Stories from the Heart – Page 6 – Cardiology Associates of Ocean County

18 01 '23

ER worker’s heart stopped, leaving her ‘the color of Cookie Monster’

Cardiac arrest and heart attack survivor Christi Eberhardt (right) with her daughter, Emily. (Photo courtesy of Christi Eberhardt) As a child life specialist in the emergency room of a children’s hospital, Christi Eberhardt spent a Wednesday morning getting kids comfortable with their upcoming procedures. She showed them IVs and other surgical equipment. Around midday, Eberhardt,…

13 01 '23

When he stopped breathing, his dog called out for help

Cardiac arrest survivor Ken Walsh (left) with his wife, Nicole, and dog, Indiana. (Photo courtesy of the Walsh family) On a Friday morning in late February, Ken Walsh and his wife, Nicole, sat on their couch in East Brunswick, New Jersey, having coffee and talking about weekend plans. Their dog, Indiana, a 6-month-old Australian Shepherd…

11 01 '23

ER nurse went into cardiac arrest at daughter’s school

ER nurse manager and cardiac arrest survivor Laura Rodriguez. (Photo courtesy of Laura Rodriguez) Lea en español Laura Rodriguez felt dizzy after dropping off her 5-year-old daughter for one of the first days of kindergarten. Then she began sweating as she walked the halls of the elementary school in Arlington, Texas. This made no sense….

04 01 '23

Heart attack at 46 led to a new heart and new outlook on life

Heart attack survivor Eddie Garcia. (Photo courtesy of Buggsy Malone) Lea en español Eddie Garcia juggled roles as the chief of staff for an elected official and the president of a school board. The positions seemed to be wearing him down. At 46, he felt short of breath, his neck was sore and he had…

23 12 '22

AHA News’ most-read survivor stories of 2022

Cardiac arrest survivor and Fordham University softball shortstop Sarah Taffet with her team’s championship trophy. (Photo courtesy of Makenzie McGrath) Nearly 100 survivors of cardiovascular disease, stroke, congenital heart defects and more were featured this year. Here are the top 5 stories readers were inspired by, ranked in order of unique page views. 1. College…

22 12 '22

Days before Christmas, new mom had a stroke

Stroke survivor Ashley Hammontree. (Photo courtesy of Ashley Hammontree) Two months after giving birth and a week before Christmas 2016, Ashley Hammontree was enjoying a snowy day at home in Greenwood, Missouri. Wearing pajamas, she nursed her baby, Elijah, and set him in a swing. Her husband, Ryan, came inside from playing with their dogs….

20 12 '22

Heart transplant recipient honors her donor ‘by living the best possible life I can’

Heart transplant recipient Linda Jara. (Photo courtesy of Linda Jara) Even now, years later, Linda Jara’s voice resonates with notes that can only be fully appreciated by certain people – people like her who carry someone else’s heart. Her tone is filled with gratitude. Awe. Contemplation. Thoughtfulness. Sorrow. Exuberance. The overwhelming feeling that someone else…

16 12 '22

He used to hike mountains. A stroke left him learning to walk again.

Stroke survivor Richard Samuelian (top) with his daughters, Emily (left) and Abigail. (Photo courtesy of Richard Samuelian) Richard Samuelian recently got back from a hike in Yosemite National Park. A few years ago, the 52-year-old couldn’t walk down the hallway of his home in Fresno, California, without help. Richard was watching television one day when…

13 12 '22

Kentucky Wildcats basketball player won’t be sidelined by heart surgery

Kentucky Wildcats center and congenital heart defect survivor Tionna Herron. (Photo courtesy of University of Kentucky Athletics) When Tionna Herron was 8, she learned some valuable things: She was good at playing basketball. And she had a rare heart condition that sometimes made her chest hurt after she played. Her condition had a long name…

08 12 '22

He collapsed after 2-on-2 basketball game against his son. His teammate saved his life.

John Holschuh (left) and Joe Greco. (Photo courtesy of John Holschuh) On a sunny fall day, Baltimore dads Joe Greco and John Holschuh teamed up to take on their teenage sons in a game of 2-on-2 basketball in the Greco family’s driveway. The boys were tough foes. Teammates on their high school squad, the teens…

Category: Stories from the Heart