Meet Diane

When the daily short walk to her mailbox became a struggle, Diane knew that something was wrong. After seeking medical advice from her family doctor, she was referred to asthma specialists.

“My symptoms became progressively worse and there was no explanation. I am a high school teacher, and the kids were scared because I looked so bad. I had to hold on to the walls just to steady myself to walk down the hallways,” Diane recalls.

Her asthma doctor recommended she see a cardiologist. After a stress test and echocardiogram, she was sent to Ann Arbor for further testing. The results revealed that she had a very rare heart condition that she was born with.

“My condition was sending deoxygenated blood throughout my system. I was surprised that I didn’t have any symptoms until now. After research, I found out that this type of congenital defect typically doesn’t manifest until the 5th decade of life.”

The surgery to repair Diane’s heart was performed at a children’s hospital by surgeons who specialize in rare conditions like hers. The day after surgery, she was up walking. She set new goals for herself every day to walk longer distances.

Diane remembers, “During therapy, I got up to 3 miles per day. This inspired me to sign up for my first 5K at the Run for Your Heart races to celebrate my accomplishment.”

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