Share Your Story: Francine K.

Francine

In 1989, I was a healthy, active 32 year old woman. During an aerobics class I felt extremely light-headed and had to stop to let it pass. Days and weeks passed, so did that symptom, only to be replaced by other symptoms such as, tightness in my chest, shortness of breath and exhaustion. After repeated testing first in the ER, then at my doctor’s office, and finally after admittance to the hospital, I was finally diagnosed with pericarditis, inflammation in the pericardium (sack around the heart), and an infection. After two months of trying to manage this illness I started to experience a completely different sensation which I later found out was actually a heart attack due to complications from the infection! After a return trip to the ER I woke up in the ICU after having full-blown open-heart surgery to replace my aortic arch, which had completely disintegrated due to the infection which stemmed from a slow leaking aneurism. I remember waking up so grateful to be free of pain but quite unaware of what I had just been through. I was told less than 1% of people with this condition make it to the hospital, let alone survive. I would like women to remember to take care of YOU first! Be aware of your own body and listen to what it’s telling you. Be your own advocate!

Photo: Francine Keller (right) pictured with Go Red For Women Luncheon speaker, Denise Austin.

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(REV August 2016)

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For good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, I hereby grant to the American Heart Association (“AHA”) and its successors and anyone authorized by it the following unrestricted rights and release, all of which may be exercised without geographical, time or other limitation: In regards to the submission of stories, video or digital recordings, whether of an audio or visual nature, and photographs (collectively “Submitted Material”) for use by the AHA, I hereby release the AHA from all liability, and make the following grants and representations in connection therewith:

(a) The right to record, photograph and/or otherwise use, produce, copyright, transmit by radio or television, use on internet, distribute, exhibit and, as applicable, exploit my likeness, voice, statements, acts, poses, plays and appearances, and all other effects resulting from my services rendered in providing the Submitted Material, it being understood that the rights granted may be exercised in any and all media whatsoever.

(b) All my right, title and interest in all negatives, tapes, transparencies, prints and reproductions of the Submitted Material, including all copyrights, the right to copyright the Submitted Material anywhere in the world and the right to obtain renewals thereof and the right to use, sell, lease or license any of the foregoing, it being understood that AHA shall have the right to cut, edit, alter, interpolate, repurpose and otherwise change the story and to divide the same into as many parts as they desire wherein each part or combination of parts of the presentation may be used alone or together.

(c) I represent and warrant that the information provided to the AHA is a true and accurate account, is original, does not infringe on another’s copyright or other proprietary rights, is not defamatory and that I have full right and authority to disclose and convey the Story or provide the Photograph(s) and/or video recording to the AHA.

(d) I hereby waive all reuse fees or such other fees which might be applicable to the above stated grant and release.

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I represent and warrant that I am of legal age and have the right to enter into the aforementioned agreement of release.