Go Red!

February 3rd, is National Go Red For Women day, bringing awareness of heart disease--both sickening and killing more than twice the number of women per year than breast cancer, btw--to women(and men) the world over.

In honor of GoRed day, I wanted to share a short story with you.

For those of you who don't know, I have heart disease. I was not born with it, but have had it for over a decade, and had to have a pacemaker implanted when I was 19. My problems started in high school, when I began to pass out cold for no apparent reason 2 - 3 times a day. I was put on medication which helped me get to college, but my problems came back, at which point I had the pacer put in. Since then things have been up and down; recently up, allowing me to work-out and even run (though I still have to walk) half marathons. There are still a number of things I can't do, for instance my husband and I had to leave Florida because the weather was too extreme for me, it takes me forever to get through airport security, and I can't have any more kids. Honestly, I had so many heart issues during my first pregnancy, that they told me not to have my second daughter, but she was something of an accident. :) Sure there are downsides, but in the grand scheme of things I am extremely lucky and blessed to have the life and opportunities that I do.

Heart disease is a serious condition and affects more people than you may realize. Make sure to get your cholesterol checked at least once a year, no matter your age, and make sure your loved ones--especially the women--know to do the same. Don't forget about heart disease simply because it doesn't offer pretty pink merchandise and marketing campaigns.

Okay, enough with the heavy. I hope everyone had a good week, is having a great Friday, and will have super (pun intended) weekend! :)