Angela had her first heart attack at 35. Doctors weren’t quite sure why. She didn’t have any blockage in her arteries. A few weeks later, she had a second heart attack. A few months later, she had a stroke.
Angela was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. Her heart was too weak to efficiently pump blood. Doctors suspected cardiomyopathy, a condition that weakens and damages the heart muscle. Angela also had atrial fibrillation, an irregular heartbeat.
Angela’s doctor mentioned the possibility of a heart transplant in the future. She started medication to strengthen her heart and reduce fluid buildup.
Over the next several years, Angela had two more strokes and a third heart attack.
About 10 years after that first heart attack, it was time for a new heart. While waiting for a match, she received a left ventricular assist device, or LVAD, that does the pumping for the left side of her heart.
About two years later, a donor heart was found. Within weeks of the transplant, Angela felt stronger than she had in decades.
Now, 16 years later, Angela is 63 and taking full advantage of her second chance.
She takes exercise classes at her church, goes to the gym and spends as much time as possible with her eight grandchildren and great-granddaughter.
“I’ve seen my grandchildren get their degrees,” she said. “You just have to have faith and believe. I was determined to stay positive.”
Angela also volunteers with the American Heart Association. She’s especially involved in Go Red for Women, helping spread awareness about heart disease.
The Go Red movement also supports research into women’s heart health, which has come a long way in the three decades since Angela’s problems began. Research has shown that women are more likely than men to have certain types of heart attacks that occur without a major blockage in the coronary arteries. So if Angela’s story were playing out today, it would likely be handled very differently.
“I Go Red,” she said, “to let people know God is still performing miracles.”
Read Angela’s Story From the Heart: heart.org/en/news/2026/0…
Angela was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. Her heart was too weak to efficiently pump blood. Doctors suspected cardiomyopathy, a condition that weakens and damages the heart muscle. Angela also had atrial fibrillation, an irregular heartbeat.
Angela’s doctor mentioned the possibility of a heart transplant in the future. She started medication to strengthen her heart and reduce fluid buildup.
Over the next several years, Angela had two more strokes and a third heart attack.
About 10 years after that first heart attack, it was time for a new heart. While waiting for a match, she received a left ventricular assist device, or LVAD, that does the pumping for the left side of her heart.
About two years later, a donor heart was found. Within weeks of the transplant, Angela felt stronger than she had in decades.
Now, 16 years later, Angela is 63 and taking full advantage of her second chance.
She takes exercise classes at her church, goes to the gym and spends as much time as possible with her eight grandchildren and great-granddaughter.
“I’ve seen my grandchildren get their degrees,” she said. “You just have to have faith and believe. I was determined to stay positive.”
Angela also volunteers with the American Heart Association. She’s especially involved in Go Red for Women, helping spread awareness about heart disease.
The Go Red movement also supports research into women’s heart health, which has come a long way in the three decades since Angela’s problems began. Research has shown that women are more likely than men to have certain types of heart attacks that occur without a major blockage in the coronary arteries. So if Angela’s story were playing out today, it would likely be handled very differently.
“I Go Red,” she said, “to let people know God is still performing miracles.”
Read Angela’s Story From the Heart: heart.org/en/news/2026/0…
