She remembered some advice when it mattered most

By Nancy Brown, American Heart Association CEO

Nancy Gopez (right) with fellow friend and heart attack survivor, Mary Parker. (Photo courtesy of Nancy Gopez)
Nancy Gopez (right) with friend and fellow heart attack survivor Mary Parker. (Photo courtesy of Nancy Gopez)

Nancy Gopez knew, of course, that anyone could have a heart attack. It's just that it had never happened to any of her friends.

So when it did, she thought it was important to learn the warning signs … for her parents' sake.

"I was worried that it could happen to them," she said.

Nancy indeed put the knowledge to good use … for herself.

Nancy's immediate realization that she was having a heart attack is part of the reason she's able to share her story. With this being American Heart Month, she's hoping more people will learn the same lesson to help their parents or children, siblings or self, loved ones or strangers.

After all, heart disease is the No. 1 killer of Americans and the No. 1 killer of women, claiming more lives each year than all forms of cancer combined. So if you don't already know someone who's had a heart attack, the odds say you will. Maybe sooner than you think.

***

Nancy with her siblings, from left: Trey Gopez, Nanette Gopez, Noreen McElroy and Nancy. (Photo courtesy of Nancy Gopez)
Nancy Gopez (far right) with her siblings, from left, Trey Gopez, Nanette Gopez and Noreen McElroy. (Photo courtesy of Nancy Gopez)

On a warm July evening in 2016, Nancy and her sister Nanette went for a walk in Chesterfield, Virginia. Nancy had flown in from Dallas about a day before, so they had plenty of catching up to do as they started their annual family vacation.

They considered walking and talking for a few more blocks. Instead, they headed back to their parents' house to watch a movie with their brother, Trey. (The three siblings were the only ones home; their parents were at a party.)

Before the opening credits even rolled, a sharp pain fired through Nancy's right shoulder blade.

No stranger to back pain, she knew what to do: stretch and lay down. Only this time, her usual remedy didn't work. The pain throbbed more.

"Then I got nauseous," she said. "That's when I started thinking, 'This is serious.'"

If it wasn't back pain, what was it?

Suddenly, she remembered something she'd heard from a woman who spoke at an American Heart Association Go Red for Women event.

Nancy's friend who'd survived a heart attack – Mary Parker – became involved with Go Red once she recovered. While attending a Go Red luncheon with Mary, Nancy had learned that heart attack symptoms for women are different than for men. They're not always marked by chest pain, as is often portrayed in TV and movies.

Sometimes a heart attack is marked by shooting pain and nausea.

***

At the nearest hospital, doctors confirmed Nancy was having a heart attack.

They also said their facility lacked the equipment to provide the treatment she needed. So she was sent via ambulance to a sister facility, Chippenham Hospital in Richmond, Virginia.

In the catheterization lab, doctors inserted three stents to open her blocked arteries.

The procedure went great. The toughest part for Nancy occurred in the recovery room.

"My parents were there," she said. "They looked so worried. I felt so bad!"

Nancy with her parents, Florencio and Nemy Gopez. (Photo courtesy of Nancy Gopez)
Nancy with her parents, Florencio and Nemy Gopez. (Photo courtesy of Nancy Gopez)

***

The next day, Nancy was challenged to walk from her room, around the nurse's station and back to her room.

"Slow down!" she was told.

She couldn't help it.

"I felt like a million bucks," she said.

The rest of the family vacation went as planned. She returned home to Dallas the next week and went into cardiac rehabilitation.

***

Nancy always knew she should eat a healthier diet. Like many people, her plan was "to start tomorrow."

"Finally, tomorrow came," she said.

She's made some changes and is pushing herself to make even more. She's also taking medicines to help control her blood pressure and cholesterol.

The other big change: a high priority on sleep.

"I have to be cognizant of the fact I'm a heart patient," she said.

***

During the first American Heart Month following her heart attack, Nancy was on stage at a Go Red luncheon in Dallas telling her story.

Consider how compelling that plea was.

Nancy had the best possible outcome from her heart attack thanks to the message she heard at that very event a few years before. Now she was hoping to provide the same lifesaving information to another audience member.

"I kept thinking, 'Maybe this happened to me so I can save someone else's life like someone saved mine,'" she said.

On Feb. 28, there will be another Go Red for Women luncheon in Dallas. The co-chairs of the host committee? Nancy and Mary.

"I may never know if someone hears my message and it helps – and that's OK," Nancy said. "I just hope to help a lot of someones."

A version of this story appeared on Thrive Global.

If you have questions or comments about this story, please email [email protected].


American Heart Association News Stories

American Heart Association News covers heart disease, stroke and related health issues. Not all views expressed in American Heart Association News stories reflect the official position of the American Heart Association. Statements, conclusions, accuracy and reliability of studies published in American Heart Association scientific journals or presented at American Heart Association scientific meetings are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect the American Heart Association’s official guidance, policies or positions.

Copyright is owned or held by the American Heart Association, Inc., and all rights are reserved. Permission is granted, at no cost and without need for further request, for individuals, media outlets, and non-commercial education and awareness efforts to link to, quote, excerpt from or reprint these stories in any medium as long as no text is altered and proper attribution is made to American Heart Association News.

Other uses, including educational products or services sold for profit, must comply with the American Heart Association’s Copyright Permission Guidelines. See full terms of use. These stories may not be used to promote or endorse a commercial product or service.

HEALTH CARE DISCLAIMER: This site and its services do not constitute the practice of medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always talk to your health care provider for diagnosis and treatment, including your specific medical needs. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem or condition, please contact a qualified health care professional immediately. If you are in the United States and experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or call for emergency medical help immediately.