August 30, 2015 was a milestone day for me since it was the day that I survived a heart attack and began my next phase of life. Ever since then, I try to celebrate August 30 by kicking off participation in the Heart Association’s Heart Walk as a member of the Swedish Cardiac Rehab team.
This year, however, has a difference. The last time I walked was in honor of my father, Adolphus “Dolly” Hughes, who died at age 54 in 1967 after multiple heart attacks that began when he was in his late 40s. As I’ve followed my genealogical trail, I’ve discovered something that partly explains my father’s heart issues. Dad’s father died at age 62, and his mother at 61, both of heart disease. In prior generations, that genetic profile doomed people to shorter lives. However, because of medical knowledge and advances, I’ve lived years longer than my direct progenitors; and I hope to have many more years. This year, as I reflect on the life I’ve lived in the past nine years, I walk for all of those ancestors.
Many of the advancements that make my life possible were funded by the research and development of the American Heart Association. It’s important to me to raise funds for the association that has had a critical role in improving the training and knowledge for people like EMTs, Life Flight team members, stent lab teams, cardiologists, cardiac rehabilitation nurses and exercise physiologists. These are the professionals who made my life of the past nine years possible and for whom I’m daily grateful.
Over the weeks ahead, I’ll update folks on progress toward my fundraising goal. This year, I’ll be joining the walkers who’ll be gathering in Seattle. And as I did for the past few years, I’ll be taking photos that I’ll put into a slide show with original music that I’ll share first with those who donate.
I hope you’ll join me by making a donation to support this important work. Any donation that you make, of any size, will help.
Thanks for reading!
