Cardiovascular
CommUNITY Champion: Orlando women helping people with cardiovascular problems
An Orlando woman is giving back and helping people with cardiovascular problems by volunteering with Mended Hearts.Claudia Siegel has an incredible story of perseverance.In 2017, she started experiencing irregular heart rhythms while exercising but initially dismissed them.In August 2017, her heart rate accelerated to 220 beats per minute while on her treadmill.She was rushed to the hospital and diagnosed with a congenital heart defect at the age of 52.”It just came up at that time, and it would have been earlier. But because of the shape I was in, I was alive. That’s the only thing that saved me,” Siegel said.She has undergone many procedures over the years, including open heart surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.While recovering, Siegel made the decision to give back and found Mended Hearts, a peer-to-peer organization for people with cardiovascular issues.”My story and my experience and my healing could really help someone else in that position,” Siegel said.As a Mended Hearts volunteer, she visits patients in the hospital to offer support.”I’ve been in their shoes; I’ve spent 120 nights in the hospital in the four-year span of my problem. And I’ve been in their bed, I’ve been in their chair, I’ve been in their head. So being able to relate to someone that’s in the position really helps the patient,” Siegel said.She feels giving back is helping with her own healing.Siegel has a message for anyone in a similar situation: “You have one choice: you either lay in bed, and you don’t live life, or you go out there and you push yourself and you live life.”Siegel’s volunteer work with Mended Hearts is why she’s a WESH 2 CommUNITY Champion.”My goal was just to help other people. And I feel that being recognized for that is great. And you’re putting the word out there for mended hearts. So other people who have been through similar cardiac experiences maybe can go out there and help other people,” Siegel said.For more information about Mended Hearts, visit this website.
An Orlando woman is giving back and helping people with cardiovascular problems by volunteering with Mended Hearts.
Claudia Siegel has an incredible story of perseverance.
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In 2017, she started experiencing irregular heart rhythms while exercising but initially dismissed them.
In August 2017, her heart rate accelerated to 220 beats per minute while on her treadmill.
She was rushed to the hospital and diagnosed with a congenital heart defect at the age of 52.
“It just came up at that time, and it would have been earlier. But because of the shape I was in, I was alive. That’s the only thing that saved me,” Siegel said.
She has undergone many procedures over the years, including open heart surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
While recovering, Siegel made the decision to give back and found Mended Hearts, a peer-to-peer organization for people with cardiovascular issues.
“My story and my experience and my healing could really help someone else in that position,” Siegel said.
As a Mended Hearts volunteer, she visits patients in the hospital to offer support.
“I’ve been in their shoes; I’ve spent 120 nights in the hospital in the four-year span of my problem. And I’ve been in their bed, I’ve been in their chair, I’ve been in their head. So being able to relate to someone that’s in the position really helps the patient,” Siegel said.
She feels giving back is helping with her own healing.
Siegel has a message for anyone in a similar situation: “You have one choice: you either lay in bed, and you don’t live life, or you go out there and you push yourself and you live life.”
Siegel’s volunteer work with Mended Hearts is why she’s a WESH 2 CommUNITY Champion.
“My goal was just to help other people. And I feel that being recognized for that is great. And you’re putting the word out there for mended hearts. So other people who have been through similar cardiac experiences maybe can go out there and help other people,” Siegel said.
For more information about Mended Hearts, visit this website.
