Heart disease continues to be the No. 1 killer of New Yorkers. Listen to Your Heart and Thrive highlights stories from within the Thrive community that reflect the reality of heart disease and stroke. This shared initiative with the American Heart Association is working to help people thrive in New York City and beyond.
Together, we are relentlessly focused on the heart of our community. Through the Heart of New York City Gala campaign, we celebrate our collective success in driving change, funding science and improving health outcomes for everyone, everywhere.
March: Overlooking Family History
After losing his father to a sudden heart attack, Ananta spent decades diligently monitoring his own health and believed he was doing everything right. Despite excellent test results and a healthy lifestyle, he began experiencing subtle warning signs, but left them overlooked, resulting in an immediate quintuple bypass surgery. His story is a powerful reminder that heart disease can hide in plain sight and that listening to symptoms—and medical advice—can be lifesaving.
February: Resilience of the Heart
Sharron’s journey is one of resilience, medical breakthrough, and hope. Once a healthy young athlete, she later discovered a life-threatening congenital heart defect that required emergency open-heart surgery—just after her family had endured the devastating loss of both parents to heart disease. That surgery not only saved her life but made motherhood possible. Her story is a powerful reminder of the life-changing impact of early detection, advanced cardiac care, and the importance of lifelong heart health awareness.
January: Turning Leadership Into Legacy
Driven by a desire to be a great father and leave a meaningful legacy, Bill McLaughlin is leading by example. After a personal health scare during a business trip revealed how suddenly heart disease can strike, McLaughlin doubled down on his commitment to proactive care, awareness, and access for all. Now serving as Chair of the American Heart Association’s Heart of New York City and championing Thrive’s Listen to Your Heart and Thrive initiative, he is using his leadership, philanthropy, and personal experience to inspire communities to recognize warning signs, seek care early, and build a healthier future for their families and beyond.
COMING SOON…
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