Saving and improving lives can be as simple as taking a walk. My girls and I are walking. We are walking in memory of their dad and my best friend and husband, Todd Wolford. We are walking as "Team Todd".
Todd passed away suddenly on February 1, 2022. He had not been ill and he had not experienced any symptoms before he passed. Just this past month, a cardiologist reviewed his autopsy, and now we finally know what caused his life to be cut so short.
Todd had HCM - hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. I have learned more about HCM since this happened. Todd's heart muscle was too thick, "too strong", therefore it weighed twice as much as a normal adult male. We always knew Todd had a "big" heart, but we did not know he had HCM. HCM patients can have deadly heart rhythms. The cardiologist believes that his heart went into a deadly rhythm that morning and no amount of CPR effort was able to save his life.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the most common form of genetic heart disease. It can happen at any age, but most receive a diagnosis in middle age. It is a genetic disease of one of the proteins involved in heart muscle contraction. This protein causes the heart muscle to become too thick - too strong. Todd was adopted and did not know his family health history.
The girls and I are walking with the cardiac rehab team at Hendricks Regional Health. This is where I have worked for the past many years. We are walking with a team of heart heroes who work with heart patients everyday and strive to help them reduce their risk of heart disease and get back to a normal life after a heart event. I love doing this work!
As friends, family and customers of Todd, we would be very grateful if you would consider making a donation to our walk in Todd's memory! When you donate to the American Heart Association, you are joining the fight against our nation's No. 1 and No. 5 killers - heart disease and stroke. Your donation helps to fund lifesaving research, advocate for healthier communities and improve patient care!
Please help me reach my goal today! Thank you so much!