February is American Heart Month which allows us to recognize the heroic donors who give those battling heart disease a second chance at life along with the grateful recipients who are living every day to the fullest after receiving the ultimate gift. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and impacts multicultural communities disproportionately. Today is National Wear Red Day and it gives us all the chance to bring awareness to the unique heart health challenges women face. We would like to introduce you to our Advocate for Life, Maggie.
She is married to a wonderful man named Pete and they have been married for over 20 years. They also have two children, Mackenzie and Peter. They raised their children in the Bay Area and moved to Nevada about eight years ago. When Maggie was 16 years old, she was diagnosed with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) and it changed her life drastically. She was a swimmer in high school and loved her workouts. One day after a swim meet, Maggie got out of the pool and collapsed. She was admitted to the hospital and completed several tests. Maggie was put on medicine and told sports were no longer an option for her. She learned how to adjust her life around having this disease. It progressed over the years, but her health went downhill fast on July 5, 2023. Maggie felt very sick and was vomiting all day. In the middle of that night, she began to worry and wanted to go to the hospital where she was transported by ambulance. They drew Maggie’s blood and instantly came back with results that did not seem right because there was no way her blood sugar could be that low without her losing consciousness. Based on her results, they said they needed to immediately start her on dialysis along with consulting with a hepatologist (liver specialist). After a few days in the hospital and many tests later, they realized that transplant was Maggie’s only option for survival and they began to make plans to transfer her to Salt Lake City, Utah. At the time, her exact condition was still a mystery. Initially, it was believed that liver failure was causing all of Maggie’s health problems, but then they realized her heart wasn’t functioning properly after all kidney and liver medical interventions had been completed. This meant she was removed from the national transplant waiting list for a liver until her heart was functioning properly and she was no longer unstable.
Finally, on July 22, 2023, after being evaluated by a team of cardiologists for a heart transplant, Maggie was relisted, but this time for a heart transplant. After an incredible number of ups and downs emotionally, physically and mentally, Maggie received the lifechanging news that her heart team had found her perfect match on August 21, 2023. Maggie would be receiving her new heart. Unfortunately, later that night, her doctor came into her room with watery eyes saying that there had been an issue with the heart’s mitral valve. Maggie and her loved ones tried to focus on the fact that her doctors’ dedication to saving her life is why they were holding out for the right heart. Another offer was made and once again, the heart was not healthy enough to transplant. In a powerful twist of fate, four days after her first offer, there was a third heart available that after testing was determined to be the perfect match for Maggie. On August 26, 2023, Maggie was brought to the operating room, and she successfully received the gift of life. Her doctors could not have been happier with Maggie’s outcome. The words that came to her loved ones’ minds were “amazing”, “miraculous” and “the most wonderful awesome gift of life”. Maggie’s doctors even referred to her as a rock star because of her recovery pace. Finally, on September 18, 2023, Maggie was discharged from the hospital. It was a tearful goodbye to all of her caregivers and the team who saved her life.
According to the American Heart Association, there are four ways you can support women’s heart health during American Heart Month:
Are you inspired by the ultimate gift Maggie received? Become a hero today here!