“Women’s heart attack symptoms are less well known than men’s, so I never would have guessed I was likely to have one. We have the power to save more lives.”
— Natasha Joseph who underwent open-heart surgery at the CHUM after a heart attack
Difficult-to-recognize symptoms
One in two: that’s how many women whose heart attack warning signs go unnoticed. Natasha, mother of two and in her forties, was one of them. It was in July 2023 when the CHUM entered her life after she began experiencing sudden, horrible stomach and back pain.
At first, Natasha thought her irritable bowel syndrome was flaring up. But two weeks in, the pain had become intolerable. Her son was so worried that he called 911 and asked for an ambulance.
A heart attack that changes her everyday life
Once Natasha arrived at the CHUM, they discovered that she had suffered a heart attack. She quickly underwent open-heart surgery to unblock three of her arteries—a literally life-saving procedure.
After a two-week stay in the hospital, Natasha was excited to return home to continue her recovery. Unfortunately, she developed a postoperative infection that complicated her recovery.
“When the paramedics came to my door the second time, I immediately asked to be taken to the CHUM, even though another hospital was closer. I was certain that I would get the best care at the CHUM.”
Natasha is now getting treated at the CHUM’s CardioF Center of Expertise, which is powered by your generosity. The clinic is the first women’s health expertise centre in Quebec. It brings together a seasoned interdisciplinary team that focuses on women’s heart research and care and looks after the hearts of patients like Natasha.
“I want to encourage other women to take care of themselves. This experience changed my life. As a single mom, I put everyone ahead of myself and ignored the warning signs from my body.”
For the thousands of patients who, like Natasha, entrust their care to the CHUM, let’s give the CHUM teams the resources they need to continue making discoveries and act faster than disease.