SCAD survivors coming together in Naperville
What could have killed them, truly has made these women stronger.
Three Chicago-area survivors of a rare cause of heart attack called spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) will host the first gathering of SCAD survivors in the world this weekend.
Among the events will be the SCAD Walk for Research, a 5K walk that steps off at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 5, at Springbrook Prairie Forest Preserve in Naperville. For details, visit scadresearch.org/scad-walk.html.
SCAD strikes without warning when the inner layer of an artery dissects, separating in a way that either tears into a flap or bulges to block blood flow. Either way, the blockage creates angina and, if not corrected, leads to heart attack and in many cases, death.
Research of the condition is scarce. The typical SCAD survivor is young, fit, and with no risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or arterial plaque. Meghan Bradford-Scheiber of Blue Island was 33 when she had two heart attacks just days apart. The cause of both remains a mystery, but the second one — a confirmed SCAD — was treated with stents.
Cheryl Crisman of Morris suffered her heart attack from SCAD at age 38, a few months after the birth of her second child, and underwent emergency bypass surgery.
Deb McGarry of Naperville endured her heart attack at a time of extreme stress at a funeral when she was 38. After being rushed to the nearest hospital, she received two stents to repair blockage caused by SCAD.
Social media brought the women together. Bradford-Scheiber, Crisman and McGarry knew each other only by “screen name” when they met on the WomenHeart Online Support Community, hosted by Inspire.
As their online relationship grew, the trio realized how amazingly close they live to one another. Even more unbelievable, they learned of a Naperville family — also touched by SCAD — who was planning a 5K Walk.
It was a no-brainer what they would do: Throw a party for the few known SCAD survivors worldwide.
The three women joined forces with the extended family of Bob Alico, founder of SCAD Research Inc. In memory of Alico’s wife, Judy, who died of SCAD in 2010, his sisters-in-law and their families are honoring her memory through a worldwide effort to raise awareness of SCAD as well as funds to advance SCAD research at Mayo Clinic.
Bradford-Scheiber, Crisman and McGarry have rallied more than 20 survivors of the 230 on the WomenHeart Online Support Community to attend the 5K and first “reunion” in Naperville.
In addition, the lead researchers of the Mayo Clinic studies, Dr. Sharonne Hayes and Dr. Marysia Tweet, will walk for SCAD and present an update on the research at a survivors-only luncheon Saturday.
“We each were told we’re so rare we’d never meet another SCAD patient,” says McGarry. “But here we all are.”
Like other survivors, these women believe that SCAD is not so much rare as it is rarely diagnosed. Through awareness and research, they are determined to change this fact and make sure SCAD doesn’t happen to others.
The Mayo Clinic SCAD research studies include a virtual database of SCAD patients worldwide and a DNA biobank for survivors and family members. To learn more, visit mayoclinic.org/spontaneous-coronary-artery-dissection/clintrials.html.
If you go
What: SCAD Walk for Research 5K
When: 9 a.m. Saturday, May 5
Where: Springbrook Prairie Forest Preserve,
Cost: $25, free for children 12 and younger; donations encouraged
Info: scadresearch.org/ scad-walk.html