Hello. Below is the AHA message for the Heart Walk. But, first, my message. This is my 10 year heartiversary!! Ten years it has been since I survived months of indigestion and epigastric pains. Months of being the most active I had ever been in my life. Months of treating the wrong symptoms. Only to find out I suffered a heart attack, and most likely when I was on my annual girls trip to Daytona. Drinking gallons of gaviscon, pepto, and chewing Pepcids. Seeing my doctor ,only to be prescribed more meds for indigestion. My dr wanted an EKG, I said no. Only to suffer more pain, feelings of my heart racing at times, biking and my hands going numb. Fast forward. Spoke to my work family, CT surgery folks. Got my EKG, Stress ECHO, saw my cardiologist. Scheduled my cardiac cath. Performed while I was awake, listening to them as they guided the cath, put me on a nitro drip and heparin. Only to find out, no intervention, my heart sank, you will discuss with your cardiologist tomorrow. Nope, the surgeon called me the next day. Jodi, you need open heart surgery, I'm sorry. You have a 100% proximal occluded LAD, my widow maker. I was a walking time bomb. One week later, I had a one vessel coronary artery bypass surgery. I was a patient on my own floor.
10 years later, I am a better nurse, a better advocate for women, and now a long time volunteer for the AHA. So many advances in technology has happened, so much more research, and amazing things to come.
So , this year, I AM WHY!. I will forever teach, educate, and advocate for women and heart disease. If I can reach one women to know your numbers, I have done my job!
9 out of 10 people who suffer cardiac arrest outside the hospital die. In most of those cases, bystander CPR was not performed. But we can change this. ​
Cardiac arrests happen at work, in homes, on athletic fields and in neighborhoods everywhere, and the readiness of our community can be the difference between life and death. ​
It's time to unite, take action, and save lives. Every dollar donated, means more people trained in lifesaving CPR, more research and more lifesaving moments for everyone. Together, we can turn bystanders into lifesavers.​
I Walk to Save Lives. Help me reach my goal today.