determined there was no improvement — and in fact, her condition was worsening. The surgery to repair the valve and several holes in Shelby’s heart went well, and she made a quick and full recovery, despite suffering a stroke at 6 years old after her heart surgery and going through physical therapy. Today, Shelby is happily married, and recently moved to the Mandeville area. She enjoys spending time with her husband, walking their dogs, tv show binges and cooking. “It is so important for everyone, but especially women, to take their health seriously. If you think something is wrong but are told “it’s nothing” or “I don’t know why you feel that way” – please get multiple opinions. You should have no doubts about what is going on with your health. If my parents hadn’t listened to their guts and changed pediatricians, I wouldn’t be here today,” says Shelby. Sharing stories like Shelby’s helps the local American Heart Association show how heart disease and stroke affects everyone — regardless of gender, race, or age. It also helps highlight the strides that have been made in research and advocacy. When Shelby was born, there was no mandatory pulse oximetry testing for newborns. Now, all newborn children must have this simple, painless test. And as a result, doctors are catching heart defects much sooner. JOIN THE FIGHT. RECLAIM YOUR RHYTHM. After more than 18 months into this pandemic, Americans feel overwhelmed and stressed, which
Listen to Your Heart by Mary Fein
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“WORKING WITH THE American Heart Association is personal for me as I am a heart survivor,” says Shelby Givens Lombardo. Shelby first showed signs of serious illness at 18 months old. Because of spiking white blood cell counts, doctors thought she might have leukemia. Tests came back negative, but the periodic symptoms remained a mystery for another year and a half. At the age of 3, a cardiologist set up some tests to see if perhaps Shelby had a heart murmur. The results showed that Shelby had a cleft in her mitral valve, which was causing the beginning stage of congestive heart failure. She would need to go on blood pressure medication and would likely need open heart surgery. In 2004, the day before her fifth birthday, she went with her mother for a checkup at Vanderbilt, and they
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negatively impacts cardiovascular health. Heart disease deaths rose significantly in the past year. Cardiovascular diseases remain the greatest health threat to Americans, but the pressures of COVID-19 remain top of mind. People are suffering from lower physical health and mental wellbeing, as well as uncontrolled high blood pressure. Stress from the fallout of the pandemic is amplifying these conditions. This February, we are uniting for American Heart Month to help Reclaim Your Rhythm to live longer, healthier, fuller lives. Because losing even one mom, brother, friend, or neighbor to cardiovascular disease is too many. Poor mental well-being is acritical problem that, if neglected, can lead to serious health complications like heart disease. Today, 1 in 3 Americans report being
photos courtesy: SHELBY GIVENS LOMBARDO
Shelby Givens Lombardo’s Survivor Story
