Survivor Erin Vickers will share her powerful heart story at the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women Luncheon in October
Erin Vickers of Latham is only now learning what “normal” is for her and her family. She will share her story of living with heart disease at the Go Red for Women Luncheon, a movement of the American Heart Association, a relentless force changing the future of health for everyone everywhere.
Vickers enjoyed a healthy pregnancy with her first child, who was born during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, her second pregnancy in 2023 and a previous diagnosis resulted in serious health concerns for herself and her baby.
“I first learned that I had a Level 1 heart block in 2018, before I had children,” Vickers said. “As someone who is adopted with no family medical history, I had always prioritized preventative care and in 2018, opted for a cardiac workup as a precautionary measure. Doctors found a Level 1 heart block but did not believe it would cause any issues.”
Vickers began to experience dizziness during her pregnancy, and a heart monitor showed that the Level 1 heart block had progressed. Since she was pregnant, doctors were hesitant to act – even when she passed out during her pregnancy. While her son was born safely, a few months later, she passed out again and was badly injured.
“It was scary after the diagnosis to live with the idea that I might pass out at any time,” Vickers said. “I had to push hard with doctors. I grew up privileged, but I’ve been aware of healthcare disparities since I’ve been a contributing member of society. Professionally, I work on developing a health equity strategy and anything regulatory as it relates to health equity. I have also seen things through my volunteer work in the community that shouldn’t be happening. I am aware that women’s concerns are not always taken seriously, and that for women of color, that issue can be amplified. I lived it, and it was shocking that it happened,” Vickers continued.
A subsequent visit to a cardiology walk-in clinic led to Vickers being told she needed surgery immediately. Surgeons implanted an ICD, a battery-powered device that keeps track of her heart rate and corrects life threatening arrythmias. During recovery, a rare complication occurred resulting in a second surgery. Throughout the extended recovery period, she could not care for her two children or even hold her infant son due to the restrictions during the healing process.
Vickers, the health equity program manager for CDPHP®, is living what she has always encouraged people, and something that is the major tenet of Go Red for Women: advocate for yourself.
Vickers met her husband David, the executive director of the East Greenbush YMCA, at Roberts Wesleyan University in Rochester. They live in Latham with their children. Vickers is also pursuing an MBA in healthcare administration at Southern New Hampshire University. She is a volunteer advocate for the Alzheimer’s Association of Northeastern N.Y. and is a volunteer at the Unity House of Troy.
Karen Carpenter, president and CEO of Vanderheyden and chair of the 2025 Go Red for Women Luncheon, said of Vickers’s experience, “My goal with this year’s campaign is for women to take action if something doesn’t feel right. Vickers did just that – and is here to return to a normal life, holding her children whenever she wants; enjoying life with her husband; and improving our community through her work. We’re grateful that she’s sharing her story, and I know it will accomplish the goal of more women advocating for their own heart health.”
The Capital Region Go Red for Women Luncheon is set for Thursday, Oct. 30, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Albany Capital Center. For information, visit www.heart.org/GoRed518.