As requested: My 11-yr.olds heart story about me

My daughter wrote this herself. She has presented this as a talk at my WH support group. I don't even have the words to say how wonderful I think she is...she has done so much for me and she is just so young. This just goes to show that heart disease doesn't just affect the patient....it is far outreaching....it touches EVERYONE around the patient and in ways some never even realize.

Here is Lizzy's Story:

"Hi, my name is Elizabeth Kennedy. My mom is a heart survivor. She is also part of the organization called Women Heart. At the age of thirty-two my mom had a heart attack on New Years Eve. My mom was denying what was going on with her. She kept saying that she was too young to have a heart attack. My stepfather took her to the hospital which was only a block away. He took her into the emergency room and they said they will get to her soon. Then he said, "My wife is having a heart attack.” Mom first thought that he was going crazy. Then she was air lifted to the major hospital UNC. She also works there. Doctors said that if she had waited to get to work she would have died.

I was staying at my grandmothers and I was told later that night when my aunt and uncle came to my grandmothers worried to death. My brother and I, and my cousins were preparing for the ball to drop at midnight. I was called into my grandmother's kitchen and told the news. At that very moment I was scared. I kept asking myself if my mom was alright. Also, that day my mom lost ten percent of her heart, and she will never get that back. Then right before school started after winter break I went back to my mom's. My mom smoked, had diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. So it’s like heart disease was handed to her on a silver platter. Later that year my mom quit smoking, but my mom is a bit hardheaded sometimes. She didn't take her medicines like she should have. Then at the age of 36 my mom had a triple bypass. She has also had two minor heart attacks and three stints put in. She now is glad to be here today. I go to the Women Heart events that she speaks at. In October, 2008 my mom went to the Women Heart Symposium. She has learned a lot and has taught me about heart disease.

My mom's side of the family has a strong history of heart disease. My grandfather died at the age of sixty because of a heart attack. My uncle had quintruple bypass at the age of thirty-nine. When I am older, I will most likely have heart disease. It doesn't matter what size, color, or wealth you are. It can happen to you. Heart disease is also the number one killer of women."

If anyone would like to email Lizzy about her story, she would love to hear from you....feel free to reply here and I will pass them along to her.

By mmuff
Posted August 3, 2009 at 9:47 am
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Lizzy
something tells me you are one of the reasons your Mom decided to stop being so stubborn, and the rest of your family also. You sound like one special lady. I can not tell you how important it is to your recovery to know you are loved and people care about you. I know she knows this and I bet she has said this to you before but your Mom is one very lucky lady.
I think it is wonderful that you seem to have taken a strong interest in your family history and are trying to do something about it. I have diabetes also as do many people in my family so I tell my children all the time that they are most likely to become diabetics an they should think about making healthy choices now so it won't be as difficult for them when and if they are diagnosed later in life.
My children and my husband are what gets me through the bad days just by being there and loving me and most of all understanding like you do with your mom.
I liked your paper alot and thanks for sharing it because some times we might forget how our children feel because we are dealing with so much but you helped me remember
thank you Lizzy you made my day!
Martie

By grace5
Posted August 3, 2009 at 9:49 am
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Hi Lizzy, you are a very good writer and did a great job telling your mom's story. It must have been a very scary time for all of you. Your mom is obviously very proud of you and you should be very proud of yourself. You're a very special daughter and I guess your mom is a very special lady too!
Hugs,
Lidia xx

By Kennarina
Posted August 3, 2009 at 11:13 am
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Dear Lizzy

I really liked reading what you wrote about your mother's heart disease. It's so powerful to hear thhis story from the daughter's viewpoint.

You have been through quite a lot for an 11-year old girl, more than most of your friends, I'm sure. It's very hard when somebody we love gets seriously ill; my own daughter was a grown-up when I had my heart attack last year, but she says she was feeling very frightened and helpless back then, too. You probably watch your mother closely most days to make sure she stays on the right track to keep healthy. You can nag her if you like!

I think it's especially cool that you go with your mother when she gives her talks. My daughter came to one of my talks in the spring and I was SO HAPPY to see her in the audience! It means a lot to us moms to know that our kids are so interested in what we're doing.

I met your mother in person in October at Mayo Clinic and I know she is very proud of you! Keep up the great work, Lizzy.

Big hugs to you and to your mom, too!

Carolyn
XOXOXO

http://www.myheartsisters.org

By Patybluetx
Posted August 3, 2009 at 11:19 am
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Hi Lizzy!

You know you are absolutely right! Heart disease does not care what size, color, or even age you are! That's why it's so important for people to know that heart disease can affect them early in life so that they can make the life changes (like have a healthy diet and do lots of exercise and not smoke) needed to keep heart disease away. And it's people like you that are going to get that message accross to young people! You ma'am are going to change the world with your words...I just know it! Spread the message little heart sister!

((HUGS))
Martha

By laurahc
Posted August 4, 2009 at 4:09 pm
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Hi Lizzy,

You did a fantastic job at the meeting the other night, and it was wonderful to hear you tell not only your story but your mom's story. The two of you make a great team--keep up the good work!

best,
laura

By Marietta
Posted August 5, 2009 at 8:30 am
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Thanks for the replies you guys - I've shared them with Lizzy and she said..."mom...did I really do a good job?" I told her that she sure did and here was her proof. She is such a blessing to me - both my kids are - but for her to take such an interest in this....something that means so much me to me...and for her to do it so young?!?! - Guess we can't start working on knowledge and prevention too early, huh?

Welcome to Inspire!

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