SAN DIEGO — The numbers are shocking. Heart disease continues to be the leading cause of death for women in the United States.
CBS 8 and the American Heart Association are joining together to “Go Red for Women” during the month of February in an effort to draw attention to the statistics.
CBS 8’s Heather Myers spoke with Jolanda Graham and her daughter Kaelyn, 19, about their stories of survival.
“It rattled us, we were not prepared,” said Jolanda Graham, who lives near the Camp Pendleton USMC base with her husband and daughter, Kaelyn.
Jolanda says when Kaelyn, now 19, was born, there were no immediate warning signs until she was about a week old.
“She was 7 days old when she stopped feeding and we brought her to the emergency room and got the diagnosis that she was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Basically half her heart never developed, she was born with only half a heart,” Jolanda said.
That’s when Kaelyn suffered a stroke and immediately the focus was on keeping her alive. The only way to do that was to find a donor heart, or, a series of three risky open-heart surgeries over the course of a few years.
Without an available newborn donor heart, the family selected the surgery option to re-route Kaelyn’s blood flow through her lungs and into her single ventricle.
For many months, Jolanda was handling this on her own because her Marine husband was on deployment. After Kaelyn’s third surgery, there was more tough news.
“About 6 months later we found out that her single ventricle was failing and there no other options for her except for at some point do a heart transplant,” said Jolanda.
At age 6, Kaelyn received a donor heart.
However, there were major setbacks. There was another stroke and her body has attempted to reject the heart. She requires dozens of pills twice a day.
“She is required to take medications every 12 hours without fail in order to keep her body from attacking her donor heart,” said Jolanda.
Kaelyn is quiet and said she does have some comprehension issues.
“I don't worry about it until I need to worry that something is going to happen,” Kaelyn said.
Kaelyn has had 41 surgeries and is scheduled to have another in April. Her mother says the donor heart usually lasts no more than 15 years. She says at some point, Kaelyn will need a new donor heart. In the midst of all of this, she graduated from high school, she works at Chick-Fil-A and she has learned sign language.
“Right now I am in college at Saddleback and getting my associate's in American sign language,” Kaelyn said.
Jolanda has been her biggest advocate and cheerleader. But two years ago, the stress and exhaustion appeared to be catching up to her. While out exercising with her best friend, Jolanda recalled that many times she felt great while being physical, but when she stopped, symptoms would begin.
“I would feel almost like I was going to pass out. The room would start to spin and if I sat on the couch, I hardly had the energy to get up,” Jolanda said.
Even her Apple watch was alerting Jolanda that her heart rate was low. She ignored it. After being encouraged to see a doctor, Jolanda learned that she had Sick Sinus Syndrome and immediately needed a pacemaker.
Sick Sinus Syndrome is a heart rhythm disorder. Some of the warning signs include dizziness, fainting, fatigue, slower pulse, chest pain and shortness of breath.
“We as women have to get ourselves checked out. We need to know what our numbers are. We need to speak out and advocate for our own health,” said Jolanda.
Jolanda is doing better now. She is helping Kaelyn achieve her dreams. The family has plans to retire in Florida so Kaelyn can work at Disney.
“She never gives up, never gives up, I am so honored to be her mom,” said Jolanda.
Jolanda and Kaelyn Graham will be sharing their story at the “Go Red for Women” Luncheon in San Diego on February 23. CBS 8’s Heather Myers will be the event emcee.
