My Kyla was born a perfectly normal, happy, healthy baby – oh so beautiful too. Throughout her childhood she participated in sports such as soccer, track and field, cheerleading, and was even on the Little League All Star softball team while we lived in Germany. When my daughter was 18 years old she was a server at a fast paced restaurant. One evening in the middle of the dinner rush, she started having rapid heartbeats. Her heart was beating so fast that she and her coworkers could see her shirt moving up and down along with the beat. After several minutes her heart rate slowed down to a more normal rate.
Kyla was sent to see an Electrophysiologist. This is a doctor who specializes in the actual "electrical beat" of the heart. The different medications prescribed for her did not control these irregular heartbeats. An electrophysiology study was done so as to pinpoint exactly what was causing the rapid heartbeats. Over the next several months she endured 4 radiofrequency catheter ablations (all of them unsuccessful), to include the last one being done by a world renowned specialist. Her last ablation had her on the table for 15 hours with her being awake for 10 ½ hours of it. I cannot imagine what that was like for her.
Kyla had a pacemaker implanted just before her 22nd birthday. She was 100% paced. My BabyGirl's type of heart disease was electrical; "Just something electrical that went wrong with her heart", I was told. All of the "proper diet and exercise" in the world would have done nothing to prevent it. This is not something she was born with, nor is there a family history.
After Kyla recuperated from getting the pacemaker she was doing things that so many of us take for granted. She was rollerblading short distances, washing her car herself and going to work on the same day, and even walking and talking on her cell phone at the same time. She appreciated life. About 3 months after receiving her pacemaker something went wrong. She came home from work one evening with "flu-like symptoms." I had her in the emergency room 2 times within that weekend. It was never actually pinpointed as to just what it was, several doctors were stumped. There was talk of a urinary tract infection, a kidney infection, and even a staph infection from getting the pacemaker. She was put through, yet another, barrage of tests. Whatever it was that went wrong, it left Kyla with more physical disabilities and increased heart problems, but looking the picture of health much of the time.
Kyla accepted her heart disease as a way of life and kept going the best she could with some days being far more difficult than others. I, on the other hand, kept praying for a miracle as I watched her turn into an old woman before my very eyes. She managed to finish college and become an American Sign Language Interpreter; a goal since she was in elementary school. She was the Workshop Chairperson on the committee of the Colorado Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (Colorado-RID), Pikes Peak. She had also been chosen as member of the year 2 years in a row by Colorado-RID. She worked small, part time jobs as an Interpreter and continued her college education, one class at a time. She was also an advocate for Go Red for Women.
February 9, 2008 Kyla interviewed for spokeswoman of Go Red For Women and was even interviewed by the local news afterward. In April Kyla was notified that she had been chosen to be a regional spokeswoman. I thought this meant Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Denver area; "regional" covers 9 states. We were all SO excited! Kyla never returned the paperwork accepting the offer as a Go Red for Women spokeswoman.
May 4, 2008 my Kyla Rochelle Russell passed away, before she had the opportunity to complete the paperwork. She was an amazing young woman. I doubt I will ever know a person with more strength. She was just as beautiful inside as she was outside. She was, IS, my hero. I never realized how many lives THE Princess had touched until her Celebration of Life. In her obituary it was requested that everyone wear red to her Celebration of Life in support of her and for the Go Red For Women movement. There were approximately 250 people there; all were wearing something in some shade of red, which made for a "sea of red", as Kyla would call it.
At the young age of 25, my "Little Ray of Sunshine" is gone, due to complications from heart disease, the #1 killer of women in America. Before Kyla knew she had been chosen to be a Go Red For Women spokeswoman she informed me that whether or not she was chosen, she intended to be a Go Red For Women advocate and I could do it with her or she would do it without me.
