This is undoubtedly one of the most important blogs that I will write.

In 2005, I lost my husband, my partner, my friend, Elliott to Congestive Heart Failure. The story is very short. He went to the ER on March 19th complaining of shortness of breath; he was treated for bronchitis with Albuterol & Prelone and he was told to follow up with a cardiologist “when we get a chance” because his EKG showed evidence of an “old” heart attack. Surprisingly, he was sent home to follow-up with our family doctor; yet, no one ever mentioned that the chest x-ray showed an enlarged heart, or that the lab values were indicative of immediate cardiac disease… or we would have followed up with a Cardiologist immediately! The followup with our family doctor was consistent with the ER diagnosis; this time Elliott was screened by a med student, who added Advair and Zithromax antibiotics to his regimen… still, it was our understanding that there was NO urgency to see a Cardiologist. Continue reading Save a Heart→