Free womens' heart screening to be held
Bonnie Michel
Alix Garcia is fond of saying "I saved my grandma's life."
His grandmother, Bonnie Michel, has to agree.
It was several years ago that she and grandson, Alix, were wrestling around on the living room floor. Over the course of the spirited match Bonnie was "pinned."
It was at this point that she blacked out.
When she came to she was looking into the face of a very concerned Alix. He asked if he should call for help. Bonnie insisted that she was alright.
It was only after Alix told her that he was quitting sports if she didn't see a doctor that she agreed to go. The EEG did not show any seizure activity.
At that point her family physician in Othello, Dr. R. S. Bunch, referred her to Dr. John Peterson with Providence Spokane Cardiology.
Michel passed the treadmill stress test with flying colors. She wasn't as fortunate with the echocardiogram that followed.
She learned that she would need open heart surgery within a year to insert a heart valve.
Dr. Peterson explained that people's aortic valve normally have three cusps; she had only two cusps with severe narrowing. This placed extra strain on her heart.
Michel had the surgery within a month.
"I never had any pain from the surgery," she said. "The hardest part was remembering to raise both arms at the same times so the device would heal in place."
Michel's recovery went well; she had check-ups at six weeks, six months and now annually.
Michel does not have a history of heart disease. She has an active life style. She and husband, Randy, have two children and five grandchildren. They keep busy going to sporting events involving their five grandchildren including cheer leading, wrestling, volleyball, basketball, soccer, track and baseball.
"However," Michel said, "Alix refuses to wrestle with me anymore."
National Wear Red Day is celebrated the first Friday of February every year.
Heart disease remains the number one killer of women, killing more women than all forms of cancer combined.
Columbia Basin Health Association will be conducting heart screening assessments for women from 10 AM to 4 PM on Friday, Feb. 7th at all their clinics.
Many women, like Bonnie Michel, are unaware that there is anything wrong with their hearts.
These screening assessments help determine a patient's heart history, blood pressure and risk factors.
No appointment is necessary; the assessments are performed free of charge, and those who participate will have a chance to receive a take home blood pressure monitor or a heart healthy cookbook.
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