The month of February is often dedicated to matters of the heart, but it’s not all about Valentine’s Day.
It’s American Heart Month, and local organizations will host events to remind people of the dangers of heart disease.
“More women die from heart disease than from the other four leading causes of death, including all cancers. More children die of congenital heart defects than all three childhood cancers combined,” said Michelle Alloway, division director for the American Heart Association Great Rivers Affiliate. “Unless it happens to someone personally, they don’t think about it.”
Epsilon Sigma Alpha, Alpha Theta chapter, will have a luncheon and fashion show by Chico’s at noon Thursday at The Medical Center auditorium. Door prizes will be awarded. Tickets are $12. Proceeds will benefit the American Heart Association. For more information or to reserve a ticket, call Romanza Johnson at 842-3416.
The Heart Institute at The Medical Center will have a reunion for former heart patients from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Knights of Columbus Hall. For more information, call 796-5566.
Rockin’ B Horse and Carriage Rides will give carriage rides downtown from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays throughout the month. Rides, which will begin across the street from 440 Main Restaurant, are $5 for adults and $1 for children under 13, who must be accompanied by a paying adult. Twenty percent of the proceeds will benefit Mended Little Hearts of Bowling Green, which is part of a nationwide group that provides support for families and caregivers of children with congenital heart defects.
“We have 53 groups nationwide,” Mended Little Hearts co-coordinator Venica Pollard said. “We were the first one to start a support group in the state of Kentucky.”
According to the March of Dimes, congenital heart defects are the most common birth defect and the top cause of birth defect-related deaths. CHD Awareness week continues through Monday.
Pollard’s daughter, Zoey, was born with a congenital heart defect. Zoey, who will turn 4 on Feb. 22, has had several surgeries, has survived a stroke and has decreased blood flow in both legs in addition to other ailments. It doesn’t stop her from being a fun-loving preschooler, though.
“She continues to thrive every day. She doesn’t let life slow her down. She’s full of laughter and love,” Pollard said. “She’s our little miracle. Her heart defect does not define her.”
Pollard said her daughter is her hero and a survivor.
“She looks healthy on the outside but her scars tell a different story. She’s endured more in her short life than most adults will endure their whole lifetime,” she said. “That is why it is so important for our family to raise awareness and funding for research for congenital heart defects.”
Alloway said she is speaking to several local groups this month to talk about a variety of heart-related topics, including how heart attack symptoms for women may be different than those for men and ways to keep heart disease at bay.
“There are certain things you can do with diet, exercise and lifestyle where you can prevent (heart disease),” she said. “So many people say ‘I just have high blood pressure.’ It’s heart disease. It’s not something you play around with.”
— For more information about Mended Little Hearts, call group coordinator Lara Barnhouse at 392-4839 or co-coordinator Venica Pollard at 303-0377. For more information about the American Heart Association, call Michelle Alloway at 842-5700.
