve to leak, and that I may possibly need open heart surgery to repair (or replace if need be) the leaky valve and close up the hole. Needless to say, I was extremely shocked and very scared.
I told myself that if I did have to go through with the surgery, I would try and meet Lady GaGa after. Her father had open heart surgery and I already had tickets to see her in LA and Anaheim, so one of those two dates would be the perfect opportunity. Well, i did end up needing the surgery and had it on January 17th. Anytime I had to give blood or do tests before the surgery I listened to GaGa to help get me through it.
The day of the surgery, I asked the doctors if i could listen to my ipod before they put me under so i would be a little more calm. they said they could play it on the operating room loud speaker, so the whole room was listening to GaGa, and her music was the last thing I heard before i went under.
After the surgery, I was in the hospital for 5 days and then went and stayed at my parents' house for 2 weeks. While I was there, my mom contacted her management, told them my story and asked if they could set up a meet and greet at one of the shows i was going to. They told her it was a possibility and to contact them again the week of the shows.
So that week they told us that L.A. couldn't happen but that it could at the Anaheim show! I couldn't believe it! The thing i had imagined to get me through the hard times was going to become a reality! I made GaGa a collage of photos I had taken at all the previous concerts of hers that I had been to as a thank you/birthday present, and also wrote her a thank you card that I cut in the shape of a unicorn.
So I went to the Anaheim show with 2 friends and we had GA floor seats. We got to the venue around 3:00 to wait in line. We made friends with the people behind us. When some anti-gay protesters showed up, my 2 girlfriends (who are both bi) made out in front of them!
There was an incident I had with security over bringing the collage into the venue. It was an an easel so they wouldn't let me take it in because it was wood. To make a long story short, I snuck it in anyway but almost got caught by security. It was kinda scary haha. The show itself was awesome of course. We had to leave during "Paparazzi" to meet our contact from GaGa's management.
She took us downstairs and put us in the back of a line of radio winners who were going to meet her, as well as the fan who won the Virgin phone call during the show. She gave us each a Born This Way tote bag with a tour program and Born This Way t-shirt in it. So sweet!
I was introduced to GaGa, wished her a happy birthday and gave her the collage. She said, "thank you...oh my God, you've been (to the Monster Ball) quite a bit." I told her that this night was my 5th. I also showed her the unicorn card and she told me it was beautiful and thanked me.
Then I said that I had open heart surgery and showed her my scar and told her I had wanted to turn it into a disco stick (true story haha, but I didn't end up doing it). I told her how much her music helped me get through the surgery and recovery, and how the surgeon even played her music in the operating room on the loud speaker before I went under. She said "my dad has one of those (scars)," I said I know and she asked if she could give me a hug.
She then asked what kind of surgery I had, and I said I had a leaky valve. She asked if it was my aortic valve, and I said yes and she told me her dad had the same thing and they had to replace it, but I said they were able to repair mine thank God. She said "you're ok now" and how happy she was I was there. I reiterated how much her music helped me through not only the surgery and recovery, but also all the tests and procedures I had to do before. She said "thank you, that's just so sweet." I also thanked her for all she's done for the gay community, and she said "thank you, I won't stop."
Then I gave her my hard cover tour program to sign. The page was black so I had a white Sharpie Paint Marker (I had a regular silver sharpie too but had lost it at some point during the night). You have to shake these before you use them, and even though it was shaken, it still wouldn't write. She kept trying over and over again! I kept apologizing profusely for taking so much of her time but she was SO cool about it, and assured me it was no problem.
In the mean time, while she was trying to get it to work, she told me how scary it was for her to watch her dad go through the surgery so she knows how I feel. I said it was scary and that I listened to "Speechless" a lot before and after the surgery. One of her people then offered to go look for a silver sharpie (again, so nice!) but GaGa finally got the white paint one to work.
She asked me what my name was again, and then signed the program: "Mike- Born This Way. Your heart is always with me. xoxo -Lady GaGa." Then our contact told me to introduce my friends. They were about to take a photo of all of us but I asked for my own first lol. For the picture, she put her head on my shoulder and I definitely felt that she empathized with me and felt a personal connection since someone so close to her had gone through the same experience.
Then we all took a photo together and she signed a shirt for one of my friends and a copy of her album on vinyl for the other. She gave me another hug and I apologized as we were leaving again for taking up so much time and she again assured me it was no problem.
This is all based off my memory so I'm sure I'm leaving some things out but all I can say is that I think she is such a sweet person and it was an incredible experience getting to meet her. I'll never forget this day and it was great to have such a happy experience after all I've been through the past few months.
The Autograph:
Some other photos I took at the show that night:
No comments:
Post a Comment