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Spotlight

Champion Profile

Gail Harris-Berry Maryland

In June of 2011, I had near-death heart episode that doctors declared “I wouldn’t survive.”  My family was called in allowed to say “good-bye.”   Having had a cardio-catherization, released from the hospital 6 hrs. later.  While resting at home the following day, all of sudden I had severe pain.  I called 911 and within minutes they arrived and by the time I was in the ambulance, felt that I was dying.  I told the technician that and got me there as quickly as possible, running down the corridor with me on gurney, a doctor came in the room, by this time my body was already in shock, semi-conscience.

Thank God, the doctor came and assessed quickly, “she may be bleeding internally.  Scalpel.” After two weeks in a coma, on life-support, critical-care ICU, three surgeries, suspended between life and death, I’m still here and committed more than ever to get spread the word on heart disease, especially as it relates to women. 

Once fully conscience I asked the doctor what happened to me, he said “a lot of things happened in your favor that day because two more minutes, you wouldn’t have survived.”

Almost a month in the hospital, 2.5 months of rehab, visiting home nurse, in-patient and out-patient therapy, I’m back to work!  And other than my “battle” scars, most don’t believe what I went through when they look at me, but all acknowledge—“I am a living miracle.”

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Has heart disease or stroke impacted your life? Share your story with us today.

Thank you for the sharing your story.  Putting a face on heart disease and stroke CAN influence lawmakers.  You may hear directly from AHA about ways your story can make a difference.

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Paula and Ella Marie Hatten West Virginia

On May 6, 2011, our beautiful daughter, Ella Marie, was born. On May 7th, we found out Ella Marie was among the 1 in 100 children born with a congenital heart defect. Ella's CHD is called Tetralogy of Fallot and required her to have open heart surgery at 8 weeks old. She also will need more corrective surgeries in the future.

Of all the worries that new parents have, our daughter having a CHD was not even on our radar. We had never heard of Tetralogy of Fallot or any other CHD for that matter. We did not know any warning signs to look for or any questions to ask our doctor. Our goal as a family is to raise more awareness of congenital heart defects.

We were very happy about Corbin's Bill passing and West Virginia being one of the first states that will now require Pulse Ox to be included in newborn screenings. Our family and friends participated in the Charleston American Heart Walk on September 8th in honor of Ella and hope to do much more to raise awareness for Ella and her other heart warriors!

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Lisa Hamrick West Virginia

I remember riding with my parents and sisters in our station wagon as we made our way to my grandparents' house in Euclid, Ohio. I was going to be entering the Cleveland Clinic in a few days for heart surgery. We were fortunate that my Mom's parents lived so close to the Clinic. I was 19 years old at the time and had just completed my junior year of college--it was the summer of 1983.

I had what I would call the typical childhood growing up in the 1970s. I remember playing outside for hours and riding our bikes all over the neighborhood. And who could forget those pogo sticks we all had to have? I don't remember when I started experiencing issues with my heart, only that in junior high I passed out during a choir concert.  I recall being told not to stand with your knees locked.

I graduated from high school and began my college life at Alderson-Broaddus College. I began feeling very tired all the time so my Dad got an appointment for me with his cardiologist. You see, Dad has lived with heart disease his entire adult life. Dad's cardiologist examined me and did an echocardiogram in his office and could tell right away what my problem was. I had patent ductus arteriosus.  PDA is a condition in which a blood vessel, called the ductus arteriosus, fails to close normally in an infant soon after birth. This condition leads to heart murmur, as well as abnormal blood flow between the aorta and pulmonary artery. The doctor said my heart was working harder than it should due to the abnormal blood flow. I had been living with this problem since birth! At that time, no one in WV was performing surgical repair of PDA in adults, so my journey to Cleveland began.

I realize now that I was fortunate to survive with the condition undetected for so long. The surgery went well and I spent a few weeks at my grandparents' house recuperating. That was almost 30 years ago.

I tell my story in hopes of raising awareness in women that heart disease is not just a man's disease. We as women are the caretakers and superwomen who do it all at home and at work and we tend  to put ourselves last. You must take care of your heart so you will be around to receive all that love you give brought back to you!

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Ashley and Crystal Pennsylvania

Crystal Hosey is an energetic and delightful 4-year-old who was born with a heart defect. At first, the hospital pediatrician thought she had a heart murmur but at Crystal’s one week checkup with her regular pediatrician he thought it was something more serious. After testing, it was determined that Crystal was born with only three of her four heart valves. She underwent her first surgery in July of 2007. Doctors put a conduit (a small tube like piece of plastic) in her heart to replace the valve that was missing. This is a temporary fix and as Crystal grows the conduit will not grow with her, so she will continue to need surgeries.

Crystal has undergone two open heart surgeries and about 10 heart catheterizations. As her symptoms are seldom seen, Crystal’s cardiologist says she is the most atypical child he has seen with a heart defect and she currently has no restrictions or medications. She is a very active young lady, attends preschool, is a YIFA cheerleader and participated in a community pageant.

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