I gasped for air... my chest felt tight. Desperately stopping every other step to take a moment to breathe.
In 2009, I abruptly went from walking .5-1 mile a day during lunch break with my bestie ... to not even being able to walk across the room.
Something was obviously wrong. After multiple trips to doctors (allergist, primary care physician, and ENT) and having a check x-ray, EKG, allergy tests, and other exams. No one had an answer, some were even dismissive of my symptoms. BUT I was struggling to breathe.
I took myself to the Emergency room. They followed up with an echocardiogram.
I remember waiting for the doctor to come back and my mother asked what my EF rate was. His response ... 5%. My mother looked at me and asked me what I wanted to do with my two kids (at the time 3 and 5 years old). This was it...
My heart was severely enlarged and my EF rate (Ejection Fraction) was 5-10%. A healthy heart pumps between 50-75%. My heart was so enlarged, it could barely pump blood/oxygen... barely able to function.
We don't know what exactly what was the cause but I continue to be monitored. I am survivor and was extremely lucky to have a wonderful husband, great parents and family, friends and work family.
I hope you join me and my work family in raising awarenes by donating to the American Heart Association. Ill be walking with them on April 27th.
