Educating Others About Heart Failure

Right before the virus hit, I received an email from a magazine who had happened upon an Instagram post I had done about a recent heart appointment. The media specialist asked if I would ever be willing to be featured in a medical magazine to discuss what my heart failure meant to me. I was a bit taken back by the email because I am just Kristin who happens to have heart failure. But one of the things I am very passionate about is educating and speaking with others who are walking either the heart failure journey themselves or any other struggle. I believe that God has given each person different challenges and when we can walk together in authentic honesty and vulnerability, there is a sense of community created that is invaluable.

In fact, when Mazy was wrestling with me abruptly being admitted to the hospital last year, I reached out to a women’s group and ended up “meeting” an amazing woman named Vicki, who was a retired early child development guru, from Colorado. She ended up sending me a whole slew of sensory activities to do with Mazy and it was truly  life-changing. And if I hadn’t reached out, I would’ve never met Vicki nor learned what I have, to help my daughter through the process of her mommy having a serious illness at the time.

And THAT’S what I want to do for others. We have been the recipients of incredible love and care from people we know and those we don’t know. And THAT’S, again, what I want to do for others. Whether they know me personally or not, I want to be part of that support system.

So when the magazine, Heart Monitor, asked if they could do a write up on my story, I thought this would be a great way to encourage others to be open about the story God has given them. Of course it’s hard to encompass my entire story in a small article, but the goal of this particular write up was to make a small list of ways that have helped me fight my heart failure, beyond the typical “take your meds” response. I could’ve listed 30 ways and shared 100 more things, but I feel the writer for the article did a great job of encompassing what he could. I’m very thankful for Eric, the writer, who was willing to hear me blab on and on about something and make it precise and clean, like he did.

I want to add too, the magazine hired a professional photographer to take my picture for the magazine and what a fun experience that was! The photographer, Victoria Christophe, from Lansing, MI, came out on a WINDY night to Windmill Island, where she photographed me and my family. Even more special, was meeting Victoria, sharing a faith background that united our views on life, and being able to laugh and just have a good time that fine evening back in April! If you get a chance, you have to check out her work. She specializes in weddings and also has been featured in magazines! She somehow made the wind and my hair that was all over the place, work. Kudos to her! You can check out here work here.

Anyways, here’s the link to the full digital magazine. 

I was hesitant to share this here on the blog because I share this not for my own glory, but merely so others may be encouraged in their own struggles in life, realizing that even in a small magazine like this, that there are others who are walking a similar journey, as proven in this magazine:

My prayer has always been to use the circumstances God has given me, to make His name known, even more. I hope to someday, as I become Lord-willing, even more stable, that I can be an advocate for patients who are a bit younger, but are also walking the heart failure journey. Big dreams here, but I’d LOVE to start a ministry or non-profit to help other heart patients or any patient, get through some of the most difficult parts of a recovery. Like raise money to create a mobile hair-washing station for patients who are unable to shower for weeks and months on end. When I was in the hospital for those 3 weeks, people were literally brushing fuzzies out of my hair because I was constantly laying down and my greasy hair just attracted all these white beauties. Honestly, it was nasty. Another dream is for the non-profit to provide gift cards to family for the cafeteria so they don’t have to worry about meals. Even create a place for people to buy slippers or blankets at a discounted price for those who are recovering.

One day…one day. I’ve thought long and hard about all of this and maybe one day, it will come to fruition! Until then, I will take the opportunities I can, to share how God has used heart failure in my life and encourage others through it.