Travel Heart Geocoin

March 30, 2010, was the last day of my life and the first day of my second chance.  While recovering from rotator cuff surgery I suffered a heart attack while I was home alone.  After calling the doctor who did the surgery office they suggested I call 911 and get help.  I was confused, sweating profusely and my left arm was in terrible pain.  Stacey the receptionist at the doctor's office, who was in Toledo, Ohio and I was in Oak Harbor, Ohio.  She called the Ottawa County Sheriff while Marion reassured me that everything was going to be okay.  Since we have a volunteer EMS it was about 20 minutes before help came.  Judy, Jennifer and Rudy came to my call for help and immediately started asking questions about my heart.  I have a long family history for heart disease.  My father  and brother both died from heart disease.  Dad had his first heart attack at 42 living to be 81  and my brother died at the age of 51.   Baby sister had her attack at the age of 38.  At the age of 57 I thought I had beat it.  Wrong.  The Life Flight Helicopter was called to take me to Toledo Mercy St. Vincent which I must say was my first flight.  Scared me half to death.

After arriving at St. V's I was in the middle of a MI and taken to the cath lab and 1 stent was placed and I was sent to recovery.  Some time later I started to have the pain return and I was having a second heart attack and back to the cath lab and 2 more stents inserted.  Its this second heart attack that kills women.  I was so lucky to be where I was when that second attack happened.  All is going well however I did have a defrillator implanted in February 2011 and I hope all continues to go well.  Still losing weight and exercising daily.  This is the life change that is good and I hope to see grandchildren someday.

This Travel Heart is on a mission to inform women and men about the Warning Signs for Heart Attack and Strokes.  Attached to the travel heart is The Little Red Dress.

In 2003, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), the American Heart Association and other organizations committed to women’s health joined together to raise awareness of women and heart disease. The NHLBI introduced the red dress as a national symbol for women and heart disease awareness and the American Heart Association adopted this symbol to create synergy among all organizations committed to fighting this cause.

By working together to advance this important cause, the American Heart Association, NHLBI, and other women’s health groups will have a greater impact than any one group could have alone.

In 2004, the American Heart Association (AHA) faced a challenge. Cardiovascular disease claimed the lives of nearly 500,000 American women each year, yet women were not paying attention. In fact, many even dismissed it as an “older man’s disease.” To dispel the myths and raise awareness of heart disease as the number one killer of women, the American Heart Association created Go Red For Women – a passionate, emotional, social initiative designed to empower women to take charge of their heart health.

The Little Red Dress wants to see the world to tell men and women to take care of their heart health.  She wants to go where the wind will blow her and meet all sorts of friendly people.  Post pictures of her travels so she can brag about her travels.  Thanks for passing her on.