I never imagined the toll heart disease would have on my life. I had a stroke in 2000, a heart attack in 2004 and was in complete heart failure in 2013. Medical advances have helped to keep me alive for years, but it was a heart transplant in 2017 that has given me new life. At age 45, I never [...]
Four months pregnant with her second child, Nykia Ward walked into her doctor’s office eager to learn the sex of her baby during her appointment that day. After the joy of discovering she was carrying a girl that she would name Kaycee, the doctor presented her with some concerning information. A bright spot appeared on Kaycee’s heart during the ultrasound. [...]
Midlands, SC - On Thursday, October 18, Lizzie Smith, Executive Assistant in the Midlands AHA office, was named 2018 Outstanding Rising Star by the Association of Fundraising Professionals SC, Central Carolina Chapter. Lizzie received this award because of her lifelong passion for promoting and supporting heart health. As a survivor of a congenital heart defect and open-heart surgery at the [...]
Richmond, VA - On January 30, 2015, Jay Lambert was enjoying his Friday evening before planning on going into work the following morning. What Jay expected to be an ordinary night, however, resulted in Jay waking up three days later at a hospital. “My life was changed forever when I felt this excruciating pain in my head and within a [...]
While working out at the gym six years ago, I felt a pop in my head and developed a sudden and severe headache. I had what would be the first of three strokes within a couple of weeks caused by a ruptured aneurysm. I was only 25 years old. The second stroke caused the left side of my body to [...]
On November 7, 2017, Elisheva Marks was in line to board a plane back to her hometown of Boston. The teacher was excited to return home after beginning a new job the week earlier. Unfortunately, Elisheva never made it home that day. Without warning, her heart stopped beating, and she went into cardiac arrest. Fortunately, she received bystander CPR at [...]
The American Heart Association is celebrating LGBTQ Pride month this June by sharing resources and participating in different events across the country. Teri Arnold, Marketing and Communications Director for the Hampton Roads, Virginia region and Communications Officer for AHA’s Hearts With Pride Employee Resource Group, recently told her heart attack survivor story at the Baltimore Go Red For Women Luncheon [...]
Eight years ago, Tina Johnson learned she had high blood pressure and was pre-diabetic during a routine physical. “I was eating fast food and drinking sodas several times a week,” said the former VCU track athlete. The doctor said, “I could put you on medication, but I’m not going to. I’m giving you three months to get your health in [...]
My name is Ashley Slate McGuire, and I am 33 years old. I was born in Fairfax, Va. and grew up in Richmond. I never dreamed I would be dealing with a stroke at the age of 19. I had no idea what caused a stroke or what signs to even look for. However, I knew my grandfather (who was [...]
Stephanie and her daughter Evie On Feb. 22, 2018, Earlena Foskey, a childcare provider at VCU Health Child Care Center, administered CPR to Evie Louka, a 13-month old who became unconscious and unresponsive while in her classroom. Thanks to this heroic act, Evie is alive and doing very well. During a surprise award ceremony at the child care [...]
