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Why Jonita is a heart warrior

I advocate for heart valve disease because I am a heart warrior! I chose not to use survivor because living with heart disease is a everyday battle. I am a advocate because I ignore the signs, I thought, oh it will past. I said, “I’m too young, I’m too active”. No one in my family has heart issues so this can’t happen to me! I’m an advocate because I don’t want another person to go through what I went through. I was 35 years of age when I had to have my mitral valve replaced and 37 when I received my pace maker. Know the signs and ACT!!!!! Heart valve disease can be treated.

February 12th will mark my 5 year anniversary of the implantation of my pacemaker!

Recent Stories

Finding comfort in other people’s stories

By lending my voice to the conversation about valve disease, I hope my experiences can help other patients who feel as overwhelmed and intimidated as I first did, even in just a small way.

Nina Bamford’s story

Nina Bamford shares her experience with aortic stenosis. Nina recognized that her quality of life had declined due to valve disease, and sought treatment.

Linda shares to help others

After her symptoms started to worsen and her energy level dropped, Linda contacted her cardiologist and was diagnosed with mitral valve stenosis.

Susan shares her story to help others

I just thought that the shortness of breath with exercise was I wasn’t in as good of shape, my lungs had some scarring from radiation, and I had some chest tightness and I thought that was just anxiety.