Page 8 - Go Red For Women 2017

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE
SUNDAY, APRIL 23, 2017
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION OF THE MORNING CALL
8 614-396-3506 or dawn.fernandez@heart.org
WINNERS!
In conjunction with the American Heart Association Go Red For Women Movement
These women earned the most votes in the following categories
to become the 2017 Women Of Heart and will also receive a prize
package valued at over $2,000 including Susan Bella Jewelry
1. HEART CARE GIVER
Honoring a woman who has made an extraordinary contribution as a
caregiver to family or friends affected by heart disease.
Celeste Curatola
I believe that this woman should win because she
has a heart of gold herself. Back on 3-13-13 I suffered
a heart attack while at work. I was taken to a local
hospital and it was determined that I had a blood
clot in my heart. They attempted to treat with
medications but those didn’t work, so 2 days later
they decided to do a routine procedure to take
out the clot, however something went wrong and
I had a second heart attack and I almost died. I
was transported to a hospital in Philadelphia and
recovered there until I got discharged on 3-31-13.
My life changed forever. I truly believe that because
of my wife Celeste, my parents and family and her
family and our friends is why I was able to get better. We were just engaged about 5 months
prior to everything happening to me and she along with my mom and dad stayed at the
hospital at my bed side and didn’t leave me the whole time. She was able to use all of her
sick time and most of her vacation time from work because she didn’t want to leave me.
She could’ve said this is to much and I can’t deal with this, but she chose to ride this journey
together with me. She stuck by my side 24/7 and only leaving for a short time to shower and
do laundry at a nearby hotel.
Fast forward to now, and she still takes care of me because of some limitations that I have. She
had cut the grass until recently when we got a used riding mower so I could do the grass, she
takes on snow removal and I help her a little bit with that. She helps with lifting certain things like to thank God for all the wonderful heart doctors and all of the wonderful surgeons that
because I can only lift so much. She does a lot of the cleaning in the house and she does the
laundry most of the time and helps me do all the yard work. She does all the food shopping
for us and gets great deals. She truly does take great care of me and never complains about
it, oh and she goes with me to all my cardio and defibulator doctor appoitments. Speaking
of food shopping, she turned into an extreme couponing food shopper and is able to get a
lot of products for free or at a reduced price and donate a lot of items to organizations. She
made this her mission when I returned home. She donates a lot to places like the transplant
house at the University of Pennsylvania where her and my parents stayed while I was in the
hospital down there, she donates to the Northampton food bank, and even to animal shelters.
We received a lot of support while I was recovering and this is her way of paying it forward
and being thankful for all the support we received, all doing extreme couponing. This is why I
wanted to nominate her for this award, she has such a big heart, selfless, always putting others
before her, thoughtful, caring, dedicated, loving, funny and most of all my life saver, all while
wanting no recognition or anything in return except for me to be OK. I believe that she is the
ultimate heart care giver and I’m proud and lucky to be married to her.
Please join us at the Go Red For Women Experience. May 12, 2017
10:30AM-1:30PM ArtsQuest’s Musikfest Cafe at Steelstacks.
For tickets and more information, contact Dawn Fernandez at
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2. HEART SURVIVOR 3. HEART EXPERT
Honoring a woman who suffers from heart disease or who has made Honoring a female professional in the fields of health care,
a successful recovery from heart surgery or heart attack, setting an nutrition, exercise or education who has made an outstanding
example for other women to adopt heart-healthy behaviors. contribution to promote heart health among women.
Cindy Holobusky Kaitlyn Lucas
At the age of 7, I accidentally took some pills,
thinking they were candy. My mother found me I am nominating my daughter
unconscious and rushed me to the hospital. The
doctors were concerned as to whether or not I for the 9th Annual Women of
would make a full recovery. They did many tests Heart. She is a registered medical
on me, and during this testing, they found that assistant at Lehigh Valley Hospital
my aortic valve had been blocked since birth. in the department of Pulmonary
The doctors felt it was best to send me to St. & Critical Care Medicine. On April
Christopher’s Hospital in Philadelphia. They did 22, 2016 she was diagnosed with
not have artificial heart valves for children at that a life-threatening heart condition
time. My mother always made sure I went for my
check-ups, but we both knew that this repaired known as pericarditis at the young
valve would not last forever. Later in life, at the
age of 40, I was having some pains in my chest. age of 21. She was hospitalized
I thought it was due to stress, but I made an for several days due to a bacterial
appointment with my heart doctor, only to learn that my aortic heart valve was closing and step infection which attacked her
needed to be replaced as soon as possible. Within a few weeks I had my aortic heart valves heart. Since then she has decided
replaced. Then when I turned 43, I found out I had to have my mitral valve replaced. So at to make it her public platform to
the age of 57, I have had three major heart operations. This past February, it was 16 years with be the American Heart Association:
my aortic artificial heart valve and it will be 13 years with my new Mitral valve in June 2017. I Staying Heart Healthy!. She is the prime example of the AHA’s Life’s
we have in the Lehigh Valley, because without them, I wouldn’t be here today sharing my Simple 7. Over the holiday season she taught herself to sew and made 50
story. Another chapter in my life I would like to share is about 11 years ago, I was diagnosed heart clutch pillows and donated them to Lehigh Valley Hospital’s Open
with breast cancer. I’m doing fine due to the fact I discovered the lump and acted on it right Heart Unit. Kaitlyn has volunteered many hours with the American Heart
away. My heart surgeon and breast cancer doctor worked together to plan everything that Association at their events including the Heart Walk and the Heart Ball
needed to be done to keep me out of danger due to the fact that I am on a blood thinner this year. Kaitlyn also plans on becoming a certified CPR instructor within
and I have St. Jude mechanical valves in my heart. Just another hurdle in my life. I will be a the next few months in hope of raising awareness of CPR in Schools in
survivor of breast cancer, just as I am a survivor of heart disease. I have been involved with Pennsylvania. There is no law set that students should be CPR certified
the American Heart Association raising several thousands of dollars for them. I even had my
own team waling in the heart walk called the Faithful Heart Walkers. I have also received before graduation and Kaitlyn plans on spending her time lobbying at the
several awards from the American Heart Association for Go Red For Women and also was State Capitol for this law to be passed as she believes it is a crucial to
named top heart walker. Because of this walk I did, there will be more research, more know the life-saving skills. Kaitlyn is the definition of a”Woman of Heart”
educational programs and more lives saved. I have been truly blessed due to the technology as she has turned such a negative experience into a positive one.
that we have today.
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