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14 - The Oakville Beaver, Friday September 26, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com Survivors provide inspiration for Heart and Stroke Walk By Kiran Mander SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Heart disease and stroke are among the leading causes of death in Canada taking tens of thousands of lives each year. Every seven minutes, someone dies from cardiovascular disease -- heart disease, diseases of the blood vessels and stroke. However, amid these devastating moments, there remain stories of hope. Among the participants expected for this Sunday's Halton Family Walk for Heart and Stroke at Bronte Creek Provincial Park are four women whose own tales of survival provide inspiration. Sixty-seven year old Margaret Jones is a wife, mother and grandmother of two. She is a strong woman full of love and life. Jones has lived in Burlington since 1972 and her story dates back to New Year's Eve 1994, when she was enjoying a night out in Niagara Falls with her husband and friends. After watching fireworks and taking part in the New Year's celebrations, Jones began to feel severe chest pains. Unselfishly determined not to ruin the night for the others, Jones kept quiet about her pain and called it an early night, to the surprise of her friends who knew her as the partier of the group. She went to her room where she hardly slept. Days later, as the pain continued, Jones went to see her doctor who referred her to a cardiologist. After going for an electrocardiogram and having blood work done, Jones was scheduled for an angiogram, which led to her first angioplasty. Four more followed before she settled on bypass surgery in 1996. Being a healthy, active, non-smoker, Jones and her family were surprised and upset by the news of her heart problems. However, today Jones is leading a healthy life, with no damage to her heart. "I strive to keep healthy and have a positive attitude," Jones said. "As a survivor I feel very blessed and I continue to lead a very active lifestyle and see my cardiologist every year." Jones' experience led her to discover All Natural Skin Health Oakville Spa Special! 50% off ALL Services + 15% off ALL Products (Offer valid until Sept 30/08 with this ad) Positions Available: Estheticians + Front Desk Opportunities for growth available! Please call 416-322-9093 for more information or send resumes to: spa@pureandsimple.ca Shop/Visit us online: www.pureandsimple.ca Yonge - Eglinton Spa 2375 Yonge Street Toronto, Ontario M4P 2C8 t: 416.481.2081 Yorkville Spa 27 Bellair Street Toronto, Ontario M5R 2C8 t: 416.924.6555 King - Bathurst Spa 725 King Street W Toronto, Ontario M5V 2W9 t: 416.366.8558 Oakville Spa 348 Lakeshore Rd. E Oakville, Ontario L6J 1J6 t: 905.844.4900 SURVIVORS: From left, Margaret Jones, Della Coulson and Yvonne Lewis will take part in this Sunday's fundraising Halton Family Walk for Heart and Stroke at Bronte Creek Provincial Park. heart problems run in her family. stroke researchers discovered is She has also become a volunteer able to break down clots in stroke with the Heart and Stroke patients if administered within Foundation. three hours of the first onset of Della Coulson, also of stroke symptoms. Burlington and a volunteer and Coulson regained feeling in advocator for the foundation, is a her fingers within 10 minutes of proud stroke survivor. receiving the drug. Within 24 She suffered a stroke nearly 10 hours she was able to move her years ago. right arm and leg. She worked She had just said goodbye to with speech and occupational her husband who was going to therapists for months to regain work and headed upstairs to her speech and fine motor skills. shower. As she reached for a towel, Today, Coulson is enjoying her right hand suddenly dropped every minute of her life. to her side. She lost feeling in the "I am happy to say I am 48 right side of her face and her legs because I have lived," she said. "I live gave out, causing her to fall. for today and not for tomorrow." Fortunately, Coulson's husThe survivor urges others band had not yet left and upon affected by heart disease and hearing noises upstairs, rushed to stroke to give themselves time for his wife's side and called 911. their body to heal. When paramedics arrived, they Thirty-two year old Milton resdetermined Coulson had suffered a ident, Wendy Carr was born in stroke. Since Coulson reached the 1975 with a fatal heart condition hospital in less than an hour, she was known as aortic stenosis, a valvuan excellent candidate for Tissue lar heart disease that sees the Plasminogen Activator (TPA). abnormal narrowing of the aortic TPA is a drug that heart and heart valve. If you have a news tip or story idea, call the Oakville Beaver at 845-3824. Diagnosed at birth, Carr underwent two open heart surgeries before age 13. After her second surgery in 1987, Carr received a mechanical replacement valve. It offers a longer life expectancy, but features a steady ticking sound, which serves as a constant reminder to Carr of her strength and power. A 2006 surgery again replaced her aortic valve. According to Carr, the scars etched down her chest are the only reminders that she is different from anyone else. "I have been and always will be proud of my scars and proud to be a survivor," she said. "I have been given a third chance at a wonderful life and I am thoroughly grateful." She has become a spokesperson for the Heart and Stroke Foundation, and mentors others in similar situations. Burlington's Yvonne Lewis, 64, has a story that dates back to 1967, the year her son Christopher was born. He was born premature and, just seven days after his birth, it was discovered that something was wrong with his heart. He died of a rare heart disease called endocardiofibroelastosis. While there is still no cure for the disease, Lewis has been working for decades with the Heart and Stoke Foundation to help raise money for research. In 2001, tragedy struck again when Yvonne's husband Richard suffered a heart attack. Afterward, he was told he needed quadruple bypass surgery. Then, five months after Richard's heart attack, Yvonne suffered one herself. With the help of rehabilitation, both Yvonne and Richard are living strong, healthy lives. The four women are members of a six-person walk team, taking part in this Sunday's walk. It features 2.5 and 5 km routes. Registration is at 9 a.m. and the walks are at 10:30 a.m. For information, contact Trina Carey at 905-634-7732. 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