My commitment to help educate and prevent heart disease is personal – my family is why I do it.
A year ago, we lost my mother to congestive heart failure after a seven year battle. It was difficult to watch such a caring person who had such a profound impact on me and my family struggle every day. Having gone through this journey, I certainly do not want to see others go through something similar as the patient, the caregiver, and/or the family member.
The fact that heart disease is the number one cause of death in the world, leading cause of death in the U.S., and responsible for taking a life every 84 seconds is astounding! And, although technological and medical advances have come a long way to help those in need, it is still a disease that can be better controlled or identified by taking some basic steps to educate those around us to identify the symptoms early and to make changes to help prevent or manage this disease.
As many of you know, this year I joined the American Heart Association of Long Island board as a way to give back to the community and the cause nationally. It is through the association’s hard work that we are able to make a difference.
Please join me in celebrating my mom’s life, yours, and those around you by:
1) becoming aware of the basic signs of heart attacks and strokes,
2) telling at least two other people about what you learned, and
3) contributing to the cause by making a donation or purchasing a ticket to the event.
I thank you in advance for taking these steps and the others close to you will thank you as well as it could save a life, maybe even your own.
For me, my family is why...what is your "why"?