Young Women Beat Heart Attack
What could have killed them truly has made them stronger. Three Chicago-area survivors of a rare cause of heart attack called spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) will host the first-ever gathering of SCAD survivors worldwide the weekend of May 4-6, 2012.
Naperville, IL, April 24, 2012 --(PR.com)-- Area Survivors Support Mayo Clinic Research
What could have killed them truly has made them stronger. Three Chicago-area survivors of a rare cause of heart attack called spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) will host the first-ever gathering of SCAD survivors worldwide the weekend of May 4-6, 2012. SCAD happens when the inner layer of an artery dissects, separates in a way that either tears into a flap or bulges to block the flow of blood into the heart. Either way, the blockage creates angina and if not corrected, leads to heart attack and in many cases, death.
Social media brought them together. Meghan Scheiber-Bradford, Deb McGarry and Cheryl Crisman knew each other only by “screen name” when they met on the WomenHeart Online Support Community, hosted by Inspire. All three fit the profile of SCAD patients: young, fit, and with no risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or arterial plaque. SCAD strikes without warning.
Scheiber-Bradford, of Blue Island, IL, was only 33 when she had two heart attacks just days apart. The cause of both remains a mystery, but the second one -- a confirmed SCAD -- was treated with stents. Crisman, of Morris, IL, suffered her heart attack from SCAD at age 38, a few months after the birth of her second child, and underwent emergency bypass surgery. McGarry, of Naperville, endured her heart attack at a time of extreme stress at a funeral. After being rushed to the nearest hospital, she received two stents to repair blockage caused by SCAD.
As their online relationship grew, the trio realized how amazingly close they live to one another. Even more unbelievable, they learned of a Naperville family – also touched by SCAD – who was planning a 5K Walk. It was a no brainer what they would do: throw a party for the few known SCAD survivors worldwide.
The three women have joined forces with the extended family of Bob Alico, founder of SCAD Research Inc. In memory of Alico’s wife, Judy, who died of SCAD in 2010, his sister-in-laws and their families in Naperville are honoring her memory through a worldwide effort to raise awareness of SCAD, as well as funds to advance SCAD research at Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN). Scheiber-Bradford, Crisman, and McGarry have rallied more than 20 survivors of the 230 on the WomenHeart online support community to attend the first-ever “reunion” in Naperville. Also, the lead researchers of the Mayo Clinic studies, Dr. Sharonne Hayes and Dr. Marysia Tweet, will walk for SCAD and present an update on the research at a survivors-only luncheon Saturday.
“We each were told we’re so rare we’d never meet another SCAD patient,” says McGarry. “But here we all are. How do you explain it?” Like other survivors, these women believe that SCAD is not so much rare as it is rarely diagnosed. Through awareness and research, they are determined to change this fact and make sure SCAD doesn’t happen to others.
The 5K Walk is at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 5 at the Springbrook Prairie Forest Preserve, Naperville, IL 60564.
What could have killed them truly has made them stronger. Three Chicago-area survivors of a rare cause of heart attack called spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) will host the first-ever gathering of SCAD survivors worldwide the weekend of May 4-6, 2012. SCAD happens when the inner layer of an artery dissects, separates in a way that either tears into a flap or bulges to block the flow of blood into the heart. Either way, the blockage creates angina and if not corrected, leads to heart attack and in many cases, death.
Social media brought them together. Meghan Scheiber-Bradford, Deb McGarry and Cheryl Crisman knew each other only by “screen name” when they met on the WomenHeart Online Support Community, hosted by Inspire. All three fit the profile of SCAD patients: young, fit, and with no risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or arterial plaque. SCAD strikes without warning.
Scheiber-Bradford, of Blue Island, IL, was only 33 when she had two heart attacks just days apart. The cause of both remains a mystery, but the second one -- a confirmed SCAD -- was treated with stents. Crisman, of Morris, IL, suffered her heart attack from SCAD at age 38, a few months after the birth of her second child, and underwent emergency bypass surgery. McGarry, of Naperville, endured her heart attack at a time of extreme stress at a funeral. After being rushed to the nearest hospital, she received two stents to repair blockage caused by SCAD.
As their online relationship grew, the trio realized how amazingly close they live to one another. Even more unbelievable, they learned of a Naperville family – also touched by SCAD – who was planning a 5K Walk. It was a no brainer what they would do: throw a party for the few known SCAD survivors worldwide.
The three women have joined forces with the extended family of Bob Alico, founder of SCAD Research Inc. In memory of Alico’s wife, Judy, who died of SCAD in 2010, his sister-in-laws and their families in Naperville are honoring her memory through a worldwide effort to raise awareness of SCAD, as well as funds to advance SCAD research at Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN). Scheiber-Bradford, Crisman, and McGarry have rallied more than 20 survivors of the 230 on the WomenHeart online support community to attend the first-ever “reunion” in Naperville. Also, the lead researchers of the Mayo Clinic studies, Dr. Sharonne Hayes and Dr. Marysia Tweet, will walk for SCAD and present an update on the research at a survivors-only luncheon Saturday.
“We each were told we’re so rare we’d never meet another SCAD patient,” says McGarry. “But here we all are. How do you explain it?” Like other survivors, these women believe that SCAD is not so much rare as it is rarely diagnosed. Through awareness and research, they are determined to change this fact and make sure SCAD doesn’t happen to others.
The 5K Walk is at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 5 at the Springbrook Prairie Forest Preserve, Naperville, IL 60564.
Contact
SCAD Research Inc
Laura Meyer
630-254-5412
www.scadresearch.org
Laura Meyer
630-254-5412
www.scadresearch.org
Contact
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