Every Age Goes Red for Heart Health!

Location: Zacharellis Garden, Elmhurst
Hair & Makeup: Rose Flynn, Mary Beth Nealon, Michelle Foley and Brea Bidwell of Alexander’s Salon & Spa, Scranton
Photography: Stan Warunek, Montage Photography
Text: Erika A. Bruckner

AGE: 4
Karley Rose Hill
Day Job: Preschool Student, JFK Elementary
Resides: Scranton
Family: Parents Douglas and Kristy; Sister Karalyn
Pets: Scooby (Beagle)
She Loves: Ballet, singing, swimming, attending local plays, going to the library and the Philadelphia zoo.
Northeast PA Favorites: “I love to play in the snow! Sleigh riding and making snowmen and snow angels.”

“I was born with a congenital heart defect called Tetrology of Fallot. I had open-heart surgery at 4-months-old at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Now, I love to swim, dance, to go on walks with my family and play at local parks!” Karley was the 2013 Child Chair for the Lackawanna County Heart Walk. She has raised money and participated in the walk the past three years and plans to be involved in the future.

---

AGE: 11
Mackenna Cole
Day Job: 6^th Grade Student @ West Scranton Intermediate School
Resides: Scranton
Family: Parents Michael and Michelle; Siblings Caitlyn, Michael & Cameron
Pets: Enzo & Mia (Dogs)
She Loves: Dance, cheerleading, basketball, swimming and hanging out with girlfriends
Goals: Be a high school cheerleader and attend Penn State University

“I had three open-heart surgeries and many cardiac catheterizations in the past 11 years. My first surgery was at 3 days old.” Regular visits to her pediatrician, many doctor’s appointments and procedures at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and a daily regimen of medications are routine for her. “Mackenna is not going to let having a CHD change her life. She does everything and anything any other eleven-year-old girl is doing,” explains her mom. “Don’t let Mackenna’s quietness fool you, she is a fighter through and through.” Mackenna is not restricted from any physical activities; in fact, her cardiologist loves how physically active she is! She was the Child Chair for the American Heart Association in 2008; she and her family are very active in raising awareness and funds in the community.

---

AGE: 27
Kara Levandoski
Day Job: Physician Assistant, Geisinger Health System, Cardiology
Resides: Nanticoke
She Loves: Fashion, shopping crafting, and spending time with friends and family
Education: King’s College
Northeast PA Favorite: Four beautiful seasons and the lovely, natural landscape
Giving Back: Pennsylvania Society of Physician Assistants
Greatest Accomplishment: Learning new things while helping people
Lesson Learned: “I have many patients who are well into their 80s and 90s, and despite having a cardiac diagnosis, remain healthy, active and happy. I often ask them, “What’s your secret?” and they all say the same thing, “I worked hard all my life and continue to keep busy.” Hidden Talent: She’s won hula-hoop competitions!
Goal: To provide trustworthy and compassionate healthcare to patients every day!

“My cardiology classes in the King’s Physician Assistant program immediately sparked my interest in the heart. I chose Cardiology as my elective rotation and did my clinical rotation in Cardiology at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center and Cardiac Surgery at Geisinger Community Medical Center. Working with real heart patients was fascinating to me, and I knew I wanted to focus on cardiovascular medicine after graduation. I was lucky enough to work with Dr. Mark Bernardi in his cardiology practice for two and a half years before we both joined Geisinger in the summer of 2013. Providing care to cardiac patients, both physically and emotionally, has definitely affected me in a positive way. Seeing my patients get better and make heart-healthy choices has touched my heart and made me feel good about helping them through their illnesses.”

---

AGE: 30
Julie Melf
Day Job: News Manager, WNEP-TV
Resides: Wilkes-Barre
She Loves: Traveling, baking, enjoying life, hanging out with friends and loved ones
Education: Wilkes University
Greatest Accomplishment: “This is something I tell all kids with heart conditions. Never let anyone tell you what you can or cannot do. You decide. Find a way around it. I was that kid who wasn’t allowed to take part in recess or gym class, and instead of being sad about it, I used that free time to study and get my homework done. It paid off; I graduated at the top of my class. I think not allowing myself to be a victim or a statistic is my greatest accomplishment.”
Hidden Talent: Multiple-time cupcake competition winner.
Goals: To be happy and live life to the fullest. Eventually I would also love to settle down and get married.

