Research Changed My Life

  • Jose Maldonado, Maryland
    In 2002, I suffered a devastating stroke. As I began my struggle with physical therapy, I realized that it was just as tough on me, as it was on my family to see me this way. So, I committed myself to 4 to 6 hours a day of therapy, 5 to 6 days a week. Not only did my efforts have an "uplifting effect" on me and everyone around me, but I also started improving physically. I started walking, my right arm started moving, and I even relearned how to drive. My message is this, "There is Life after Stroke. It can be a rich and fulfilling life. It's not the end, only the beginning."

  • Barry Jackson, Maryland
    I was 38 years old and perfectly healthy when I had a stroke. As you can imagine, this was a great shock to me and my family -- my wife and two small daughters. We undertook intensive rehab at the rehab center for over a month and then went home and continued therapy in an outpatient setting. In the meantime, I was undergoing several different tests to find out what had happened. They finally found a hole in my heart that had not closed. In therapy, I was gradually able to walk and talk and regain some movement in my arm.

  • Gail Harris-Berry, Maryland
    In 2006, I went to two different hospitals on three separate occasions with chest pains.  Each time, the end result was I was turned away with "nothing is wrong." Yet the pain kept getting worse, to point I couldn't function with daily life or work.  The fourth time, I went to hospital and refused to leave. Finally, the physicians decided to do a cardio- catheterization and were amazed to discover a 90% blocked artery that was causing the pain.  A stent was emplaced. While rolling my gurney to recovery, my surgeon and nurse said to me “thank God you listened to your body and not us, refusing to take no for answer, because this would have killed you." NIH research helped save my life.

  • James Douglas Chew, Iowa
    On Christmas Day 2007, I suffered the first signs of heart disease when I had trouble breathing while taking a walk around Gray's Lake near Des Moines, Iowa. Even though I had no family history of heart disease, one month later I had triple bypass surgery. I am alive and live a wonderful life, due to the advances in treating heart disease. I hope with education and advances in medicine, more people will survive and live wonderful lives.

  • Liz Tatham, Kansas
    My surgeon had given me four options to have my heart fixed.  Because I had been diagnosed in time, my 4th option was not one available to many: a repair of my bicuspid valve that would not require me to be on any medications, such as blood thinners. This option, not then available elsewhere, is the one I chose. I have since recovered and focus on staying strong and healthy.

  • Aaron Grefrath, Missouri
    I had a dual lead pacemaker implanted on December 23, 2010 and am pleased to report, I have resumed a 'normal' life with some restrictions and am doing great.

  • Lisa Michael, Montana
    It all started when I was 19. I was engaged to be married and in my first year of college when I had an unexpected stroke. In a matter of a week, I had been diagnosed with a restrictive heart condition and had seen half a dozen specialists. In the years since then, I have had several procedures, all minor yet important in putting together the bigger picture for my health future. Research has the potential to impact my life in a dramatic way.

  • Daniel Sack, Ohio
    In 1997, I had my first heart attack at 52 years of age. The doctors conducted a balloon angioplasty and opened up the vessel. In 2005, at age 60 I had another heart attack. They placed a medicine coated stent in that vessel. I believe with the advances from heart research that I have been granted 15 years of additional life and the prospect of many years that would not have been available to me.

  • Ronna Kratzer, California
    The AHA has been a part of my life and many of my family members' lives from birth. As of today, we have 14 family members that have been born with Congenital Heart Defects. Without funding for research, many of my family members may not be alive today. In 2010, I underwent emergency open heart surgery after suffering a bad heart attack, often called the "widow maker." Here I am with Dr. Hillard. I know that if it weren't for the funding for research that allows people like him to work, I and many of my family members wouldn't be here.

  • Robert Biggins, Illinois 
    I suffered my stroke in September 2003 while I was an Illinois State Represenative. I had just entered Chicago's County Building when I lost consciousness and fell to the ground. Later I learned that current Governor Quinn noticed me on the floor and called for medical assistance. My doctor told me that getting instant medical assistance was most important in minimizing permanent stroke damage.  As I recovered from my stroke, I co-authored legislation to aid stroke survivors and in my retirement, I serve on the board of Stroke Survivors Empowering Each Other. Our goals include assisting survivors and their families in dealing with stroke, its many facets and outcomes.

