Susan2

20+ years since diagnosis

Age at interview: 60

Susan is a retired teacher who lives in Ontario with her husband. Susan’s heart issues began 32 years ago when she was just 28 years old. At the time she was one of just a few “young” heart patients on the heart unit. Genetic testing revealed that Susan’s family carried a gene that damaged the heart muscle – dilated cardiomyopathy. In the beginning Susan searched for programs that would help her get back on her feet, unfortunately there were not many programs the focused on those with issues related to the heart muscle. Susan manages her heart failure with medications. As well as CRT device which was implanted in 2022. Susan has been privileged to see many medical advances through her 30 plus years with heart failure she credits these advances with keeping her healthy such as remote monitoring programs, devices and medications. Susan says that in addition to a daughter, a wife and a teacher, heart failure is just another piece of who she is.

 

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