Mark Miller
April 14th, 2008
I am in my 40th year of teaching World History and coaching varsity football and softball at Linden High School in Linden, Ca. I suffered a heart attack after softball practice in January of 2003. I was taken by ambulance to St Joseph’s Medical Center in Stockton, Ca where a stent was put in my heart. I was then put in the ICU where a nurse weighed me at 390 lbs. Two mornings later I had a major heart attack. The responding nurses saved my life.
I was told to change my lifestyle or die. Over the next 8 months, I had 3 more stents, failed four cardiolite stress tests, and through diet and exercise, lost 190 lbs. In August I was told I needed open heart surgery. I told the doctor that we were a week into football and that the timing was not convenient. He laughed and said “Coach, actually the timing is perfect, without surgery, you are out of time.” (more…)
Posted in Heart Disease & Stroke | 1 Comment »
Laurie Wheeler-Snyder
March 14th, 2008
I am writing regarding how you have inspired me to take action with my own health. You have given me hope that in the future, prescription drugs will remain available for the uninsured. Furthermore, it is with new technology and research that we’re finding more medicines to help people like me overcome disease.
I became a survivor of heart disease on January 5, 1965. I was born on February 10, 1963. Heart disease did not stop me from being an athlete, graduating from college in 3 1/2 years, with a degree in Marketing, and a minor in education. I am an open-heart surgery survivor from the 60’s and after having my children, I suffered from a TIA and a stroke. To look at me on the outside you would never know I have ever had a problem. When the TIA’s were first diagnosed in 1994 the doctors told me I probably had Multiple Sclerosis. The shock of this diagnosis was furthered by the stress and painful process of looking for answers as to what was going on with my body. This stress continued until I had a stroke in 1997. I am one of the first generations of women having children who had open-heart surgery. (more…)
Posted in Heart Disease & Stroke, Multiple Sclerosis | 9 Comments »
Linda Kaminski
March 10th, 2008
Everything in my life can be divided into one of two categories – before or after April 2005. That is when I had a heart attack and six bypass surgeries. I was only 46, and I nearly died. Before I had a heart attack, I rarely exercised and had been a smoker since I was 16. Still, I had no idea that heart disease could impact me in such a dramatic way. When I thought of someone having a heart attack, I thought of an old man. If anything, I was more concerned about cancer than the health of my heart. But the truth is heart disease kills more women than all cancers combined – including breast and lung cancers. (more…)
Posted in Heart Disease & Stroke | No Comments »
Art Silva
March 7th, 2008
Now in my mid-fifties, I regret that I didn’t take better care of myself when I was younger. I participated in a lot of sports and considered myself quite athletic. I often played softball, flag football, and basketball to keep in shape but admittedly, my weight fluctuated throughout my adulthood. I would diet occasionally but more often than not, I would eat irresponsibly. As I entered my forties, I didn’t exercise as much, and still continued to eat badly. Retired from the military, I no longer had to worry about the strict physical standards the military demanded of me in order to continue to serve. (more…)
Posted in Diabetes, Heart Disease & Stroke | No Comments »
Shirley Sobolewski
February 21st, 2008
In February of 2006 I lost my job, and as a result I also lost my health coverage. My first and foremost concern was my medications. I take 13 medications, mostly for severe diabetes, heart disease, and kidney disease. My meds are what keep me alive. My private physician gave me samples to get me by, but I knew they wouldn’t last forever. So, I started cutting them in half to try to stretch the meds until a solution could be found. I began making phone call after phone call to numerous agencies, asking for help, but got nothing but denial. In the meantime, my health started to deteriorate. I also was seeing the Montel commercial for PPA on TV constantly, but I ignored it. I was totally convinced that NOBODY would give me medication for free without having some kind of gimmick attached…. (more…)
Posted in Diabetes, Heart Disease & Stroke | 1 Comment »
Jean Yates
January 18th, 2008
My love for my family is matched only by my love for the outdoors. I try to lead an active life by being outside in the sunshine and working in my garden. I suffer from a variety of ailments that, if untreated, threaten to keep me inside and on my couch for the rest of my life!I take five different medications for my conditions, which affects every aspect of my life. I have high blood pressure, which requires me to take medication to avoid having a stroke. My restless leg syndrome keeps my legs kicking all night and I wake up exhausted. Acid reflux prevents me from enjoying virtually every yummy food….even tomatoes!. (more…)
Posted in Blood Pressure Disorder, Heart Disease & Stroke, Neurological Disorders | No Comments »
Bobby Campbell
December 21st, 2007
I live with my wife and three daughters. My wife and I both work part-time jobs and live on a limited income.Three years ago, I suffered a heart attack and subsequently was placed on several prescription medicines. I didn’t think life could get any harder. I was on medication to lower my blood pressure, to keep my cholesterol down and to slow my heart rate. It all happened so quickly and was a little overwhelming… (more…)
Posted in Blood Pressure Disorder, Cholesterol Disorder, Heart Disease & Stroke | No Comments »
Elaine Goldin
October 26th, 2007
I live a quiet life in a senior development, now that my son is all grown up. He son is 32 now and married with a six-year old son, who I just love to pieces. However, in the blink of an eye, I almost left my family all too early, when I had a stroke in 2005. To make matters worse, after the stroke I found out that I have Type II diabetes, cholesterol and high blood pressure. I was devastated and so depressed when leaving the hospital that not only had my life almost been cut short by my stroke, but that my life had been forever changed because I would now also have to cope with additional life-threatening conditions. (more…)
Posted in Blood Pressure Disorder, Cholesterol Disorder, Diabetes, Heart Disease & Stroke | 1 Comment »
Dean Kuni
October 18th, 2007
April 4, 2005, is a day I will never forget. This was the day I thought life was over. This was the day I thought would be the last for me to kiss my wife and hug my two wonderful children. This was the day I learned I had a Type III dissecting aortic aneurysm and was told that although I didn’t die at that very moment, 50 percent of people having this kind of an aneurysm die within 48 hours. This I thought was my death sentence. After all, comedian and actor John Ritter had died nearly two years earlier of the same thing. However, because of miracles in healthcare, my doctors were able to stabilize my condition with medicines and other treatments. These blessings offered me a second chance to continue to live my life, and because of this amazing miracle, my priorities in life have really changed. (more…)
Posted in Heart Disease & Stroke, Rare Diseases | No Comments »
