SOMA Living October 2021

CHARITABLE ACTS MAPLEWOOD MOM SHARES HEART JOURNEY IN HOPES TO CREATE AWARENESS

Kimberly was born with a hole in her heart, but it wasn’t until she was 20 years old that it would be discovered. Because she was young, healthy, and active, doctors didn’t think anything of Kim’s symptoms in her childhood years. Congenital heart defects are structural problems with the heart present at birth, and generally become evident during the first few months after birth. Defects range in severity from simple problems, such as “holes” between chambers of the

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heart, to very severe malformations, such as complete absence of one or more chambers or valves. Some defects are harder to detect than others and may not be diagnosed until much later in childhood, even adulthood. At just nine years old, while running the mile for gym class at school, Kim was having trouble breathing and was sent home with “exercise induced asthma.” A few years later, while driving with friends, Kim’s pinky finger started to feel numb, followed by her ring finger, then arm. She was struggling to speak and was afraid of what exactly was happening. At just fifteen years old, Kim was diagnosed with aura migraines by a neurologist. Again, the doctor did not find anything, and Kim was left with another warning sign but no solution. By the age of 20, Kim’s doctor discovered a heart murmur and continued with an ultrasound and EKG (electrocardiogram) test. She had a hole in her heart the size of a pencil eraser that went straight through her septum, causing her heart to work overtime. This is known as an Atrial Septal Defect (ASD). At 21 years old, her hole was plugged with an occlude made of titanium and Kim finally had the solution she had been waiting for. Since her surgery, Kim has been living a healthy and happy life. Now, an eighth-grade teacher, wife, and mom to a three-year-old active boy, Kim is enjoying more time with her family. Like all heart patients, she continues to be monitored regularly by her cardiologist. As the Passion Chair for the Northern NJ American Heart Association, Kim’s goal is to spread awareness and educate people about heart disease and stroke. “I want people to talk about the warning signs and have real discussions about ways to aid in research and cut that number of people dying in half,” said Kim. “Heart disease runs in my family, so being born with CHD puts me at a higher risk, but I am useless to everyone I love if I don’t speak up. It’s important to live not just for myself but for others and spread a message of self-care and self-love.” To help make a difference, join us at the Northern NJ Heart Walk, greaternnjheartwalk.org.

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OCTOBER 2021 | SOMA LIVING 23

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