Now, in her memory, as difficult as it is for me, I am a Go Red For Women advocate - without her. I will tell her story, as she would want me to do. I will tell it over and over and over. Ladies, take care of your heart, listen to your heart, and do not ignore your heart. To the men out there, show the females in your life how much you love them by encouraging them to take care of their hearts. Heart disease can hit you in different ways and at any age. Heart disease does not discriminate.
Kyla was sent to see an Electrophysiologist. This is a doctor who specializes in the actual "electrical beat" of the heart. The different medications prescribed for her did not control these irregular heartbeats. An electrophysiology study was done so as to pinpoint exactly what was causing the rapid heartbeats. Over the next several months she endured 4 radiofrequency catheter ablations (all of them unsuccessful), to include the last one being done by a world renowned specialist. Her last ablation had her on the table for 15 hours with her being awake for 10 ½ hours of it. I cannot imagine what that was like for her.
Kyla had a pacemaker implanted just before her 22nd birthday. She was 100% paced. My BabyGirl's type of heart disease was electrical; "Just something electrical that went wrong with her heart", I was told. All of the "proper diet and exercise" in the world would have done nothing to prevent it. This is not something she was born with, nor is there a family history.
After Kyla recuperated from getting the pacemaker she was doing things that so many of us take for granted. She was rollerblading short distances, washing her car herself and going to work on the same day, and even walking and talking on her cell phone at the same time. She appreciated life. About 3 months after receiving her pacemaker something went wrong. She came home from work one evening with "flu-like symptoms." I had her in the emergency room 2 times within that weekend. It was never actually pinpointed as to just what it was, several doctors were stumped. There was talk of a urinary tract infection, a kidney infection, and even a staph infection from getting the pacemaker. She was put through, yet another, barrage of tests. Whatever it was that went wrong, it left Kyla with more physical disabilities and increased heart problems, but looking the picture of health much of the time.
Kyla accepted her heart disease as a way of life and kept going the best she could with some days being far more difficult than others. I, on the other hand, kept praying for a miracle as I watched her turn into an old woman before my very eyes. She managed to finish college and become an American Sign Language Interpreter; a goal since she was in elementary school. She was the Workshop Chairperson on the committee of the Colorado Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (Colorado-RID), Pikes Peak. She had also been chosen as member of the year 2 years in a row by Colorado-RID. She worked small, part time jobs as an Interpreter and continued her college education, one class at a time. She was also an advocate for Go Red for Women.
February 9, 2008 Kyla interviewed for spokeswoman of Go Red For Women and was even interviewed by the local news afterward. In April Kyla was notified that she had been chosen to be a regional spokeswoman. I thought this meant Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Denver area; "regional" covers 9 states. We were all SO excited! Kyla never returned the paperwork accepting the offer as a Go Red for Women spokeswoman.
May 4, 2008 my Kyla Rochelle Russell passed away, before she had the opportunity to complete the paperwork. She was an amazing young woman. I doubt I will ever know a person with more strength. She was just as beautiful inside as she was outside. She was, IS, my hero. I never realized how many lives THE Princess had touched until her Celebration of Life. In her obituary it was requested that everyone wear red to her Celebration of Life in support of her and for the Go Red For Women movement. There were approximately 250 people there; all were wearing something in some shade of red, which made for a "sea of red", as Kyla would call it.
At the young age of 25, my "Little Ray of Sunshine" is gone, due to complications from heart disease, the #1 killer of women in America. Before Kyla knew she had been chosen to be a Go Red For Women spokeswoman she informed me that whether or not she was chosen, she intended to be a Go Red For Women advocate and I could do it with her or she would do it without me.
Now, in her memory, as difficult as it is for me, I am a Go Red For Women advocate - without her. I will tell her story, as she would want me to do. I will tell it over and over and over. Ladies, take care of your heart, listen to your heart, and do not ignore your heart. To the men out there, show the females in your life how much you love them by encouraging them to take care of their hearts. Heart disease can hit you in different ways and at any age. Heart disease does not discriminate.
