I walk because I know that with every step, I am saving lives.
In 2023, on a regular day of taking Remi (my beautiful dog) to her usual meetup at the dog park, I started feeling a bit off. I had a mild headache and some discomfort in my upper back, which I brushed off as a pinched nerve, especially since I’d been diagnosed with a slightly slipped disc earlier that year. But as time went on, my symptoms worsened. I began to experience chest pain that felt like heartburn—something I’m familiar with due to acid reflux—followed by pain in my left arm, cold sweats, and eventually vomiting. I went home, still convincing myself it was just the pinched nerve acting up. After all, my blood pressure was under control, I didn’t smoke or drink, I wasn’t diabetic, and my cholesterol was fine.
However, when I went to the doctor, I found out that what I was experiencing was actually a heart attack. This led to a series of tests scheduled for the following week, but later that night, I woke up to a second heart attack. It turned out I had 100% blockage in my LAD artery.
I’m incredibly grateful to be here today, and I’ve learned the importance of listening to my body. I also make an effort to remind women to be aware of the signs of heart attacks, as they can be very different from those in men and aren’t always obvious. I’m deeply thankful for the care I received from Duke Hospital and their cardiac team, as well as the healthcare professionals everywhere working tirelessly around the world.
Have a heart and help me reach my goal today.
