Stephanie Mattera's Story
Please join the American Heart Association in its mission to promote heart healthy living and heart disease prevention through education.
In February 2007, I was at work when I received a call that my mother was in the hospital for an emergency angioplasty
procedure because a main artery was 95% blocked. My mother had experienced flu-like symptoms for months and
no one knew her symptoms were the signs of heart disease. Her father had passed away from a heart attack at the age of 54,
but the signs of heart disease manifest differently in women. Our family was blessed to have a close friend that was a former nurse. She recognized the symptoms and recommended that my mother see a Cardiologist.
That decision saved her life!
My relationship with my mother has taught me about friendship, love, and living life to the fullest. Each day with her is a gift!