At the school Christmas party this past December, I was prepared for nativity scenes and Christmas carols, and the last thing I expected to experience was a heart attack. After my artery wall spontaneously dissected, creating a 99% blockage in my left main artery, a heart attack is exactly what I did experience.
Since that day in December, I have also experienced a steep learning curve. I have learned about the life-saving importance of knowing CPR, like the woman who was standing next to me that day at the Christmas party. I have learned that heart disease is possibly the number one killer for women, and that it can affect you no matter your age or perceived health. I have learned that, in some cases, a heart attack can be the first symptom of heart disease. And I have learned that the signs of a heart attack can be subtle, or easily dismissed, but potentially deadly if ignored.
I have also learned that much can be done to help prevent heart disease, and that important advances in medicine are improving the chances of surviving heart attack and cardiac arrest. I have learned that our community is home to some amazing hospitals and doctors offering truly exceptional health care. I have learned that this world of heart disease is challenging, but full of hope.
With hope,
Lauri Evans
