My name is Samantha Meister, I am thirteen years old and a survivor. When I was born I was diagnosed with isolated ventricular inversion and heterotaxia. It means that my lower heart chambers were switched or inverted while developing. When I was seven weeks old, I had an eight hour open heart surgery to correct the problem. The surgery had a risk of damaging the Sinus Node in my heart which is responsible for pacing the heart and, unfortunately, it did. Nine years after, this started affecting my heart rate and I had to have a pacemaker inserted. I also had some problems with the leads of the pacemaker and I needed two more surgeries.
For the past three years I have helped raise funds for the American Heart Association because I would not be alive without them. The research they have funded created the pacemaker and open heart surgery, and the hospital I was treated at follows the American Heart Association’s guidelines for treatment. I am very fortunate to have the opportunity to raise money and increase awareness of heart disease through the American Heart Association. Samantha's Story
The American Heart Association is the largest voluntary health organization working to prevent, treat and defeat heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases. These diseases, the Nation's No.1 and No.3 killers, claim more than 865,000 American lives a year. Thanks to all our walkers, donors and volunteers who have accepted the challenge to help fight heart disease and stroke. We cannot achieve our mission without each one of you!
For more information please contact Laura Denoux or Brooke Gonzalez via phone at (305)631-4753 or via email at brooke.gonzalez@heart.org
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