  • Tom Linz, Kansas
    My grandfather had a routine medical check-up the day before he died. The doctor measured his vitals and drew a sample of blood, determined they were all normal and deemed my grandfather healthy. The next day my grandfather died of a heart attack. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the US and within my family, yet, its exact cause is still not well understood. As both a researcher and family member of people suffering from heart disease, I know the importance of advancing the field of cardiovascular research. I have dedicated myself to improving the understanding of the pathways behind heart disease. Funding would allow for more studies with tangible results.

  • April Zelenka, Wisconsin 
    I was just 14 when I first had an episode of Long QT Syndrome. After I lost consciousness when answering the telephone, I spent three days in the hospital and underwent many tests. Doctors finally confirmed I had Long QT Syndrome, an electrical problem of the heart, and recommended I have a defibrillator implanted to prevent further complications. After my surgery, my doctor informed my family of Long QT Syndromes reputation for being genetic. After testing, they found the disease in my dad and my older sister, who also had defibrillators implanted. Funding for heart disease research is important because it saved my life and the lives of my family members.

  • Mary Beth Miller, Alabama
    Our daughter was born with a very complex congenital heart defect. As new parents we have these dreams for our children: becoming a star athlete; an astronaut; having a family of their own. We never expect those dreams to be replaced with: will they live till tomorrow? My daughter, in just 6 ½ years, has had to endure six open heart surgeries, 252 medical procedures, having a mechanical valve placed in her, and now a heart transplant. More children die each year from CHD than all childhood cancers combined; we think it is strange how CHD research receives three times less funding.

  • George Howard, Alabama
    I have devoted much of my career to advancing understanding of the immense disparities in stroke, in hopes that interventions can be mounted to reduce them. Middle-aged African Americans are at 200-300% higher risk of dying of stroke than their white counterparts. In addition, a region of NC, SC and GA knows as the "Buckle of the Stroke Belt," has stroke mortality much higher than other regions in the nation. I am the Principal Investigator of the REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study. I firmly believe that we have already made substantial contributions, and are on the verge of making even greater insights.

  • Mark Estes, Massachusetts
    As an academic cardiologist, my efforts have been focused daily on prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease and stroke. Continued research to advance our knowledge is critical for meaningful progress. Virtually all of the progress that has been made in reducing the burden of cardiovascular disease has resulted from basic, translational, clinical and population science. It is evident that without continued funding of research to prevent and treat cardiovascular disease and stroke, continued scientific advances will not be possible. Now, as a grandfather, my focus has extended to the heath of future generations. In fact, I have added it to my "bucket list".

  • Rob Rockhold, Mississippi
    The call came while studying for final exams in my junior year of college; "Call home, urgent."  My father had suffered his third, and a fatal, myocardial infarction. A smoker with childhood rheumatic disease, had, in 1972, far fewer options for management of his heart disease risks than cardiovascular research has provided for today's fathers. This story started me on my journey as a cardiovascular researcher and led to my continuing involvement with the AHA and its mission. Heart disease and stroke remain leading causes of death and disability in this country. Research has proven we, as a society, have the capacity to reduce the negative impact of heart disease and stroke.

  • Sara Blosser, Montana
    I am a researcher, a scientist, a biologist. My research focuses on a mold, Aspergillus, one of the primary fungal infections that infect heart- and heart-lung transplant patients. My work focuses on understanding how Aspergillus can adapt to stress it encounters during infection. Our hope is that this research will lead to better therapeutics and treatments, giving patients the ability to live longer lives after these life-saving procedures. Science simply cannot continue without funding. Every experiment brings us closer to an answer, but every experiment also requires supplies, equipment, and scientists.