“I was born with aortic stenosis, a bicuspid valve and a heart murmur – a rare, terminal heart condition. I spent a majority of my childhood in various hospitals for different treatments, and I was correctly diagnosed in grade school. I ended up getting a mechanical valve replacement in October 2010 after going into congestive heart failure. My heart started to shut down. I then started “Project 365,” which was trying to do one new thing a day until my life-or-death surgery. The doctors told me that if I didn’t have surgery I wouldn’t survive until Thanksgiving. We thought the initial surgery went well, and I went home after being in the hospital for about one week. On my first night home, I went into heart failure again. They found out I was going through cardiac tamponade and had about seven liters of blood pressed up against my heart. I had to have another open-heart surgery. I spent the next month in the hospital. They didn’t think I would push through; my family even purchased a cemetery marker for me. But miraculously, I pulled through. I went through a rigorous cardiac rehab program. I was the youngest person in my class, and now my days are filled with taking Coumadin and hearing my heart tick due to the mechanical valve. I’m happy to report all is well now, and I plan on having a luau-themed birthday party when I turn 101. I believe women who have heart surgery scars should not be ashamed or embarrassed by them; they are signs of survival and should be worn with pride.

“I’m a huge advocate for preparing families and getting testing for children at birth. Who knows what early testing would have done for me and countless others? One simple, non-invasive test could save the life of a baby born with a congenital heart defect, but many newborns are not being tested.” Rep. Karen Boback (R – 117^th District) introduced House Bill 1420 to require this test, called pulse oximetry screening, for all newborns in Pennsylvania. It passed the House in November 2013.

---

AGE: 39
Deana Kilmer
Day Job: Registered Nurse; Nurse Practitioner Student; USAF Major, Assistant to Chief of Provision of Nursing, Air Force Medical Operations Agency; Self Employed, Living the Green & DMK Medical Legal Consulting; Co-owner, Green Field Energy Solutions
Resides: Greenfield Twp
Family: Husband Jeff; Children Myha & Macie Mae
She Loves: Skiing, running, learning, being a mom and creating with my kids, gardening, teaching and serving in the community.
Education: Penn State University, University of Scranton, Walden University
Northeast PA Favorite: Four seasons, mountains, activities for every season, relatively safe community
Greatest Accomplishment: Serving in the US Air Force for the past 15+ years
Lesson Learned: Set boundaries and goals for yourself that include “you time” with family and children. Incorporate a healthy lifestyle into your family.
Goals: I plan on establishing a private practice in natural and functional medicine as a Family Nurse Practitioner at the end of 2014 to practice primarily natural, functional medicine by healing with the root cause in mind not symptom management.

“I worked in nursing for almost 18 years. I started my career at Hershey Medical Center in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit where I provided care for Heart Transplant and Cardiac Surgical patients. I literally had my hands on patients’ hearts. Registered Nurses have unique positions to inspire and empower others to take one more next step whether big or small. As women, we by nature tend to put everyone before ourselves. It is important to integrate time for our spiritual, physical, emotional and nutritional needs. We need to accept that it is okay to take time away for ourselves to provide self-care.”  

---

AGE: 48
Joy Wolk de Soto
Day Job: Owner of Birchwood Fitness, Certified Personal Trainer, Fitness Instructor, Nutritionist
Resides: Clarks Summit
Family: Children Elena & Dana
She Loves: Fitness Activities
Education: University of Delaware, Syracuse University, Medical Center of Delaware
Northeast PA Love: Great place to raise a family with safety and security; school systems are competitive; you can work hard and earn a comfortable salary without extreme cost of living.
Greatest Accomplishment: Raising my kids
Lesson Learned: The ability to manage stress is a huge benefit to the physical body and can lead to greater wellness and happiness.
Little-Known Fact: I’m extremely shy. Many people are surprised at that, since I spend a lot of time interacting and teaching large groups!

“While working at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, I began teaching fitness classes, which soon became a passion of mine. Upon moving back to Northeast PA, I continued to teach fitness classes at all of the area gyms. I settled at Birchwood Fitness in many roles including group fitness instructor, trainer, manager and now owner since 2012. Of course my job has made me more aware of heart disease.  A large number of clients and members have heart disease, and only after diagnosis did they then begin to listen to the advice that they have largely ignored for many years. It is unfortunate that many wait until they are diagnosed, but it is never too late to begin. No matter what, everyone needs good eating habits and regular exercise. My goal is for people to realize that exercise is fun, and there are so many activities that can be chosen to fulfill this criteria. Personal trainers are not just a luxury item, a personal trainer can help keep you motivated and interested in a wide variety of activities. Eating healthy doesn’t equate to being on a diet; unfortunately this is how many people perceive nutrition. Eating a large variety of vegetables and fruits, whole grains and lean meats is not any harder than eating unhealthy processed foods. I enjoy activities like exercise, and teaching classes are part of my workday. So even if I lacked motivation or time, which are stumbling blocks for many people, I cannot avoid exercise as it’s part of my job. I also know many people count on me to keep them motivated and engaged, so I don’t want to fail them. As a teenager, I struggled with my weight, so studying nutrition held a real benefit for me personally. I cannot possibly get away with eating unhealthy. (Which is unfortunate for me if I ever do go to Manning’s for ice cream, because I get the evil eye from many of my clients. Haha!)”

