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Welcome to the 2009
Start! Upstate Heart WalkMarch 14, 2009Event Goal: 650,000
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Heart problems and heart disease has been a part of my whole life and has affected my entire family. I was born in Indiana, a healthy baby except for a loud heart murmur discovered when I had whooping cough at 6 weeks old. At age 11, I had my first cardiac cath—40 years ago it was considered “experimental surgery”. They found that I had a congenital defect of the aortic valve.
After my first year of college, my father had a massive heart attack and died. He was 49, just 3 weeks from his 50th birthday. My Mom was left to raise 2 boys, 10 & 15 alone.
At age 19, I suffered a massive stroke that paralyzed my left side. That morning, I woke up to go to work and was very confused. I was dizzy, nauseous and couldn’t think of what to do to get ready for work. I figured it was some weird flu. I didn’t realize those were symptoms of a stroke or that stroke could happen to someone my age. That night I was sick again and passed out in the bathroom. That was the last memory that I have of that day.
When I started having chest discomfort and severe fatigue, I changed doctors. I thought I was protected because I had not yet reached menopause. Pre-testing before knee surgery showed blockages in my heart & that deformed valve that I was born with needed to be replaced. So at 48, I had double bypass and aortic valve replacement surgery.
After my heart surgery, I went to work for my cardiologist scheduling hospital procedures and educating the patients about the procedures. I saw many women whose symptom’s had been ignored or passed off as anxiety. I felt I was able to relieve some of the anxiety for the patients and their loved ones.
I became involved with the American Heart Association because I want to help men and especially women learn the signs & symptoms of heart disease and stroke. I am a 33 year stroke survivor and 4 year heart surgery survivor but 65% of women die within 1 year of a stroke. I don’t want my brothers, stepsons, nephews, nieces, or grandson to be affected by this disease.
We cannot achieve our mission without each one of you!
For more information please contact one of your
Start! Upstate Heart Walk staff partners, Catriona Carlisle and Tami Johnson,
at 864-627-4158 or via email at startupstatesc@heart.org |
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