The mission of the American Heart Association is one that has always been very important to me. I am proud to be the Director of Development at the American Heart Association in the Mohawk Valley.
Cardiovascular disease has ravaged both sides of my family. All 4 of my grandparents suffered from cardiovascular disease and my grandmother died of congestive heart failure. My father was also a heart attack patient. He had his very first heart attack at only 42 years old. He would go on to have two more heart attacks in his life time. At 57, he had a massive heart attack that killed him instantly. Turning 40 this year, remembering how young my father was at the time of his first Heart Attack was jarrint.
If my family history wasn’t enough, I have also been diagnosed with two disorders that greatly increase my risk of cardiovascular disease. At 15, I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS.) PCOS is an endocrine disorder that can cause unexplained weight gain, high blood pressure, diabetes and many other issues. Women with PCOS are twice as likely to experience a cardiovascular event.
After the birth of my twin boys, I was diagnosed with Lupus. Lupus increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. 25% of Lupus patients will develop Pericarditis. With my own medical issues and my family medical history, the likelihood that I will develop cardiovascular disease is astronomically high.
As Director of Development, I work every day to raise money to fund research and development at The American Heart Association so I can live long and healthy life. The fact of the matter is, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death of Americans. More people die of cardiovascular disease than the top 8 forms of cancer combined. Even more harrowing, 1 in 3 women will die of cardiovascular disease. There is nothing in this world that scares me more than leaving my young children without their mother and making my husband a widow. The funds you donate to the AHA will save many lives, including my own.
