Mary Ciammetti

Blogger, Brainstormer, Care taker, Christian, Educator/Teacher, Entrepreneur, Foodie, Idea generator, Life mentor, Parent, Startup, Student

Mary Ciammetti graduated from Mount St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, MD with a BS degree in Business and Finance. From there Mary pursued her dream of being an entrepreneur and started M.T.Sabia Cleaning Co. Following her marriage in 1985, she was employed by Miller, Mason and Dickinson, now known as Aeon. Being blessed with four children, she enjoyed the fortune of being a stay-at-home mom for 10 years. Once the children were school age, Mary ventured back into the workforce as a substitute teacher, administrator at the Whitemarsh Police Department and Office Manager of a home inspection agency. Throughout that time she also volunteered coaching field hockey, directing school plays and served on her church council, all so she could be accessible to her children. In 2003 Mary began working at League Collegiate Outfitters in Bridgeport, PA. Unfortunately, in January 2015, Ciammetti and her husband Pat, experienced great tragedy--the loss of their beloved youngest child Christian. He died as a result of binge drinking. Through her grief, her purpose became clear: "Don’t Stall, Just Call!" an alcohol poisoning awareness campaign for students and families was created along with The CTC Wellness Foundation, a 501C(3) nonprofit foundation. Through requested presentations and lectures Ciammetti has educated close to 10,000 high school and college students and parents in hope of saving lives. Mary left full time employment in May 2017 to focus on The CTC Wellness Foundation and Don't Stall, Just Call!

Sharing our "Don't Stall, Just Call!" mission with high schools, colleges and universities throughout our country. I believe with education, we can start to change the culture, one by one, and create a positive ripple effect. As well we, the adults can become more cognizant of how we handle/deal/drink with alcohol in a much more responsible ways. Should we always need to post and possibly glamourize the fact we are having a glass of wine after work, really? When did anyone need to know if I was or wasn't drinking an "adult beverage?" Singing songs about red Solo cups? We can do better than that! Let's work together to change the culture- Lord knows I can't get my son back, but I can share this message and honor his life and my Purpose! #grateful

All young people and their families should be educated about the potential deadly dangers of alcohol poisoning at an early age. Due to the fact that our young people are currently barraged on social media showcasing how drinking alcohol appears to be the constant ingredient for having fun, our kids have become desensitized to the dangerous and life threatening binge drinking culture that permeates our society. Kids are dying and we need to educate and create awareness regarding a subject that often too many people would like to just turn away from. It's time to look in the mirror at our very own behaviors and ask "Am I perpetuating this culture or am I creating a positive ripple effect by the power of one? Can I make changes that will reflect responsible choices while drinking?" If "Don't Stall, Just Call!" education programs were shared nationally, no longer could college age men and women say "I didn't know" (what to do). Lives would be saved in the future. Senseless deaths would no longer occur due to lack of education. Newscasts and social media would no longer have weekly reports about additional alcohol poisonings and hazing deaths throughout our country. Our "Don't Stall, Just Call!" mission strives to educate all high school & college students about the symptoms of alcohol poisoning, and to know when signs are present "Don't Stall, Just Call" and save a life!

How I Found My Purpose In 1980 I headed to Mount St. Mary’s College. In the news--a strain of bacteria was discovered to cause Toxic Shock syndrome. It was rare, life-threatening and linked to tampon use. I said to a friend “Wouldn’t you just DIE if that happened to you? Everyone would know (What! …that women get periods? Thank God our culture has evolved!) In early December I was rushed to the hospital with a rash and fever of >104. Nurses covered my body in ice blankets. By the time doctors diagnosed TSS, my body had begun shutting down. My parents were called to come immediately. A priest was on the way. I was unresponsive for 3 days. My memory recalls this. Looking down from above the room, I saw the doctor, my mom in a pink sweater, my dad in a bright green cardigan, the priest giving me last rites. I was moving up, up where light was shining through darkness. I was being led by another soul-not sure who, but I was totally good with it. Good until I saw my father’s face. He was crying—Yep, I’d never seen him cry before. I had to come back. When I woke up, my parents were relieved and grateful. I returned to campus -and people knew. They not only knew I had my period(!) they knew I was the one who almost died. Priests scheduled interviews with me, asking “What did you see?” and “Why did God let you live?” I was 18 and had no idea why. Fast forward: Marriage, motherhood, the gift of 4 children, jobs: always in the back of my mind I wondered, what is my true purpose? Probably once each decade I would casually ask my Mom, “Why do you think God let me live?” She would look at me like I was crazy, and then say, “to be Pat’s wife, to be the mother of your kids.” And while she would say this, I knew in no uncertain terms these were NOT what my purpose was. Something was yet to come, but what? When? January 2015, almost 53 yrs old, and life was good! So many blessings for our family, we’d be celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary, new grandbaby arrived, our 2nd son got engaged, our daughter was home from Texas. One Sunday morning during an ice storm our phone rang. It was our friend Bob, who heads the ER at a local hospital. “Get to the hospital, it’s Christian and it’s bad,” Pat was warned. We drove to the hospital, rosaries in hand, praying frantically for our youngest son Christian. The quiet, kind, thoughtful, handsome, dry witted, creative, artistic, athletic, smart, 20 yr old college student. At the ER, we found out that Christian had alcohol poisoning from binge drinking the night before. Roommates checked on him throughout the night. Following morning, he seemed ok when they checked on him. After breakfast, they were shocked to find him unresponsive. CPR was performed by the roommates. EMTs arrived, transported Christian to the ER, where he coded again. Our son was on life support for his lungs, kidneys, liver and heart. We were in complete shock, praying for a miracle. Early Monday morning, a doctor led us from the room, tears streaming through his words “I’m sorry. There is nothing else we can do.” During the week, prayers for miracles were chanted as his body was scattered with holy relics. On the seventh day, Christian was taken off life support. Our family prayed God would take him home quickly. God graciously granted our request. Funeral plans were underway. I was somewhat paralyzed—so hard to see the way forward in my grief. Our oldest son Trey was preparing a Eulogy. Unknown to anyone, I started writing one. I wrote about happy memories and there were so many. And guess what? Somehow, I stood up, hugged Trey after his eulogy, and walked toward the lectern. I shared stories of Christian’s birth, his love of skiing, fishing, his pursuit of a degree in landscape architecture. Looking directly at his high school classmates, I told the packed church that Christian died from binge drinking. Over the next weeks, by reading the Bible, I began to see a plan unfold. I started researching alcohol poisoning. If we could develop an easy-to-learn strategy, then we could educate young and old alike about the deadly dangers of binge drinking and help save lives. “Don’t Stall, Just Call!” was created and soon I started speaking publicly. Sadly, binge drinking deaths continue to be headline news. Our culture needs to change, parents need to step up, children must be taught to be their brother’s keeper, social media users should be wary of posting pictures glorifying alcohol. All must learn symptoms of alcohol poisoning: stumbling, mumbling, cool to touch, unresponsive and vomiting. Over 10,000 people have heard Christian’s story, and we are saving lives! Now you know how to save a life, and how I found my purpose!

Having great intuition, cooking, being a mom, reading at family weddings and funerals!