Stacy is why we're doing this.  He was 44 years old.  We loved each other since we were 15 years old, he was my prom date, my soul mate and my very best friend in the entire world. He understood me in ways that no one could (nor would they probably want to).  And the same could have been said for me with him.   He will forever be 44.  He died suddenly in 2018. 

The signs, symptoms and risk factors of a heart attack and/or heart disease can include (and his did):

Indigestion, Chronic Fatigue, Swollen ankles from poor circulation, Snoring and/or sleep apnea, Hypertension, Numbness in a limb.

In hindsight, in the days, weeks and even months leading up to his death, the symptoms were there.  Every single one of them.  All individually attributable to something much more benign in an otherwise healthy, fit young male. but when you put all of these symptoms together, it was a brewing storm.

It’s important to know that a death from Coronary Artery Disease occurs once per minute.  Up to 10% of all heart attacks occur under the age of 45, and mostly strike men.  Half of the men who die suddenly from CAD have had no previous symptoms.  This is not only our grandfather’s disease.  Or our father’s.  Or mother’s.  It is our disease too.  We are not exempt.

Please join me, and some of our colleagues that are leading teams, in supporting the Southern New England Heart Walk on June 10 – your time, your dollars, your participation will help provide education and support to fight this disease.   If we had only known.  If we had only suspected.  For as long as I am able, I will do my part to ensure that young people are aware of this silent and deadly disease because I do not wish for anyone to experience the inconsolable pain that this sudden and very preventable death causes.