Our Hearts Our Stories
Stories of Resilience from Women Living with Heart Disease
Gayl’s Story
This is Gayl’s story of surviving coronary artery disease, undergoing a triple bypass and stent placement, and discovering the sex gaps in heart health care. Now a peer support leader, she helps other women navigate their own heart health journeys with strength.
Daphne’s Story
Daphne’s heart journey began unexpectedly with a sneeze, leading to the discovery of a life-threatening aortic dissection and emergency open-heart surgery. Finding support through a women’s group, she now seeks to give back by helping others.
Leslie’s Story
Leslie’s heart journey began with unexplained shortness of breath and chest pain, leading to a diagnosis of microvascular angina. Despite treatment challenges, she persisted, finding support through a women’s heart group and cardiac rehab.
Zybina’s Story
This is Zybina’s story of living a healthy lifestyle yet facing unexpected heart challenges, from stent placement to a triple bypass and a cancer diagnosis. Through cardiac rehab and peer support, she regained her strength and hope.
Meghan’s Story
This is Megan’s story of navigating atrial fibrillation from its unpredictable onset to multiple ER visits and eventual cardiac ablation. Through cardiac rehab and the Women@Heart support group, she found strength, knowledge, and community.
Donna’s Story
Donna’s heart journey began with unexplained fatigue, mobility issues, and episodes of vomiting, eventually revealing a silent heart attack. Despite recovery challenges, including hip surgery, she found strength through cardiac rehab.
Joan’s Story
Joan’s story highlights living with microvascular angina and how, through cardiac rehab, peer support, and persistence, she’s learned to navigate life with her condition – encouraging all women to listen to their bodies and speak up about their symptoms.
Jo-Anne’s Story
Jo-Anne’s heart journey began unexpectedly in Sweden, where she suffered a heart attack and received a stent on Christmas Day. Back in Canada, she struggled to find follow-up care and emotional support until joining a peer program for women with heart disease.
Margaret’s Story
An endurance athlete for almost two decades, Margaret found herself starting over after a heart attack. Through cardiac rehab and peer support, she rebuilt her strength, learned to advocate for herself, and is now back on the track, training for a half marathon.
Carol’s Story
Carol’s story sheds light on the confusion and emotional toll of receiving a heart attack diagnosis – one moment confirmed, the next questioned. After her MINOCA diagnosis, she found clarity and strength through a peer support group and by advocating for her care.
Kathleen’s Story
A retired emergency nurse with over 40 years of experience, Kathleen ignored her symptoms until a frightening episode led to a diagnosis of Prinzmetal angina. Through rehab and peer support, she’s found strength, clarity, and a community of women who understand.
Want to connect, share your story, or ask a question? We’d love to hear from you! Reach out to us at ourheartsourstories@gmail.com and be part of the conversation.
“As women, we tend to be caretakers of others. We need to learn to be better caretakers of ourselves.”
Gayl
Women with lived experience
This project was funded by the University Health Network Foundation (UHN) PiPER Portfolio (Grant #2024-002).