HeartCharged

We’ve stood on stages and spoken, sent messages from social media, but know we need to move to a mountain to have the impact needed to stop a killer that claimed as many lives as COVID last year yet stills runs free. 

That killer is sudden cardiac arrest (SCA); those deaths are 90+% preventable with heartcharged safeguards in place. 

Right now we do CPR training, get AEDs donated, put on heart screenings. But do you know why we can’t get a world that has masked itself to unmask this killer and stop the unnecessary death of a child every hour of every day in the US alone?

We lack awareness. 

People don’t realize SCA attacks anyone, any age, anywhere, anytime, that the deaths are rampant, that SCA is the actual #1 killer on campuses. 

Choose us. We will make them aware through the stories of survivors. 

“ . . . in many ways storytelling is more impactful and more empowering in breaking down stigma than anything else. When people are relaxed in consuming content that’s diverse and inclusive, it will impact people and change the face of our country.” (Jay Ruderman)

In this case, it will save and better lives.

Octavia Spencer recently asked, “Can you remember the first time that you saw ‘yourself’ on screen?” We have never seen ourselves on screen, and we’ve watched 17 seasons of Grey’s Anatomy.

In high school, we were miraculously diagnosed with what is an asymptomatic heart condition, HCM, the leading killer of student athletes. Snatched from death, we had to warn the world and find the others like us before it was too late and face our jolted lives together. 

We spoke in schools, churches, grocery-story lines. A year ago, we knew we needed to amplify our work. We’d be vulnerable, but we were ready. We created what has become a highly-interactive Instagram account with 3,500+ followers. 

We have global virtual meet-ups and even personal meet-ups, to stop the isolation and feel community. 

We’re not done. “For so many people, television and movies may be the only way they understand people who aren't like them.” (Michelle Obama) We need other people to understand us and that they could be one of us. And our people need to feel understood and accepted. Our aim's to do this through a documentary of survivors that will bring understanding. We will save and better lives.

A vicious cycle of death.

People do not associate sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) with youth.

So when a youth goes unconscious people do not think to or are not prepared to treat for SCA.

So youth die.

Then there are fewer survivors to show SCA affects youth.

So we don’t prepare for SCA with enough CPR training, AEDs, and heart screenings.

So the equivalent of a classroom a day of children die just in the US. 

Even though 90+% of the deaths were preventable.

But people didn’t know. 

So youth die.

Because people don’t generally meet young people who have survived SCA.

And people basically never see young people have SCA or heart conditions in the media.

Otherwise people would know.

People would associate SCA with youth.

Then when a youth goes unconscious, people would think to and would be prepared to treat for SCA.

So youth wouldn’t die.

When we elevate our platform, the world will know. 

We will make a documentary with: stories like mine - saved by a heart screening, now helping pass legislation to teach students CPR; stories like my sister’s - living through SCA twice while young, bravely sharing it; and stories of other survivors. 

I love the word disruptive here. I love disrupting people’s comfort zone showing up in a defibrillator-on-display outfit. I hope they wonder what’s protruding from my side and ask so there’s a conversation. I’m not hiding my disability or the reason I’m alive. I’m flaunting it. Then others will understand. If flashing some side boob will save a life, I’m down. 

I started HeartCharged determined to show raw reality and genuine gratitude, while young with a chronic condition. I began on Instagram but can’t stop there. Please look at my page, content all by us, comforting people worldwide to know they’re not alone. Entertaining and educating so we find the 1 in 300 with undiagnosed heart conditions. Changing lives by convincing a young girl she won’t be deformed with a defibrillator. Bringing knowledge showing an actual implanted defibrillator shock. 

My approach is authentic. I’m a patient, talking to patients, about things patients know. I authentically care. I’ll drive four hours to meet you or stay up till 4 am to answer a question. 

This bulging, bionic heart warrior is leading the charge out of the closet to disrupt society’s standards of beauty and make sure they include our scarred reality.

The first rights within the Human Rights Acts include right to life and freedom from degrading treatment. We claim these rights for young humans, specifically those with unknown or known heart conditions. 

We want to stop the grieving of families from unexpected deaths of seemingly healthy children. It is heartbreaking. 

We want to stop the solitude of those living with a condition. Stop the mental anguish of those bearing a burden alone and sometimes questioning their own sanity.

We firmly believe that by collecting the stories of heartcharged warriors and bringing them via media into the homes of the world that barriers will be broken and true awareness achieved. Then instead of begging someone to place an AED, shop owners will understand their responsibility. Then instead of finding a team to heart screen, it will be a regular part of well check-ups. Then instead of teaching a person here or there CPR, school systems will ensure all students learn this life-saving skill. 

We have amazing success stories already – but the success needs to be elevated to a global scale. We watched the world care about a health-care crisis this past year. We know we can tackle this one next.