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Did you know that heart disease kills more women each year than ALL cancers combined? Or that cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths? These facts moved me to support the American Heart Association as an Executive Leadership Team (ELT) member and as a co-chair of the Sip with a Survivor event on Feb. 24. Our mission is to be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives.

We invite you to join us to support us in our mission by attending this virtual event, where you will hear from heart attack and stroke survivors on a panel moderated by Dr. Natasha Chinn. Each will tell stories related to their personal experiences. Let’s raise a glass together and celebrate these brave women in recognition of National Heart Month!

Meet the panel of survivors:

Event moderator and co-chair: Chinn has been a trailblazer for women’s health for over 16 years in obstetrics and gynecology. She has dedicated her career to guiding women to a state of total wellness. Through an integrative approach she finds and treats the root cause of illnesses. “Restoring women’s health,” she says, “will help to heal the world.”

Survivor: Jacqueline Larkin Figueroa is Chinn’s mother. After experiencing bouts of shortness of breath and feeling chest pressure, Figueroa went to her primary physician and was sent to the emergency room. There she was informed that she was in the midst of having a heart attack. Attempts were made to place stents the following day and it was then that she was informed that this was not possible due to multiple severe blockages. She underwent emergency quadruple bypass surgery two days later (originally triple bypass was planned) and has since recovered.

Survivor: After her second miscarriage and cardiac failure and afib after her subsequent pregnancy in September, Keyyanna Moyd was sent to the ICU for a few days and defibrillated. She is still followed by cardiology every three months.

Survivor: Vanessa Clark is an amazing woman whose story will bring awareness to all women and families. After a strep throat infection as a child, Clark developed rheumatic fever and underwent mitral valve surgery in 8th grade. After having her son 10 years ago she experienced valve failure and in 2014 had a mitral valve replacement. She became pregnant in 2019 and under the care of Dr. David Principe had an uncomplicated pregnancy which resulted in a beautiful baby girl. They are all doing well and she is followed regularly by cardiology and is on blood thinners for life.

Platinum sponsor: Principe is a maternal-fetal medicine specialist practicing in Clifton. He is board certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the American Board of Maternal-Fetal Medicine.

Principe is the director of maternal-fetal medicine at Hoboken University Medical Center in the CarePoint Healthcare system. He is an attending perinatologist at St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Paterson. In addition, he is the consulting maternal-fetal medicine specialist for many OB/GYN practices in the tri-state area.

Silver sponsors: Dr. David Finkelstein is director of Physician Advisor Services at RWJ Barnabas Health. Chris Rush is senior division vice president for strategy & business development, global enterprise solutions at ADP.

Please visit https://app.mobilecause.com/vf/NJSIPS to register for the event and to make a donation.

Sponsorships for Sip with a Survivor are available. For information on how to support the event, please contact: Judith Friedland, [email protected], 201.669.1312 or Melissa Alonso, [email protected], 908.627.1435