The models, their stories and their outfits:
Mary Anne McDonough
Modeling:
Mary Anne is a mother, wife, sister and heart transplant survivor. She first learned the word "cardiomyopathy" in 2006 after an unknown virus invected her heart. Through a maze of medications and tests, her condition worsened until, in July 2008, Mary Anne received a defibrillator. A few months later it saved her life. Last January, Mary Anne was hospitalized while she waited for a healthy heart to become available. Her miracle came on Feb. 26, 2009. At 2 a.m. the next morning, her new hert was pumping inside her body. With her daughters, sister, husband and father all anxiously waiting, Mary Anne's life began again.
Her passion for the American Heart Association in was born out of her experience. Heart disease does not discriminate. In memory of her donor Dawn, and all other donors, she continued her journey in life. To all the mothers, daughters and sisters of the world, she asks that they take the time they need, be healthy and make each day count!
Desiree Heinen
Modeling:
At 4:30 a.m. on April 16th, 2008, Desiree woke up just "not feeling right." Rushed by ambulance to the hospital, she was diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction, and a stent was inserted on the right side of her heart. Since then she has made major lifestyle changes, not least of which is to volunteer as an advocate for the American Heart Association. Featured in the hospital's "Miracles Happen" campaign, Desiree's photo appears on billboards across the San Joaquin Valley.
Vickie Geary Modeling:
Thin and active all her life, Vickie Geary was surprised when a sensation like a bowling ball pushing down on her stomach turned out to be a heart attack. The American Heart Association's Go Red For Women movement taught her to call the doctor if she experienced unusual feelings in her jaw, neck or torso for she needed triple by-pass surgery at the age of 55. She is surviving and thriving everyday and will be sassy and 60 this year!
Donna Bomgardner
Modeling:
In 1997 Donna was A 35-year-old smoker who weighed more than 360 pounds. Then she was diagnosed with diabetes and had a silent heart attack. Through diet and exercise - and with the help of her very supportive husband of 27 years - Donna has lost more than 150 pounds. In June of 2008,during hip replacement surgery, she suffered a stroke that resulted in a total loss of speech. Surgery to unblock the carotid artery in Donna's neck followed. It was a long road back but as you can see Donna has recovered completely! Donna says, "Be strong, have a sense of humor and keep the faith!"
Anna Nguyen
Modeling:
For more than 30 years Anna lived with shortness of breath and chest pains while she searched for answers. Finally, last year Anna found out she had an anomolous left coronary artery; a rare and serious heart defect. She received open heart surgery immediately, but her bypass failed. She now awaits a miracle from science. Anna's story inspired the creation of the website www.MyMedWorld.com
Nicole Wragge Modeling:
Nicole is enjoying the last year of her 20s and excited for what is to come in her 30s. But she knows it's important to pay attention to your heart health at any age. That's why she became involved with the American Heart Association. She has seen too many friends and family battle heart-related issues and she would like to be a role model for her children. Nicole has brought a local voice to the Go Red campaign by becoming the founding member of the Silicon Valley Circle of Red. With the full support of her husband Tony, number sixty-nine and an offensive lineman for the San Francsico 49ers, and their two lovely daughters, Addison and Avery, she and her fellow Circle of Red members are working ot shed light for so many women on the importance of taking care of your heart!
GUEST INFORMATION:
Dr. Poornima Sood, American Heart Association spokesperson
Director, Clinical Research, at Abbott Vascular, the Bay Area Hometown Sponsor of Go Red For Women.
Catherine Bartels, manager of Macy's Union Square. Macy's is a National Sponsor of Go Red For Women
About the American Heart Association's Go Red For Women movement:
Why the red? The little red dress is the symbol of heart disease and women and the American Heart Association's Go Red For Women movement.
Friday, Feb. 5 is National Wear Red Day
We wear red to raise awareness that heart disease is the number one killer of women as well as men. Join us by wearing red this Friday!
For more information on Go Red For Women, call 1-888-MY-HEART (1-888-694-3278) or visit http://www.goredforwomen.org.
San Francisco 49er Tony Wragge and his wife Nicole will be at Kaiser Santa Clara, 700 Lawrence Expressway, at 9 a.m. on Friday
