Noa Wind, Program Director/NYC; Katie Casamassina, Associate VP/Development/NYC; Cristina Civetta, host/Congenital Heart Disease Survivor; Bonni Brodnick, Stroke Survivor; Cara Pensabene, MD, VP Medical Director, Mastercard Standing with Cristina Civetta, one of my Survivor Sisters If you're lucky, like me, you can survive a stroke. Among the many things I attribute my recovery to is the American Heart Association and their dedication to supporting groundbreaking research. They also do public education, community programs, and lots more, but here is where the organization touched my life. After having a stroke while driving on Interstate 95, I was sent to Yale-New Haven Hospital in New Haven, Connecticut, where I was in critical condition. My heartbeat was hovering at 30 bpm, with some beats occurring every 8 seconds. If the neuro-ICU unit at this hospital didn't have cutting-edge life-saving procedures, I would not be here writing to you today. As an ambassador to the America...
Could I possibly be ...? Wait ... whatttt? I wanted to embrace my auspicious day with grace and gratitude. I wanted to be calm, cool, and collected on The Big Day. Meditation every morning surely helped. As a Stroke Survivor, I treasure every single thing. I even appreciate sitting upright in my desk chair and typing this to you, because there was a time when that would be impossible. And I'll never forget it. A stroke underscores the absolute preciousness and precariousness of life. And whilst I was recovering, I never, ever imagined I would hit this birthday. Ever. Okay. Say it, Bonni. And say it proudly: I am 70 years old. Many thanks for all of the phone calls, texts, messages on Facebook and Instagram, friends. I am ever grateful for it all. Love, ...