Go Red for Forsyth County to Fight and Beat Heart Disease in Women! Part 2!

This week’s spot light is on Paula Hinkle (One of the Ladies of The Fab Five for The Forsyth County Go Red Campaign), I met her right after we were picked for the Go Red Campaign and they were doing an interview for Go Red Month on the news. I liked Paula right away she was friendly, very talkative and outgoing. Her story was so interesting and heartfelt; I thought right then and there I want to put her story on my blog. So here it is:

It was the early morning hour of Nov. 11, 2007. It was exactly 1:38 AM Sunday morning because I looked at the clock thinking my head just set off fireworks!! Realizing this might be a real bad headache, I got up and took some ibuprophen and lay back down, but suddenly my chest felt like it was being crushed, I couldn't breathe very well either. I got up and tried to be quiet so not to wake up my husband and get myself comfortable but after approx.10 min. that didn't happen so I woke him up and tried to explain what was going on. I had no other symptoms and I was extremely healthy (my primary doc had just told me I was so healthy I would never die of heart attack or stroke) that I never thought about my heart. After approx.40 minutes the pressure seemed to subside so we went back to sleep. Yup, we did but two hours later, I suddenly woke up with extreme chest pressure, both of my arms were numb and tingling and we knew we had to make a decision. Again, never did heart attack occur to me. We quickly got in our car and raced off. Yes, that was not the right thing to do because of all the serious things that could have happened. We arrived at Forsyth around 5:30 AM and we were quickly taken in just at the mention of chest pressure. After drawing blood, checking my vitals and running a EKG, it appeared that the team was stumped because all seemed to be with normal range. Doses of nitro and morphine were given, more blood drawn and a cardiologist came to visit, but nothing I remember about a heart attack. Approx. 5-6 hours later the doc came back to inform us that cardiac enzymes had appeared in my blood work and I indeed had had a heart attack!! Shocker!! I was teaching Pilates at the time, working out about every day. All my numbers were great BUT my family had a history of heart related issues!! At 57 yrs. young, it was my turn!!  My doctor said we would remain at the hospital until the next day, since it was Sunday, and a stress test would be done. We settled in, called the kids and my chest pressure was managed by meds until around 5 PM that afternoon when my nurse said that my heart rate was dropping steadily so the doc was summoned and he decided this couldn't wait. He explained the cath. procedure since I would be awake and off I went to surgery. My faith in God is very strong so really at no time was I fearful of what was ahead. I just said ,"Let's go!" In surgery, it was determined that I had one artery that was 100% blocked and had been a long time so nothing was done there .Another artery, however, was 80% blocked so a stent was inserted. My third artery was pretty clean! My recovery was great and my rehab was a blessing from God as I met so many wonderful, yet scared people who had heart issues as well. My diet wasn't really bad, my exercise routine was good, but my genes were bad. Here I am today, turning 62 soon and feel great. I continue to meet amazing people like Robin through this experience and I am a better person because of it.!!

Praise be to God,

Paula Hinkle.

I have had the pleasure of spending some time with Paula, whom I really like a lot, she is an awesome Lady. I recently sat down with her and got to ask her some questions about her participation in The Go Red Campaign.

How did you hear about The Go Red Campaign?

I saw it on FaceBook and sent in my Story.

What’s your goal while serving as a Forsyth County Go Red Woman?

To educate woman like me so that they know that this disease can happen to them due to family history and raising awareness about the dangers of this disease to fight it.

How are you maintaining your health since your incident?

By going to the gym on a regular basis, eating a healthy diet (both help to keep me young also), I make sure to do cardio like the Stairmaster. I also build and maintain my muscle tone with free weights and machines.

Where do you want The Go Red Campaign to lead you?

I want to make sure I use this opportunity to be more active to get more people involved.

Thank you Paula, for your time and involvement, I am so glad you fought and survived this disease, because you make my life more meaningful with you in it. 

Go Red for Forsyth County to Fight and Beat Heart Disease in Women!

Over the next few weeks I will be spotlighting some amazing women; women who have fought the good fight and have won against the number one killer of women in the US, heart disease. I started this blog to share my journey of surviving this killer and then standing up in the fight and making an effort to beat and help others beat heart disease as well. Now I want to share with you some amazing stories about some amazing women, their fight and victories.

We start with Sarah Fedele, she is the major reason I am involved with AHA and this Go Red Campaign. Sarah has given me so many opportunities to speak and share my story, she is my advocate in this fight to help women learn and start to fight this killer. I am proud to say Sarah is my friend, and I am so excited I get to introduce her to you.

Sarah is the Director of Communications for the American Heart Association in the Triad, coordinating media, marketing and community outreach efforts throughout the Triad and surrounding counties.  Sarah has worked for the American Heart Association for six years in North Carolina and in Syracuse, N.Y. She enjoys working with media outlets, corporate and community organizations to spread awareness of the prevalence of heart disease, raise funds for vital heart disease and stroke research and help Triad residents learn how they can prevent heart disease. Sarah’s professional communications experience has also included other non-profit health organizations, recreational/tourist organizations, and public relations and marketing firms. Sarah graduated from Oswego State University in New York with a degree in public relations and a minor in writing. Sarah resides in Kernersville with her husband, JJ, and her two children, Jake and Roslyn.

I got the opportunity to sit down with Sarah and talk with her about this campaign and her job (which I was happy to find out is more than just a paycheck to her).

Why did you choose a career with The Heart Association?

It started out as a good position in New York, but relocated to NC once here I pushed to be involved with the Heart Association because of my family history.

What excites you about the Go Red Campaign?

Getting to meet all the Amazing Women and people that lead to helping to change lives. Also creating a connection with these women, it’s a sisterhood that forms into a close family.

What is your goal for the Go Red Campaign?

For every woman above the age of 15 years to know what heart disease is, to know what the issue surround heart disease is and that yes it is an issue.

Where do you want the Go Red Campaign to lead to?

I hope that this campaign will lead to healthier stress management.

I want to thank Sarah for all her hard work and dedication to this fight against this number one killer in women. She is Absolutely Fabulous!

This is the Go Red Campaign:

"In celebration of the 5th year, that Winston-Salem, NC has Gone Red for heart disease in women, the Office of Mayor Joines, local Go Red For Women sponsor Forsyth Medical Center and the American Heart Association, held a search to find five amazing women from Forsyth County that were either heart attack survivors, heart disease survivors or have made lifestyle changes to prevent heart disease. These women will be the Faces of Go Red in Forsyth County for the year, helping other women in our community prevent and fight heart disease in women!”