Introducing the Go Red For Women Survivor Class 2018: Meet Robin Shafer

We've once again teamed up with the American Heart Association of Central New York for their 'Go Red For Women' Campaign. We would like to introduce you to the 2018 Survivor Class Members. Here's the story of our first featured member, Robin Shafer...

Robin Shafer is a heart survivor. Her story starts 10 years ago, when she was a working mother, raising three kids, and being married to a loving husband. One night she went to bed exhausted, like many people trying to balance everything in life, but she didn't wake up until four days later. She woke up in the hospital.

In the video (at the top of this page), Robin says she had gone into cardiac arrest in the night. Luckily, her husband had woken up and noticed something wasn't right. Apparently, Robin had been shaking and gasping. Her husband dragged her to the floor and began performing CPR, and called 911.

When the ambulance arrived, the medics had to "shock" her to get her heart beating again. On the way to the hospital, Robin flat-lined multiple times. The medics didn't think she was going to make it, and if she did, she would be left in a vegetative state. Robin did make it though, and she woke up four days later with many people around her, shocked.

Robin was diagnosed with Long QT Syndrome, a heart condition that sometimes causes the heart to just beat out of control. It can have warning signs like fainting spells. Robin mentioned she did have fainting spells in college, but didn't think much of it, she just thought she wasn't getting enough nutrients.

When Robin was a baby, she was diagnosed with a heart murmur, but by the time she was 13, doctors said it had closed up and she was okay. Then when she was 23, she had to get her wisdom teeth taken out. Her oral surgeon wouldn't put her under until she had an EKG and an echocardiogram, though. The surgeon said she had a "gaping" hole in her heart.

A few weeks after that, Robin was having surgery to "patch" her up, and she was fine. Back to normal and good-to-go.

In the video (above), Robin ends with some great advice for other women and their health. She says, "Take care of yourself," and "Don't try to do everything." She mentions that if others are willing to help you, let them. And our favorite quote from Robin,

Something's gotta give, don't let it be you.

Robin wraps up the video by telling us her "why," which you can see at the top of this page. We all have our reasons "why" we want to live longer, healthier lives, "why" we want to be around. Whether our "why" is a family member, a friend, ourselves, we all have our reasons. The Go Red For Women Campaign asks that you find your "why" and remember that's the reason you want to keep your heart healthy.

In the next few weeks, we'll be featuring each member of the "2018 Go Red For Women Survivor Class" and sharing their heart stories. We'll also be keeping you updated on 'Go Red For Women' events coming up in the community, including the Go Red For Women Luncheon at Hart's Hill Inn in May. You can get more details on the luncheon at the link below:

BONUS VIDEO: