Joe Keenan likes to go to Atlantic City to celebrate his birthday every year. When he turned 54 in August 2023, he was there with his family, but something that wasn’t typical of his birthday celebration was happening: he was exhausted, and he got so winded he could hardly walk. “I knew I was out…
Stroke survivor and heart transplant recipient Vang Her with his family. From left: Devin, Vang, Zsuzsa and Kaiya. (Photo courtesy of Vang Her) Two months before his wedding, Vang Her had a cough he couldn’t shake. For weeks he’d hacked incessantly. How could he walk down the aisle or enjoy his honeymoon in New Zealand…
Cardiac arrest survivor Rafaelito Cruz (right) and his wife, MiLinda, who performed CPR on Rafaelito until first responders arrived. (Photo courtesy of MiLinda Cruz) Lea en español After another emotional day investigating domestic violence and child abuse cases in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, Rafaelito Cruz sat down to dinner with his wife and two of…
Trombonist and singer Tommy Meares had a heart attack at his home while he was getting ready for a gig. (Photo courtesy of John Posada) For nearly a decade, trombonist and singer Tommy Meares shared the stage with Jon Bon Jovi, playing in the Kings of Suburbia, the rock legend’s 11-piece band for private shows….
Terrianne Zonca survived a cardiac arrest and was later diagnosed with a rare condition called long QT syndrome. (Photo courtesy of Boivin Photographe) The morning of Terrianne Zonca’s grandfather’s funeral in Honolulu, she was so busy getting ready that she forgot to eat breakfast. Before going to the mortuary, Zonca’s family gathered at her parents’…
Stroke survivor Joyce Moty at the community garden she helped start at Bradner Gardens Park in Seattle. (Photo courtesy of Joyce Moty) Like most days, Joyce Moty was planning to visit Bradner P-Patch, the community garden she helped start at Bradner Gardens Park near her home in Seattle. Moty is a fixture there – and…
Stroke survivor Precious Guan (left) and her partner, Gil Navarro. (Photo courtesy of Precious Guan) Precious Guan was excited about her budding nursing career. Born and raised in California, she finished college there and went to New Hampshire for her master’s degree. When she wasn’t studying, she was outdoors, often hiking and rock climbing. Her…
Twin sisters Olivia (right) and Sofia Hart were diagnosed a with rare genetic condition that caused their hearts to enlarge and fail. (Photo courtesy of Sofia Hart) Fresh out of college with a degree in nutrition, Olivia Hart went home to Martha’s Vineyard to waitress and figure out her next steps. In her spare time,…
Heart transplant recipient Katherine Herrmann (right) with her husband, Ian, on their wedding day in 2023. (Photo courtesy of Devin Hill) While the other kids went out to play during kindergarten recess, Katherine Herrmann had to stay inside. She was born with a heart problem that required her to take medications every day. Because blood…
Cardiac arrest survivor Memphis Zabawa. (Photo courtesy of the Zabawa family) Memphis Zabawa loves playing soccer. Yet because he has asthma, all the running can be especially taxing. So, last fall, the seventh grader joined his school’s cross-country team. His first race went fine. Midway through the second race, all was going well, too. His…