I walk because I am a heart failure survivor. In 2016, I was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, an enlarged heart and I was in heart failure. My heart function was less than 15% and a heart transplant was discussed my first day in the hospital. My heart was shocked three times as the Doctors tried to stop the A fib.
The wonderful Doctors and nurses at Mercy Iowa Heart saved my life and worked endlessly so I could walk out of the hospital. 11 days later I walked out of Mercy. Nine days spent in the cardiac intensive care unit. The care I received was remarkable. After months of rehabilitation and medications, I was healing and the pacemaker/defibrillator and heart transplant was not needed.
The Heart Walk is so very special and important to me. My brother Evan is also a heart failure survivor as well as many very special friends of mine. We walk to raise awareness as well as raising donations for research, training and equipment. And when combined with a million other Heart Walk Heroes across the nation, we have an even greater impact toward curing heart disease and stroke.
Are you aware that heart disease is the number 1 killer of women in the United States? That means this could affect you grandmother, mother, sister, friend, daughter or even your granddaughter.
Last year I was very honored to receive the Devin Means Top Community Tean Award. This means our team raised the most money in Des Moines for the community teams. It was such a big honor! I will try to raise as much money as I possibly can, to continue research for this foundation so dear to me.
This is a very emotional day for me to walk beside other survivors. We range in age from new born babies to over 80 years old. The Heart Walk is a time of celebration, joy and inspiration. It is also an event where people share one single goal-to create a world free of heart disease and stroke.
Your donation will fund groundbreaking research that literally keeps hearts beating and helps people have longer, healthier lives. Your tax deductible donations can be with cash, checks or credit cards. You can donate directly under the heart walk site. Just search a walker, Susan Lents, or search a team, Susie's Heartbreakers. You can also send donations directly to me at, Susan Lents 808 Maplewood Ct. Altoona, Iowa 50009 and I will take care of it for you. Even a $5 donaton will help in reaching our goals.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart!!!