In April of 2021, while living in Washington State, my 26-year-old husband collapsed in our kitchen without warning. During his fall, he hit his head on the counter and ended up in a slouched position, wedged between our island and counters. When I dialed 911 and told the operator what had happened, she instructed me…Read More…

Tricia Schmitz (right) is pictured giving an interview at North Dakota Lobby Day 2025. One Empowered Heart Uniting Many   Interview and Written by:  Myriam Medina, Midwest From the age of eight, Tricia Schmitz faced unimaginable challenges. She experienced her first stroke on her eighth birthday, losing complete feeling on the left side of her…Read More…

Life can change in an instant. For Dawn Turnage of Columbus, Ohio, that instant came in the form of a stroke. After experiencing the terrifying reality of a stroke firsthand, she made a powerful decision: to transform their experience into a force for change. While recovering, Dawn realized the critical need for increased public awareness…Read More…

I am a stroke survivor. My life changed forever in my 40s, during what was supposed to be a joyful and exciting time. I was out of town—out of state, actually—traveling with my youngest daughter as she toured universities for the upcoming year. It was a trip full of hope and possibilities, a milestone in her life that I was so grateful to be a part of. It was our first girl trip without my husband, and we felt quite accomplished for not getting lost. That night, we went to bed feeling on top of the world, excited for the morning.Read More…

Tony Lindeman (right) is pictured with Cliff Rosenberger, who was speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives when House Bill 113 passed requiring CPR/AED training as a prerequisite for high school graduation in the state. (Courtesy of Tony Lindeman) Survivor-turned-advocate helps Ohio schools secure funding for CPR education By Tony Lindeman, Midwest In 2012, while…Read More…

An AED Saved My Life by Canen Dickman It happened a year ago. I was 15 years old when I went into cardiac arrest. I can’t remember any of it – but have heard the story many times. That day, soccer practice started like any other. We were warming up by running around the track…Read More…

The harmful impacts of tobacco have deeply influenced my life and ignited my passion for advocacy with the American Heart Association. My commitment stems from personal experiences and the negligence I’ve observed in addressing these critical issues: During high school in the inner city of Cleveland, I witnessed peers engaging in smoking behaviors with both…Read More…

Each year, more than 356,000 people experience cardiac arrests outside of the hospital in the United States. Only about one in ten survive, because only about 40% get the immediate help they need before emergency responders arrive. On Monday morning, February 7, 2022, Clark Elementary School nurse, Meagan Lozano, was in her office when a…Read More…

My name is Tamika Moore, and I want to share my story in hopes that it will inspire others to prioritize their health before it’s too late. I am a mother of two and work in the healthcare industry. However, despite being in a field that focuses on wellness, I found myself neglecting my own…Read More…

My name is Mary Taft and I am the mother of a Sudden Cardiac Arrest survivor. On June 4, 2022, my 13 year old daughter Nina was playing in a soccer tournament at Starfire sports complex in Tukwila Washington.  She had started that game but within 20 minutes her coached subbed her out. Nina took…Read More…