American Heart Walk 2018

After a very long and never-ending winter, Spring has finally sprung!  Not to mention, not a moment too soon for the AHA 2018 Heart Walk. I was truly blessed by all the support from friends and family in the form of donations to #LifeTicksOn and T-shirt sales. 

It's hard to believe that this is my third heart walk since my heart attack, YIKES!  I look forward every year to wearing the RED Survivor hat and walking with all the survivors. This is just one more step, literally in the journey of recovery. The community of "survivors" range in age from infants to the elderly. I love the fact that you can do as little or as much of the walk. No pressure to hurry or have people running by you. That is not what this walk is about. It's about every step reminding you of how far you've come and the wonderful things that await. 

Speaking of reminders,  did you know patients admitted to hospitals lived an average 6.44 years after  their heart attack? That sounds like progress to me. The funds raised by the American Heart Association through the heart walk and other fundraising events help to increase the chance of survival. #LifeTicksOn

#LifeTicksOn 2018 members from near and far. We had representation from all over the US with our T-shirt sales!!

As I looked around at my #LifeTicksOn group, I am truly amazed at how every one of us has been touched in some way from a cardiac issue or stroke. My mom Liz has Atrial Fibrillation, has had multiple surgeries and now sports a sexy pacemaker. My Aunt Trisha has had open heart surgery for a valve, suffered a stroke and heart attack and has come out swinging! Wow, not many people can say that. I just love her attitude about life!! Not to mention all the other family members that have had to deal with the ups and downs of our crazy recovery journeys. I can't say enough "Thank Yous" to my husband Joe, Parker and Brenna for always being there to support me. I would like to say a special Thank You to Krystal for all the money you helped raise to bring our team to over $1000. 

My hope is that next year you can join us at the heart walk and also in raising money for this great cause!

In the meantime, Stay Heart Healthy!!

A Perspective of a Stroke and Heart Attack Survivor.. Just Happy To Have An Age

April showers bring May flowers.. but what does May bring Stroke Awareness. This blog is all about my Aunt Trish a role model for stroke survivors everywhere. At the age of 40,  she had a mitral valve repair surgery that led her down the path of a heart attack and a right sided stroke post surgery. But did this make her a victim.. NO!

When talking with her over coffee Aunt Trish talked about failure during recovery "NOT BEING AN OPTION." When her doctors told her she would never be able to take care of herself, she simply said "Not an option." And her drive to prove them wrong drove her to be the strong, independent women that she is today!

Aunt Trish comes from a family where genetics play a big role. Her Grandfather died of a heart attack and her father had a heart attack at 52y/o and a massive heart attack at 66y/o.  When I asked her if she worries for her two daughters Nicole and Krystal and their future she said: "we've talked about it and they have had the discussion with their doctors."

She credits occupational therapy and physical therapy with getting her back into society. She said: "there are days when you just want to give up, but you have to stick with it." During her recovery,  Aunt Trish would look around and see people who were worse off than her and be grateful for what she had. Many times during therapy people would ask her "Are you here with your grandma or mom?" She was by far,  to young to be a victim of a stroke. But as we know strokes don't discriminate. One thing she recalled about her recovery was the role reversal of having to have her daughter Nicole a junior in high school at the time teach her to drive after Aunt Trish had just taught Nicole to drive.  

May is not only stroke awareness month but also Mother's Day. When I asked my Aunt Trish what this stroke taught her and her daughters she said " Focus on being nice, be good, don't judge, life is short and tomorrow is not guaranteed.  Again, I am overwhelmed with her positive attitude! As she says, " An Attitude of Gratitude" Her faith and positivity has helped her to persevere through not only one but three life-changing health events. A cool fact about Aunt Trish and her daughters is the connection to the moon. They always say "Love you to the moon and back." The stroke has brought the three of them into a close relationship no matter how many miles separate them.  

The pictures above are of the fun times that Aunt Trish has been able to enjoy with her daughters Nicole and Krystal.. and let's say there are many more shenanigans to come!!

