In November 2020, my father, Bill Gansen, suffered a massive stroke and heart attack that nearly took his life. He was rushed to St. Luke’s Hospital by ambulance then life-flighted to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Thanks to the doctors there, his life was saved, but not without lasting challenges. Bill spent weeks in acute stroke rehab and months in additional outpatient therapy relearning how to walk and talk, and now lives with aphasia, a language disorder that affects communication.
Reflecting on my father’s journey over the past few years and witnessing his struggles firsthand, I’ve become committed to raising awareness and support for heart disease and stroke prevention