---

AGE: 63
Donna Lisowski
Day Job: Pro Bono Associate, NEPCA Career and College Counseling Associates; Retired educator; Former District Guidance Department Chair and secondary school counselor.
Resides: Peckville
Family: Husband Thomas; Daughter Jillian
She Loves: Reading, theatre, Cooking, Traveling with my husband, spending time with family and friends.
Education: Catholic University of America, University of Scranton
Northeast PA Love: Strong sense of community; proximity to major cities
Greatest Accomplishment: 2001 Walmart’s Sam’s Club “Teacher of the Year” award winner
Lesson Learned: “Surround yourself with people you love and who love you; never stop learning; appreciate the blessings in your life, and always, ‘remember to laugh; it is cheap medicine.’”
Hidden Talent: Plays piano
Goals: Maintain an active and healthy lifestyle, remain engaged and open to new learning experiences, pursue professional development; learn Italian; travel to Italy and enroll in a ballroom dancing class.

“I have been dealing with heart disease and its impact pretty much my entire life. Both parents were affected. My dad’s first heart attack occurred when he was 36. He died when he was 54 following his fifth heart attack. My mom passed away seventeen years after having quintuple bypass surgery. My older brother underwent heart surgery and received five bypasses when he was 55. I have one younger sister who also has heart-related issues. Because of my strong history, I began educating myself at an early age, initially to help my family, and then later, to learn more about my own risk factors. I became aware of my lipid profile and started taking preventive approaches. I was diagnosed with cardiovascular disease following my initial heart catheterization and stents placement. I underwent another cardiac intervention that resulted in additional stents.

“Campaigns like the “Go Red For Women Day” have done a great deal to raise the level of awareness of heart disease in women and to inform the public of the difference between men’s and women’s symptoms. I can remember when my dad became disabled, the current thinking was that heart disease and heart attacks happened primarily to men. Not so today. Whenever possible, women need to be proactive. You are the best advocate for your own health. Take the time to get checked, especially if you have risk factors. Learn what your numbers mean. None of us can do anything about the genetic makeup we inherit, but we can all make an attempt to manage factors within our control. Even small lifestyle modifications can make a difference. By doing so, I believe you gain a sense of empowerment and control over your disease that you would otherwise not feel.”

---

AGE: 71
Bonnie Maciak
Day Job: Volunteer; Retired cosmetologist
Resides: Clarks Summit
Family: Husband Ken; Children Scott and David; Daughter-in-Laws Ana and Dena; Grandchildren Cole and Avery.
She Loves: Volunteering, gardening and cooking
Education: Lackawanna Beauty School, Penn State University
Northeast PA Favorite: Interesting people
Greatest Accomplishment: Raising my family. Opening my own business in 1964 at that time most business owners were men.
Lesson Learned: “Health Care is Self Care”
Hidden Talent: Canoeing. Goals: To stay healthy enough to continue my active life and volunteering.

“My heart problems have caused me to have a stroke, open heart surgery and a stent. I also need to have a mitral valve replacement. I have learned to take control of my health and to better educate myself regarding heart-health issues.  I have found our local hospitals have great programs and health fairs to help heart patients. I also learned not to sweat the small things in life, having less stress. My husband and I are peer visitors with Mended Hearts and I am also the vice president of the organization. I have learned so much by attending meetings and have met so many people who are struggling with heart disease. I volunteer at Regional Hospital of Scranton and Allied Services to learn more and help others. I love being a volunteer at Allied Services, which makes me feel like being part of another family. Sometimes it seems my health problems are minor compared to the patients and residents that come to Allied for help. They really do help perform miracles.”

---

AGE: 87
Ann Voyce
Day Job: Retired Teachers’ Aid, NEIU
Resides: Simpson
Family: Late Husband Stephen; Children Dr. Stephen Voyce & Mary Ann Duffy; Six Grandchildren
She Loves: Traveling, spending time with family and friends
Lesson Learned: 95 percent of the things you worry about never happen. A sense of humor is the icing on the cake!
Goal: To stay healthy and get older!

“I had a heart attack at age 60. I walk over two miles a day six or seven days a week. When the weather is bad, I walk at the YMCA. I eat Healthy and keep my weight under control. My blood pressure and cholesterol are good without any medication.”