I asked Aunt Trish what advice she had for other parents who have to talk to their kids about their stroke and she said: " Be open, let them know your feelings what's in your inner heart and soul, that you're going to get through this and do it!"  To other stroke victims Aunt Trish's message is "don't give up, keep fighting!" She said, "If I'd listened to my doctor right after my stroke I'd be in a nursing home today."

In the end, I asked her does your stroke define you? And without hesitation, she said: "not at all!" When she wakes up some mornings in what she calls a "stroke fog"  or her left side is weak she puts one foot in front of the other. She has good days and bad days but as she says "Happy to have an age!" She credits her kids with inspiring her to grab each day, seize it and be kind. In the end, Aunt Trish is not only positive but courageous.  Life handed her lemons and she made lemonade. 

In the end, I hope this blog helps others to understand that a stroke should not define you! You can set your path in life post stroke. Remeber, F.A.S.T if you are ever concerned about a stroke.  

Time wasted.. Is brain lost!

Thank you,  Aunt Trish,  for sharing your experience of being not only a heart attack but a stroke survivor as well!!

2017 Heart Walk is in the books.. Raising Awareness for Heart and Stroke

Wow!! My heart is over joyed with all the support for the 2017 Heart Walk. It began last year as a team of three and blossomed to a group of 12. I can not say THANK YOU enough for all the support this year. Together we raised over $1300 dollars when our goal was just $500. Don't worry if you didn't have time to donate here is the link to our team "LIFE TICKS ON"

My passion in life is to make sure that no person, family or friend has to suffer from a heart attack or stroke! Together with the funds raised, we can advance research to someday put an end to the #1 killer in America.  If you know of somebody or you yourself have been impacted and diagnosed with a heart attack, stroke, atrial fibrillation, aortic dissection or systolic heart failure/cardiomyopathy between the ages of 21 and before 50 please visit this page My Research Legacy. By signing up you are being a vital part of ending heart disease and stroke! 

Here is a video from "LIFE TICKS ON".. Enjoy!!

And a big THANK YOU to Krystal Walker my cousin who was my partner in crime in coming up with a team name, raising money and supporting this crazy journey every step of the way!! 

My Research Legacy.. Melissa's Story

The video above is from My Research Legacy. This is a study that I will be participating in as one of eleven inaugural patients with the goal of getting 1,000's involved this first year. . I am so excited to be a part of this pilot study so that I can share my health data and hopefully in the future prevent others from having to go on this journey. 

Today is Valentine's Day. A day that is marked with hearts and love. It's so fitting that today is the day that the American Heart Association launched my story about being a heart attack survivor. In this video, I share with you the reasons why I want to be part of  My Research Legacy! It is so important to me that my passion for helping others who have suffered from a heart attack or other conditions or who have family members know that they are not alone. But they are all a part of this crazy journey called recovery and survival. 

My Research Legacy is a pilot study that is taking your health data with the hope of saving other people's lives. You can join to If you are 21 to 49 years of age, of any race or ethnicity or gender, and have been diagnosed with a heart attack, stroke, atrial fibrillation, aortic dissection or systolic heart failure/cardiomyopathy, and you live in the United States and have access to a computer with an internet connection and a smartphone, then you are eligible for our Pilot Study.

Please follow the link to join My Research Legacy

The picture above is from the American Heart Associations general session in New Orleans 2016 where My Research Legacy was launched. The hope is to have 1,000's of patients enrolled to share data and find answers to the causes of these devastating conditions.

Thank you for taking the time to watch my video and understand my passion for preventing heart disease, stroke, atrial fibrillation, aortic dissection, or systolic heart failure/ cardiomyopathy.  If you are reading this and qualify, PLEASE I beg you go to the link and sign up. It only takes one person to change the lives of many. We are the future and hold the keys to changing what is the #1 killer in the United States. No longer can we accept this statistic.. we need to change it.

So I encourage each and every one of you to take some time and look around ask yourself, "Do I have a family member, friend, or loved one who fits the criteria?" "Is it me?"  If you answered yes, call, text, email or post a note and get them involved in my research legacy!!!  Please feel free to send me any questions you might have.