Melanie Withers is a Heart Mom who wants to continue to share Blakely’s story, not only to keep her story alive but to help other Heart Parents who are facing similar battles. If you are reading this, consider yourself privileged. Privileged to even hear the story of my sweet Blakely Elizabeth. She was feisty, she
Devon has been named a Go Red for Women “Real Woman” spokesperson for our Go Red for Women national campaign. She is in the first class ever selected for Congenital Heart Defect Survivors. This is her story. I was born with an atrioventricular septal defect and a mitral valve defect. My parents were given two
The challenges facing our world are many – from timely concerns such as the coronavirus pandemic and the renewed emphasis it has placed on the need to dismantle structural racism to the ongoing challenges of treating and beating the top two killers around the globe: heart disease and stroke. As president of the American Heart
Because of the dedication of AHA supporters and volunteers statewide, it was a landmark year of public policy achievements for cardiovascular health in the Commonwealth of Virginia. These successes demonstrate that constituents have the power to make significant change when they join in the fight against heart disease and stroke. “As a stroke survivor and
Long before the pandemic, systemic challenges have contributed to disparities that impede some people from living long, healthy lives. Your ZIP code should not determine how long you live, but it does. Social factors, which are shaped by the distribution of money, power, and resources, as well as immigration status, occupation, and language preference, have
On May 15, the Eastern States Community Impact team launched the first webinar of a series designed to discuss the impact of COVID-19 in communities of color. The webinar was offered to health equity leaders nationwide and was attended by approximately 1,035 participants. During the webinar, implications of COVID-19 from the perspective of economics, education,
Long before the coronavirus impacted how we live, work, and play, systemic challenges contributed to disparities that impede some people from living long, healthy lives. Your ZIP code should not determine how long you live, but it does. Social factors, which are shaped by the distribution of money, power, and resources, have been mostly responsible
Updated May 29, 2020 Long before the coronavirus impacted how we live, work, and play, systemic challenges contributed to disparities that impede some people from living long, healthy lives. Your ZIP code should not determine how long you live, but it does. Social factors, which are shaped by the distribution of money, power, and resources,
The 2020 Roanoke Heart Ball was not only a lovely event with great attendance, great food, lots of fun and plenty of excitement, but it also became the highest-grossing Heart Ball in event history! Thanks to a perfect storm – great attendance, incredible sponsors and so many generous donations made that night – the 2020
Healthy Market VA, a coalition of organizations representing thousands of Virginians with chronic diseases, small business owners, and older adults spoke out on Tuesday, January 28 at the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond to ensure that preserving life-saving patient protections and strengthening Virginia’s health insurance marketplace are top priorities for lawmakers this session. State lawmakers