  • Garrett Caldarelli, Tennessee
    We welcomed the first grandson after three daughters and 8 granddaughters on Mom's side. The day soon became very scary as the big 9lb 2oz boy had complications breathing.  He had a Congenital Heart Defect. The kind words spoken his doctor the next morning still ring in my ear: "We can fix this."  After surgeries and the installation of a pacemaker, my son Garrett is my HERO. He faced so many things in the hospital and despite all, our Hero was calm, sweet and loving.  “We can fix it” through medical research and knowledge which comes from funding for the National Institutes of Health.

  • Isabella Grumbach, Iowa
    I serve as attending cardiologist at the University of Iowa and the Iowa City VA Medical Center. The research projects in our labs are not supported by funds from the university but rather by grant money; personnel are the largest expenditure for our research projects. When a grant cannot be renewed, the solution is to lay off some scientists. Due to the insecure funding environment, it is becoming increasingly difficult to convince American students to pursue a career in academic science. Ultimately we will miss out on great discoveries that would have a major impact on treating patients with heart disease and stroke.

  • Diane Morgan, California 
    One day while sitting at my computer, I felt a terrific pain in my right jaw. I thought I was having a heart attack, but it faded away. Scared, I told my doctor's office what happened. After a normal EKG, the doctor came in and listened not only to my heart, but also to my neck. She heard a bruit sound and sent me immediately for an ultrasound. My carotid was 90% blocked, and I had an endarterectomy. Today, I am back to my normal routine with no residual effects from the surgery or stroke. Without the research that has made this possible, I would no longer be alive.

  • Sean Davidson, Ohio 
    I am a Professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of Cincinnati. In addition, I am a member of the editorial boards of the Journal of Biological Chemistry and the Journal of Lipid Research, a fellow of the American Heart Association, an AHA Established Investigator and I serve on a variety of regional and national study sections. My laboratory is internationally recognized for its work on the structure and function of high density lipoproteins (HDL). A major focus is on the structure/function relationships of human apolipoproteins, and their role in the pathology of cardiovascular disease and obesity. 

  • Shobha Ghosh, Virginia
    My connection to heart disease is both personal and professional. My mother was a rheumatic heart patient and my memories of her center around her being sick. In addition, my older sister had a congenital defect in one of her heart valves. I lost both of them at the age of 11 in a span of 10 days. This motivated me to pursue a career in cardiovascular research. My current research started with the observation that if we can find a way to break the atherosclerotic plaques and remove them from the artery wall, then we can reduce the disease. This research wouldn’t be possible without funding from the AHA and NIH.

  • Eric Rothenberg, Washington
    In 2009, I was playing tennis when I suffered a Sudden Cardiac Arrest. If not for the actions of my tennis partners, who began CPR almost immediately, and the use of an AED, I would not have survived that night. After learning more about Sudden Cardiac Arrest, I was shocked -- pun intended -- to learn that Sudden Cardiac Arrest is the leading cause of death each year in the United States, taking roughly 300,000 lives annually! In my opinion, we need more knowledge, greater awareness, increased advocacy, and greater funding for heart and cardiac-related research to help identify and stop this killer from taking more lives.

  • Lindsay Erin Calderon, Kentucky
    I'm a researcher and a fighter for my cousin, Brittany Grimm. At 11 years old, Brittany successfully received a heart transplant. She is alive today largely because of increasing medical advances in the areas of organ transplantation. Upon learning of my cousin's medical emergency, I was inspired to join the medical research field. My goal was to discover new advances in biomedical research to aid patient care. The progress that I have made in my research wouldn’t be possible without the financial support provided by the AHA and the NIH. As a researcher, I know the importance of cardiovascular research funding, and as a patient, Brittany does too.

  • Anne Murphy, Maryland
    I am a practicing pediatric cardiologist and NIH-supported laboratory researcher. I see children on a weekly basis with hypertension, difficulty with exercise and Type 2 diabetes. I also work with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the leading cause of sudden cardiac death in young athletes. A few weeks ago a young patient of mine with this disease asked me, "Will there be a cure for me?" I was able to offer some hope for advances in this field, but frankly it depends on the funding for NIH. Decades of progress in understanding the fundamental mechanisms of cardiovascular disease and creating the cures for tomorrow are at risk.