My Kyla was born a perfectly normal, happy, healthy baby – oh so beautiful too. Throughout her childhood she participated in sports such as soccer, track and field, cheerleading, and was even on the Little League All Star softball team while we lived in Germany. When my daughter was 18 years old she was a server at a fast paced restaurant. One evening in the middle of the dinner rush, she started having rapid heartbeats. Her heart was beating so fast that she and her coworkers could see her shirt moving up and down along with the beat. After several minutes her heart rate slowed down to a more normal rate.
Kyla was sent to see an Electrophysiologist. This is a doctor who specializes in the actual "electrical beat" of the heart. The different medications prescribed for her did not control these irregular heartbeats. An electrophysiology study was done so as to pinpoint exactly what was causing the rapid heartbeats. Over the next several months she endured 4 radiofrequency catheter ablations (all of them unsuccessful), to include the last one being done by a world renowned specialist. Her last ablation had her on the table for 15 hours with her being awake for 10 ½ hours of it. I cannot imagine what that was like for her.
Kyla had a pacemaker implanted just before her 22nd birthday. She was 100% paced. My BabyGirl's type of heart disease was electrical; "Just something electrical that went wrong with her heart", I was told. All of the "proper diet and exercise" in the world would have done nothing to prevent it. This is not something she was born with, nor is there a family history.
After Kyla recuperated from getting the pacemaker she was doing things that so many of us take for granted. She was rollerblading short distances, washing her car herself and going to work on the same day, and even walking and talking on her cell phone at the same time. She appreciated life. About 3 months after receiving her pacemaker something went wrong. She came home from work one evening with "flu-like symptoms." I had her in the emergency room 2 times within that weekend. It was never actually pinpointed as to just what it was, several doctors were stumped. There was talk of a urinary tract infection, a kidney infection, and even a staph infection from getting the pacemaker. She was put through, yet another, barrage of tests. Whatever it was that went wrong, it left Kyla with more physical disabilities and increased heart problems, but looking the picture of health much of the time.
Kyla accepted her heart disease as a way of life and kept going the best she could with some days being far more difficult than others. I, on the other hand, kept praying for a miracle as I watched her turn into an old woman before my very eyes. She managed to finish college and become an American Sign Language Interpreter; a goal since she was in elementary school. She was the Workshop Chairperson on the committee of the Colorado Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (Colorado-RID), Pikes Peak. She had also been chosen as member of the year 2 years in a row by Colorado-RID. She worked small, part time jobs as an Interpreter and continued her college education, one class at a time. She was also an advocate for Go Red for Women.
February 9, 2008 Kyla interviewed for spokeswoman of Go Red For Women and was even interviewed by the local news afterward. In April Kyla was notified that she had been chosen to be a regional spokeswoman. I thought this meant Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Denver area; "regional" covers 9 states. We were all SO excited! Kyla never returned the paperwork accepting the offer as a Go Red for Women spokeswoman.
May 4, 2008 my Kyla Rochelle Russell passed away, before she had the opportunity to complete the paperwork. She was an amazing young woman. I doubt I will ever know a person with more strength. She was just as beautiful inside as she was outside. She was, IS, my hero. I never realized how many lives THE Princess had touched until her Celebration of Life. In her obituary it was requested that everyone wear red to her Celebration of Life in support of her and for the Go Red For Women movement. There were approximately 250 people there; all were wearing something in some shade of red, which made for a "sea of red", as Kyla would call it.
At the young age of 25, my "Little Ray of Sunshine" is gone, due to complications from heart disease, the #1 killer of women in America. Before Kyla knew she had been chosen to be a Go Red For Women spokeswoman she informed me that whether or not she was chosen, she intended to be a Go Red For Women advocate and I could do it with her or she would do it without me.
