Thursday, November 19, 2009
Grey's Anatomy
Sometimes I wish that science would take a page from tv shows. Tonight's episode of Grey's Anatomy is a good representation of this wish. When people don't have to die because they need a heart transplant, and a machine can take the place of that heart (even if it's just for a little while), then that's what I call science.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
DC Heart Walk 2009
Sorry it's taken me so long to post again, but work and life kind of got in the way... that and I didn't have much to talk about or post. I do now.
Today, November 14, 2009 I participated in my first ever Heart Walk here in the nation's capital to benefit the American Heart Association which helps prevent heart disease and stroke. We walked 2.9 miles around the main part of the National Mall. For those of you unfamiliar with Washington, DC this is a large grassy area between the Washington Monument and the US Capitol building. The walk itself started at 10 am, but they had some booths beforehand so I went early to check them out. Needless to say, I was slightly disappointed in the type of booths they had. Very little of the information was about how to prevent heart disease, and most were just tents where large corporate groups could meet up prior to the walk.
This was apparently the 15th year they've done this in DC; however, it's quite apparent that they don't do good PR about it because I've lived in DC for 6 years, and this is the first time I've ever participated (and trust me if I knew about it... I would have participated years ago). The other thing that I found disappointing what their lack of emphasis on congenital heart disease... those of us who had no control over our own heart health and battle with it everyday. At the survivor's area, they only concentrated on those who've had a heart attack or a stroke. Although I myself have had a stroke, it's not the same way I think of when I think of people who've had a stroke. I had mine at 1 and it was related to my second open heart surgery. I think if there was one thing I would change about the information they tell people the day of the event is I would put a little more emphasis on CONGENITAL heart disease. About 1% of all children born in the US are born with a congenital heart disease. So as much as we celebrate those who've recovered from a heart attach and/or stroke, let's also celebrate the children who have survived open heart surgeries and have lived into adulthood.
Geico sponsored a tent in which you could write someone who you were walking for... The top part said something like I walk for... and I added
All in all I'm glad I did it, and I raised almost $500 for the American Heart Association. :)
Today, November 14, 2009 I participated in my first ever Heart Walk here in the nation's capital to benefit the American Heart Association which helps prevent heart disease and stroke. We walked 2.9 miles around the main part of the National Mall. For those of you unfamiliar with Washington, DC this is a large grassy area between the Washington Monument and the US Capitol building. The walk itself started at 10 am, but they had some booths beforehand so I went early to check them out. Needless to say, I was slightly disappointed in the type of booths they had. Very little of the information was about how to prevent heart disease, and most were just tents where large corporate groups could meet up prior to the walk.
This was apparently the 15th year they've done this in DC; however, it's quite apparent that they don't do good PR about it because I've lived in DC for 6 years, and this is the first time I've ever participated (and trust me if I knew about it... I would have participated years ago). The other thing that I found disappointing what their lack of emphasis on congenital heart disease... those of us who had no control over our own heart health and battle with it everyday. At the survivor's area, they only concentrated on those who've had a heart attack or a stroke. Although I myself have had a stroke, it's not the same way I think of when I think of people who've had a stroke. I had mine at 1 and it was related to my second open heart surgery. I think if there was one thing I would change about the information they tell people the day of the event is I would put a little more emphasis on CONGENITAL heart disease. About 1% of all children born in the US are born with a congenital heart disease. So as much as we celebrate those who've recovered from a heart attach and/or stroke, let's also celebrate the children who have survived open heart surgeries and have lived into adulthood.
Geico sponsored a tent in which you could write someone who you were walking for... The top part said something like I walk for... and I added
children who live with congenital heart disease and those families who have lost children to heart diseasePrior to the walk starting, I walked close to the stage where they were doing the announcements so I could hear better and get away from some of the mud. While I was standing there, a guy came up to me and asked if he could read my back to see what I wrote. He read it and said that's nice. I said thank you and then mentioned that I was born with a congenital heart defect. He goes oh really, which one? I said Pulmonary Atresia and have had 3 open heart surgeries. He then asks when the last one was, and I said 10 years ago, and he was like well you look good. I also found out he had 2 daughters (I'm sure he wife was around there somewhere too) and the younger one had a heart transplant when she was 9 weeks old. Let's just say it took all my composure to not break down in tears. As he walked away with his older daughter he goes... we are all here for people like you.
All in all I'm glad I did it, and I raised almost $500 for the American Heart Association. :)
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