My dad became my why the day I received a phone call that turned my world upside down. He was being emitted into the hospital for emergency Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery. He had a total of 5 arteries more than 90% blocked.
My dad is not the "picture of heart disease". He is extremely active and plays tennis almost every day. I couldn?t believe it was happening, but I know that without the research of the American Heart Association, he would not be with us today.
In 1961, Dr. Julius Jacobsen received funding from the American Heart Association to perform surgery with the aid of a microscope. Microsurgery has since revolutionized the medical field, and led to changes in coronary artery surgery, like the procedure that saved my dad?s life. His surgeon used microsurgery to graft a vein from my dad?s leg that stretched from his ankle to his knee. He then used pieces of that vein to create new passages for blood to flow to my dad?s heart by rerouting the blood around the clogged arteries. What truly unbelievable science!!!
I am so thankful for the progress that the American Heart Association has already made, but there is still so much we don?t know about curing heart disease. This is why I need your generous help today.
Heart disease is the NUMBER ONE KILLER of all Americans, and we have to act now to stop this statistic. I have made a $50 gift in honor of my dad to help the American Heart Association continue their great work. Please consider joining me in making a gift that will fund more research, educate more people, and prevent heart disease. Thank you!!!
