According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), heart disease is the number one killer of women, accounting for one in every five female deaths. According to the American Heart Association (AHA) Go Red for Woman campaign, one out of three deaths in women is related to either a heart attack or stroke. These are…

In 2012, after giving birth to her youngest son, Kassandra Y. was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, a hereditary disease that affects the heart muscle and makes it harder for the heart to pump blood to the rest of the body. Although cardiomyopathy is a very serious condition, Kassandra and her family had no idea the journey…

While pregnant on a trip to California with her husband, Kyle, in September 2019, Connie suddenly became very ill and swollen. Still concerned about her health once she arrived back home in New Mexico days later, her mother encouraged her to go to the doctor. She was worried  she may be experiencing preeclampsia, a complication…

In 2010, during a routine physical, Christopher H.’s doctor suggested a colonoscopy. As a 51-year-old at the time, Christopher knew it was a good idea, especially considering his family history of colon cancer, but his fear of knowing if anything was amiss prevented him from undergoing the procedure. Fast-forward to March 2020, at the urging…

Lisa Markland and her husband Dave Markland completed the 10K for the Run, Walk & Roll event on the C&O Canal towpath that went from Darnestown to Potomac, Maryland and back. Her husband is a very healthy 62-year-old Coast Guard veteran but Lisa’s story is a bit unique, and why they chose this particular race…