Local heart survivor is reclaiming her rhythm in her recovery from cardiovascular disease
During American Heart Month and to inspire women to ‘Reclaim Your Rhythm,’ the American Heart Association, announced 12 heart disease and stroke survivors who are sharing their stories as part of the Association’s Go Red for Women® movement.
Claudia Norman a New Britain, Connecticut resident who had open heart surgery in 2019, when she was 53, was selected from more than 100 applicants around the U.S. to join the 2022 class of “Real Women.”
Every year, the Association chooses a group of women, affectionally called, “The Real Women,” to help people to personally identify with the cause. The women, who come from all walks of life, serve as year-long national volunteer ambassadors for the initiative.
” I am excited to represent the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women movement along with 11 other awesome heart survivors. I am honored for the platform to raise awareness about heart disease in women, and the importance of women’s heart health”
Claudia was diagnosed with a coronary cameral fistula, an abnormal communication between a coronary artery and one of the chambers of her heart. Until that diagnosis she lived an active and normal life with what doctors told her was a heart murmur, hole in her heart and an enlarged heart.
In 2019 at the age of 51, Claudia had open heart surgery to repair a coronary cameral fistula. She also had a Maze procedure which eliminated an atrial flutter.
“My open-heart surgery enabled me to reclaim my rhythm literally”, said Norman.
Claudia wants to show the world how she has reclaimed her rhythm and take back control of her health after life threatening cardiovascular disease affected her. By speaking out, she hopes to inspire other women to do the same.
“As a Christian, I believe in the healing power of Jesus Christ, I stand firmly on biblical scriptures of healing—including Psalms 139: 14-16. My heart condition was congenital. I never thought my healing would happen via open heart surgery, but I trust God and accepted what He allowed. I am healed, healthy and whole and I’m grateful to have had an amazing team of pediatric medical experts who knew congenital heart defects inside and out. It changed the course of things”
Go Red for Women, nationally sponsored by CVS Health, is the American Heart Association’s signature women’s initiative to reduce heart disease and stroke in women. Through the initiative, the American Heart Association is working in communities around the world to help improve the incidences of cardiovascular disease in women.
According to the American Heart Association’s newly released 2022 Heart Disease & Stroke Statistical Update, cardiovascular disease remains a woman’s greatest health threat. COVID-19 – and all the complexity of life because of it – remains top of mind causing many people to experience lower physical and emotional wellness. Experts say the effects of COVID-19 are likely to influence cardiovascular health and mortality rates for many years[1], directly and indirectly, physically, and emotionally.
To learn more about how you can Reclaim Your Rhythm and what is happening locally, go to Heart.org/Connecticut. Learn more about women’s heart health and the 2022 Class of Real Women, visit GoRedforWomen.org.