My Experience on Capitol Hill
It was such a wonderful experience to attend You’re the Cure on the Hill with the American Heart Association. As a health care professional who is personally connected to this work, I had the opportunity to speak to Michigan legislators on my “why.”
hero_image_alt_text===Janan Saba
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thumbnail_alt_text===Janan Saba
Jennifer Collins, Finding Hope with Heart
Jennifer is the current chair of the North Carolina Advocacy Coordinating Committee, the committee that helps steer advocacy for the state. She welcomes everyone, is passionate about her beliefs, and is a person who walks the walk – and talks the talk – about advocating to make a difference. Moments after her daughter was born, Jennifer and her husband Rob were told she had a heart defect known as a transposition of the great arteries. This means the two main arteries carrying blood away from the heart are reversed.
hero_image_alt_text===Jennifer Collins
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Meet Dr. Deon Vigilance
Dr. Deon Vigilance has served as a champion for improved health policy in Philadelphia since joining the AHA’s Philadelphia Board. He has been a leading voice in public health on the need to address the social determinants of health that will improve the significant health disparities seen in Philadelphia; a city where residents who live less than two miles apart can have nearly a decade difference in life expectancy.
hero_image_alt_text===Dr. Vigilance
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thumbnail_alt_text===Dr. Vigilance
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Cody and Jami Fitzpatrick
In 2009, when Cody Fitzpatrick was just 5 years old, he slipped under water and was found at the bottom of the community pool he was visiting with family. As 911 was alerted, an amazing bystander jumped into action. Jennifer Turner-Adams, or “Cody’s Angel” as the Fitzpatrick family refers to her, started performing CPR, and continued for an astonishing 15 minutes before EMS personnel arrived. After this terrifying experience Cody and his mom, Jami, decided they wanted to ensure that as many people as possible had the ability to perform this life saving skill, and they began working with the AHA to help train as many people as possible.
hero_image_alt_text===Picture of a boy standing next to his mom
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thumbnail_alt_text===Picture of a boy standing next to his mom
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A Mothers Love
This month the spotlight is on Ashlea Konecny. Ashlea has been an advocate with the AHA in Kansas for a while. She got involved through her family, but when her son was born with a heart defect, it became even more personal.
hero_image_alt_text===Ashlea and Caden
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thumbnail_alt_text===Ashlea and Caden
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Volunteer Report: Lisa Deck attends Global Forum on CVD
Last month, my advocacy took me to all new levels. I was asked to represent the American Heart Association at a Global Forum in Tokyo, Japan. The Forum was hosted by the Health and Global Policy Institute, a non-profit health policy think tank based in Tokyo. The American Heart Association was invited to speak on a panel about patient involvement in cardiovascular disease policy for sustainable healthcare systems. I was asked to share my experience infusing the patient experience in discussions about health policy.
hero_image_alt_text===Lisa Deck
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thumbnail_alt_text===Lisa Deck
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Meet Dra Bishop, One of Arkansas' Youngest Heart Hero Stroke Survivors!
The threat of a stroke isn’t on the minds of most 16-year-olds, but then again, Dra Bishop wasn’t most 16-year-olds. A star basketball player at Bentonville High School, Dra was more physically fit and healthy than most of his classmates. But on the morning of May 26th, 2018, Dra felt sluggish and weak.
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Meet Dedicated Survivor-Advocate, Dr. John Ferguson
I have been participating in advocacy work with the American Heart Association for a number of years because I am a strong proponent of their mission and long-term goals. Annually, I have taken university students to Advocacy Days at the State Capitol in Frankfort, Kentucky, to support and encourage the legislators to pass bills which impact the goals of the American Heart Association in our state.
hero_image_alt_text===John Ferguson
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thumbnail_alt_text===john Ferguson
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Mick Landauer
Born with Congenital Heart Disease, Mick wants children today to know that there is hope for a future.
hero_image_alt_text===Mick L Headshot
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What I CAN do every day
I’ve always wondered about the root of my motivations. Why do I care so much about my health and the health of those around me? I’m that annoying person who always wants to hear about your ailments and offers a tidbit of solution from something I recently read. I just can’t help it; I love health-related stuff.
Why do I care so much? Why do I put so much effort into making sure that I walk my steps every day and eat well? I suppose the source of my motivation has evolved over my lifetime. Today, I see clearly why my health matters.
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