Now, in her memory, as difficult as it is for me, I am a Go Red For Women advocate - without her. I will tell her story, as she would want me to do. I will tell it over and over and over. Ladies, take care of your heart, listen to your heart, and do not ignore your heart. To the men out there, show the females in your life how much you love them by encouraging them to take care of their hearts. Heart disease can hit you in different ways and at any age. Heart disease does not discriminate.
Kyla was sent to see an Electrophysiologist. This is a doctor who specializes in the actual "electrical beat" of the heart. The different medications prescribed for her did not control these irregular heartbeats. An electrophysiology study was done so as to pinpoint exactly what was causing the rapid heartbeats. Over the next several months she endured 4 radiofrequency catheter ablations (all of them unsuccessful), to include the last one being done by a world renowned specialist. Her last ablation had her on the table for 15 hours with her being awake for 10 ½ hours of it. I cannot imagine what that was like for her.
Kyla had a pacemaker implanted just before her 22nd birthday. She was 100% paced. My BabyGirl's type of heart disease was electrical; "Just something electrical that went wrong with her heart", I was told. All of the "proper diet and exercise" in the world would have done nothing to prevent it. This is not something she was born with, nor is there a family history.
After Kyla recuperated from getting the pacemaker she was doing things that so many of us take for granted. She was rollerblading short distances, washing her car herself and going to work on the same day, and even walking and talking on her cell phone at the same time. She appreciated life. About 3 months after receiving her pacemaker something went wrong. She came home from work one evening with "flu-like symptoms." I had her in the emergency room 2 times within that weekend. It was never actually pinpointed as to just what it was, several doctors were stumped. There was talk of a urinary tract infection, a kidney infection, and even a staph infection from getting the pacemaker. She was put through, yet another, barrage of tests. Whatever it was that went wrong, it left Kyla with more physical disabilities and increased heart problems, but looking the picture of health much of the time.
Kyla accepted her heart disease as a way of life and kept going the best she could with some days being far more difficult than others. I, on the other hand, kept praying for a miracle as I watched her turn into an old woman before my very eyes. She managed to finish college and become an American Sign Language Interpreter; a goal since she was in elementary school. She was the Workshop Chairperson on the committee of the Colorado Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (Colorado-RID), Pikes Peak. She had also been chosen as member of the year 2 years in a row by Colorado-RID. She worked small, part time jobs as an Interpreter and continued her college education, one class at a time. She was also an advocate for Go Red for Women.
February 9, 2008 Kyla interviewed for spokeswoman of Go Red For Women and was even interviewed by the local news afterward. In April Kyla was notified that she had been chosen to be a regional spokeswoman. I thought this meant Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Denver area; "regional" covers 9 states. We were all SO excited! Kyla never returned the paperwork accepting the offer as a Go Red for Women spokeswoman.
May 4, 2008 my Kyla Rochelle Russell passed away, before she had the opportunity to complete the paperwork. She was an amazing young woman. I doubt I will ever know a person with more strength. She was just as beautiful inside as she was outside. She was, IS, my hero. I never realized how many lives THE Princess had touched until her Celebration of Life. In her obituary it was requested that everyone wear red to her Celebration of Life in support of her and for the Go Red For Women movement. There were approximately 250 people there; all were wearing something in some shade of red, which made for a "sea of red", as Kyla would call it.
At the young age of 25, my "Little Ray of Sunshine" is gone, due to complications from heart disease, the #1 killer of women in America. Before Kyla knew she had been chosen to be a Go Red For Women spokeswoman she informed me that whether or not she was chosen, she intended to be a Go Red For Women advocate and I could do it with her or she would do it without me.
Now, in her memory, as difficult as it is for me, I am a Go Red For Women advocate - without her. I will tell her story, as she would want me to do. I will tell it over and over and over. Ladies, take care of your heart, listen to your heart, and do not ignore your heart. To the men out there, show the females in your life how much you love them by encouraging them to take care of their hearts. Heart disease can hit you in different ways and at any age. Heart disease does not discriminate.
