Decades ago, when Michael Lo Presti first began his running career, he started seeing the usual positive results that come with this healthy habit… but one troubling symptom persisted. His blood pressure was consistently measuring high. It turned out he was living with an undiagnosed congenital heart defect. A heart ultrasound revealed the cause of the … Read more
Kaylee Litman shares her daughter’s story as part of her involvement with the 2025 Mid-Ohio Valley Heart Walk. When I was pregnant, I found out that Klara was going to have heart issues when she was born. At that time, I was only aware of her having an extra hole in her heart (ASD). However, … Read more
Allison Kerwin, Senior Vice President of Delaware Commercial Real Estate for M&T Bank, will serve in leadership role. The American Heart Association, the world’s leading nonprofit organization focused on ensuring longer, healthier lives for all, has named Allison Kerwin, senior vice president of Delaware Commercial Real Estate for M&T Bank, as chair of the 2023 … Read more
Michele and John McGovern III always dreamed of starting their own family. So, when they found out they were pregnant and expecting their first child in March of 2020, words could not describe how overjoyed, blessed, and hopeful the couple felt. After what seemed to be a smooth and typical pregnancy, the McGoverns received shocking … Read more
Researchers at Boston Children’s Hospital and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology were awarded funding this week by the American Heart Association and The Children’s Heart Foundation to study congenital heart defects. The jointly funded grants total more than $625,000 and will be distributed among five research projects nationwide. At Boston Children’s Hospital, Mohammad Arafat Hussain … Read more
On Thursday, June 17, 2021, the American Heart Association (AHA) of Greater Maryland hosted its annual Go Red for Women luncheon, digitally, for the second year in a row due to lingering COVID-19 restrictions. Regardless of the format, it remained a powerful time where, just shy of 100 ladies across Baltimore came together to be … Read more
My name is Olivia Richardson and I am a two-time stroke survivor, former LVAD patient, and heart-transplant recipient. I was first diagnosed with cardiomyopathy and had my first stroke at the age of 25. This was a shock to me because I had always been an athlete and been healthy all my life. After my … Read more
My name is Zoe Sher. I have had an atrial septal defect my whole life – all 8 years. I recently had heart surgery to close it because the cardiologist said my heart was getting too big. Before my surgery, I was excited to hear that I needed to have surgery, but on the day … Read more
Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are the leading birth defect in Maine children, however many parents of these children report feeling alone when their child is diagnosed. To help connect families across Maine and to provide a fun day for children with CHDs, the American Heart Association is hosting its 5th annual “Little Heart Hero Day” … Read more