Lianne Laing’s heartfelt call to action: Turning family tragedy into a fight for prevention
Health26.08.2024
June 6, 2002, started with so much promise. There was brilliant sunshine and not a cloud in the sky. Tony, my fiancé, was playing golf with my dad, enjoying bonding time before our wedding, which was just two weeks away.
I, on the other hand, had just had my “test” wedding makeup done and felt like a million bucks. With checklists almost complete I headed to the gym for a workout.
Only a few minutes into my run, a clerk from the front desk approached my treadmill, telling me I needed to get off. There was an emergency phone call waiting for me.
In one split second, life can take a drastic turn.
It was Tony saying that my dad had had a heart attack on the golf course and was being taken to the hospital, and I needed to get there ASAP. As I was hanging up the phone, I could hear Tony faintly whisper, “it doesn’t look good.” He had prepared me.
As soon as I walked into the emergency department, I was greeted and led into a room. It was there the doctor would inform me that my dad had experienced a massive heart attack and that he died on the golf course. By the time he arrived at the hospital, there was nothing they could do.
Spotting the signs
Gutted, in shock, angry, and inconsolable, I remember fleeing the room to be outside, where I could scream and yell and release this unbearable pain.
It’s been 22 years since this event in my life occurred, and yet the tears still fall as freely today as I write this down, even after all this time has passed. When I connect the dots of my life, this moment will forever be a critical turning point in my life’s passion and work.
I was married two weeks later, eyes glazed, my heart torn, but knowing my dad, he would have been pissed off had I cancelled the wedding.
I was angry at myself. I should have known better. In going through my dad’s items, there were tons of bottles of Pepto Bismol, heartburn medication, and antacids. My dad, once a very athletic man, had seen his stomach grow larger in the last few years, and he had likely had lots of “mini” heart events prior to the “big one.” He hadn’t had regular checkups despite knowing that there was heart disease in the family. His own father had died young of a heart attack. My dad was 57, and it seemed to represent the typical Hollywood version of a heart attack.
It’s not often that we see similar events happen to women, and yet heart disease affects one in three women and is the number one cause of death for women here in Canada and worldwide. We present our symptoms of a heart attack differently than men, and our risk factors are much different, especially at certain stages of our lifespan with hormone and other biological changes. We are under-researched, under-diagnosed, and under-treated.
One undeniable thing is that family history plays a huge factor. That’s a red flag for me. I am also acutely aware that my mom deals with atrial fibrillation (Afib) and severe heart palpitations, which are often scary and have often impacted many outings.
My 19-year-old daughter is also being monitored after displaying several symptoms of Afib, and my mother-in-law requires a pacemaker. We are just one family with heart disease in every corner.
Jumping in for heart health
We also know this: 80 per cent of heart disease is preventable with a healthy diet and physical activity.
Prevention and wellness have become key motivators for me in my role as President of the Ottawa Heart Institute Foundation, and while raising much-needed fundraising dollars is a high priority in my job description, I am passionate and dedicated to ensuring others receive the “gift of time” with their loved ones, something I was robbed of.
I want other daughters to have the chance to have their dads walk them down the aisle and for a mom to be the first to hold their grandchild. We can never take precious time with loved ones for granted.
As a former athlete, I crave the endorphins I get from my workouts, but this is a daily practice I’ve been doing since I was a young child; it’s a habit. I have quickly learned that this doesn’t come easily to many people, and the thought of 30 minutes of physical activity a day is paralyzing and all-consuming to some. People get anxious at the thought of committing to 30 minutes a day, and instead of taking that first step, they pull back completely.
JUMP IN For Women’s Heart Health builds awareness and starts conversations.
For this challenge, we encourage people to break down their physical activity into little achievable chunks, even 10 minutes at a time, three times a day.
JUMP IN is not about extreme workouts or hitting the gym or playing sports. We simply want the heart muscle to get some exercise. A walk is your starting point. I observed participants who honestly struggled to walk around the block five years ago running a marathon this past summer.
Today and all this month, your gift in support of women’s heart health awareness, advocacy, and research will be matched by our sponsors!
JUMP IN was the launching pad of a shift in how they cared for themselves and their health. And yes, while that example is extreme, I am always emotional when I see and read the inspirational stories of others and the celebration of tiny victories. We have seen a community of peer support, positive encouragement, and sisterhood. We help each other stay accountable and give permission and acceptance if some days are tougher to get moving.
This challenge offers ideas and suggestions for staying active, workout videos of every type, a rundown of where events are being hosted, and most importantly, a platform to find your community. We have educational seminars and Q&As with medical experts, researchers, and scientists.
We built this campaign for you, your mothers and daughters, sisters and friends. We built it so our researchers and scientists can curate, study, and support the data, allowing us to identify and diagnose our issues and find the right treatments for each of us.
I can’t wait for you to JUMP IN with us!
Today, you can make a difference for yourself, and be a positive force in the lives of thousands of women across Canada and around the world.
Get ready to JUMP IN for women’s heart health this September.
JUMP IN is a nationwide physical activity challenge in support of women’s heart health. Become active for 30 minutes a day for 30 days this September.
Join a community of Canadians from coast to coast to coast that come together to support, inspire, teach, and encourage each other.
This fun and friendly challenge is open to everyone of all ages and abilities. Join the movement today and fight the #1 cause of death among women.
