A Message from Our Chair

I could not believe this was happening again! My husband was having chest pains, but he was only 52. Most people would think that he was much too young to have heart problems. Not me! My mind flashed back to August 1976, when I received a phone call in Corinth, MS that my father had dropped dead! He was 52 years old. When my father died, we did not have the knowledge that we do today. No one explained to him how important exercise and diet were to his heart health, not to mention how harmful smoking was. But Lee was different; he understood the importance of exercise. He has always walked an hour a day, no matter what!

Lee was evaluated with an EKG and a stress test. No problems were identified. He said to me that he knew he was not imagining his condition. So finally, we opted for a heart catheterization. Only then did the doctors find that Lee had severe blockage in three arteries, and one artery had even started to bypass on its own. Lee did not leave the hospital before having triple bypass surgery the next day.

Because of the heart disease of the two main men in my life, I wanted to chair Art for Heart in 2013 and truly felt it was one thing I could do to help others. I have been involved in the event before, but not to this extent. I believe that this is one of the most important events in Jackson. Locally, the American Heart Association raised over $900,000 last year and invests $2 million annually in the Metro Jackson area! Nationally the Heart Association believes it is important to supplement the funds raised in our area in order to save more lives in Mississippi. These funds promote hospital guidelines, community outreach, research and advocacy. By educating our community and creating a healthier environment, we hope in the future to achieve our mission to build healthier lives free of cardiovascular disease and stroke.

Please keep in mind that heart issues are not only a concern for elderly people. There is the 40 year old patient with high blood pressure that drinks a caffeine drink and has a stroke. Or the infant that is born with a heart defect. Heart disease does not discriminate and we have an opportunity to help.

Please join us to help raise awareness and funds for the American Heart Association by supporting Art for Heart this year.

Sincerely,

Maggi Lampton
Art for Heart 2013 Chair