Every heart has a story Time made all the difference in the world

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1 Time made all the difference in the world Lida is a recent stroke survivor. Her husband recognized her stroke symptoms and sought medical attention right away. She lives today with a 100% of her faculties because of the immediate medical intervention and advanced care at Westchester Medical Center. Grateful to be whole again, Lida, in her late-50 s, has been given a second chance at life and knowing now how quickly things can change, she makes every moment count. Lida DeVino

2 Saving families, one heart at a time For every heart saved at Westchester Medical Center, a family is reunited. Behind every failing heart is a family filled with hope. The face of heart disease can take many forms someone s mother, brother, daughter or best friend. By far the greatest reward for Drs. Cohen and Cuomo is knowing that the work they do not only helps patients but it keeps families together. Dr. Martin Cohen, Cardiologist Dr. Linda Cuomo, Cardiologist

3 The best gift is a healthy heart Brooklyn was only 4 years old when her heart murmur was first diagnosed. She had atrial septal defect - a hole in her heart. Following open heart surgery to repair the opening, Brooklyn now lives an active, healthy kindergartner s life. Grateful for the care she received, on her 5th birthday Brooklyn donated her presents to kids at Maria Fareri Children s Hospital at Westchester Medical Center. Mom, Andrea, is so proud of her daughter s generous heart. She says everyday with Brooklyn is her gift and fortunately, they will have a lifetime of birthdays to celebrate together. Andrea and Brooklyn Benedikt

4 A little heart with big dreams Patricia came into this world with only a 90% chance at life. Born with multiple congenital heart defects, her first surgery was at 7 days old. She would later have two more surgeries. Now age 6, and numerous doctor visits later, Patricia is most thankful to her favorite docs, Drs. Sett and Giamelli of Maria Fareri Children s Hospital at Westchester Medical Center, for giving her heart wings so that she can soar. Patricia is wise beyond her years and looks forward to following her heart to wherever it takes her. Dr. Joseph Giamelli, Pediatric Cardiologist Patricia Tuohy Dr. Suvro Sett, Pediatric Cardiac Surgeon

5 One broken heart saved two others (and counting ) At age 15, Katarina collapsed from sudden cardiac arrest while at volleyball practice. Her coaches saved her with CPR and the use of an AED. She was later diagnosed at Maria Fareri Children s Hospital at Westchester Medical Center with CPVT, a rare congenital defect, and was implanted with a defibrillator. Mother, Daria, and brother, Robert, were tested and found to have the same inherited arrhythmia that could have caused their heart to fail at anytime. They now each have an implanted defibrillator to help regulate their heartbeat. Katarina shares her heart-stopping story to champion CPR and AED training in schools to save even more hearts. Katarina, Robert and Daria Weigel

6 More tomorrows for dancing Angelo is 78 years young but too old for a new heart. He suffered his first heart attack nearly 20 years ago and numerous surgeries have followed. Now presenting with end-stage heart failure, Angelo s prognosis was not looking good and he was not a candidate for a heart transplant. Thanks to new technology at Westchester Medical Center like the LVAD an implanted heart pump-- and other medical treatments, Angelo gets to resume his active lifestyle and love for life with his sweetheart of 53 years, Mary. Mary and Angelo DiMartino

7 A helping hand to heal hearts Rolly has been a nurse for 23 years and he knows all too well that heart disease does not care how you look or where you come from. He has seen thousands of patients come through the doors of Westchester Medical Center all from different walks of life and backgrounds. He serves them all with the same goal in mind: to provide care, comfort, hope and peace of mind. Rolly Aguilar, Cardiology Nurse

8 The American Heart Association - Westchester/Fairfield Division presents Every heart has a story A sponsored by Westchester Medical Center An inspiring photo exhibition of seven stories of courage, strength and hope. Thank you to the individuals and families who chose to share their experiences to raise awareness about heart disease. American Heart Association Mission: to build healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke. The AHA s national impact goal is: by 2020, to improve the cardiovascular health of all Americans by 20 percent while reducing deaths from cardiovascular diseases and stroke by 20 percent. Westchester Medical Center Mission: to serve as the regional healthcare referral center providing highquality advanced health services to the residents of the Hudson Valley and the surrounding area, regardless of their ability to pay. In support of this primary mission, WMC also serves as an academic medical center committed to education and research that enables advanced care and prepares future generations of care-givers. Mary and Angelo DiMartino Photographs by: Venture Photography, Greenwich, CT