As a young girl, April Gottung of Arpin, Wisconsin starting "passing out." Her doctor told the eight-year-old that nothing was wrong and that she was probably just playing too hard.
Six years later, April had a seizure and fainted at home.
Her mother rushed her to the hospital. April was diagnosed with long QT syndrome (LQTS), an infrequent, often hereditary disorder of the heart's electrical rhythm that usually affects children or young adults.
April had a defibrillator implanted in her chest to restore her heart's rhythm. The device reduces the risk of complications and death. She was also prescribed a daily beta blocker medication to slow her heart rate; she will take it for the rest of her life.
Today, April is a college student at UMD (Univ of Minn - Duluth), a heart disease survivor, an artist and a volunteer for the American Heart Association. She recently made a trip to Washington D.C. to remind lawmakers of the strong need to increase funding for heart disease and stroke research.
"Research helped to create an implanted defibrillator, which is the device that has saved my life. The defibrillator keeps my heart beating normally."
April hopes her story helps others believe that everyone deserves to live a life free of heart disease, the No. 1 killer in the United States.
Your donation to the American Heart Association could help us fund the next big breakthrough or lifesaving discovery. Donate today to help people like April.
Attend the American Heart Association 2009 Northland Start! Heart Walk
Where:
Duluth Entertainment Convention Center, Lakewalk
Festivities begin at 8:00a.m.
Walk begins at 9:00a.m.
Music
Refreshments
Heart Health Activities
Kids Activities
Why: The Northland Start! Heart Walk, wrapping around the beautiful Lakewalk on the shores of Lake Superior, educates the Duluth area about the risk factors of cardiovascular diseases & stroke, and what we can do to prevent them. Funds raised support medical research, regional grants & educational programs of the American Heart Association. At the finish line, walkers are engaged in music, entertainment, healthy snacks and three different villages of educational activities, including health screenings, a kid’s area, nutritional information, shoe fittings, physical activities, etc.
Since 1924 the American Heart Association has helped protect people of all ages and ethnicities from the ravages of heart disease and stroke. These diseases, the Nation's No.1 and No.3 killers, claim more than 910,000 American lives a year. The association invested more than $543 million in fiscal year 2005-06 for research, professional and public education, and advocacy so people across America can live stronger, longer lives.
Thanks to all our walkers, donors and volunteers who have accepted the challenge to help fight heart disease and stroke. We cannot achieve our mission without each one of you!
For more information please contact Ron Ozan your local Start! Heart Walk Director at (218) 727-7297 or via email at ron.ozan@heart.org
