attend Shannon’s high school graduation in the spring.
Shannon helped by driving Alicia to doctors’ appointments. “My mom had taken care of me, and now roles were reversed,” Shannon says.
Shannon decorated her graduation cap with a heartbeat made from gemstones. Alicia beamed as her daughter received a diploma.
“It was an emotional day from start to finish,” Shannon adds. “There were tears.”
Seven years later, Alicia feels “absolutely wonderful.”
“All of us who’ve been blessed with a transplant know we’ve been given a gift,” she shares.
She serves on a patient and family advocacy and organ donation council at the hospital where she got her transplant. When she shares her experience, she stresses the importance of self-care.
“Stop thinking you’re Superwoman and just ask for help,” Alicia says. “Realize you’re valuable. You deserve to be poured back into. It’s also OK to say no.”
Protecting your heart
Young Black women show a high prevalence of obesity, elevated blood pressure and other lifestyle-related factors that may put them on a path to develop heart disease at a young age, according to a study presented at the American College of Cardiology’s 70th Annual Scientific Session.
Unfortunately, many women don’t know their risk factors, which makes education so important.
You should talk with your doctor about the following risk factors for heart disease:
Non-modifiable risk factors:
- Race
- Gender
- Age
- Family history
Modifiable risk factors:
- Diet
- Physical activity
- Smoking cessation
- Weight
- Cholesterol
- Blood pressure
“Early intervention is possible when you know there is heart disease in your family history and can share that information with your physician,” says Poulina Uddin, MD, a cardiologist at Scripps Clinic.
By American Heart Association