Phoenix

Diagnosed with heart failure during her second pregnancy, Jessica Diede wants to raise awareness about maternal heart disease.

During her second pregnancy, Jessica Diede – a 27-year-old Phoenix resident – was diagnosed with Peripartum Cardiomyopathy (PPCM), a condition that weakened her heart muscle and led to a heart rate of 218 beats per minute. She had a stressful pregnancy and was warned if she pushed too hard during labor, her heart would stop beating.

July 6, 2017 is a memorable day for Mark Johnson. It marked his 60th birthday—a birthday he shares with his husband, Tom—and is also the day he had his first heart attack.

He was traveling with Tom at the time, and they were in the process of driving from Chicago to Arizona. During a stop in St. Louis, Mark began feeling breathless and discomfort in his left shoulder. He went to the ER and learned he had had suffered a heart attack. He had two stents placed and was released from the hospital two days later. 

He now lives in Scottsdale, has changed his diet and lost 20 pounds. While many would focus on the negative, Mark views the experience as an opportunity to help others. 

“Since I survived this, I feel like I’ve been given a gift that I need to share,” he said. “Nobody wants to have a heart attack, but there are things you can do to manage your lifestyle. It's not the end, life can go on and you can get through it."