Every woman has a story—with heart Almost 43 million American women are living with cardiovascular disease. More than 600,000 of them in Texas. Seven special women share their "survivor" stories in their own words.  "I went from being a mother of an active 18-month-old..."         "I worked long hours. I went up and down stairs. I was always energetic."      "I'd walk and I'd be out of breath. I chalked it up to something else."      "I had a heart valve replacement..."          "I was born with a congenital heart problem."         "I had rheumatic fever as a child–twice. It damaged my heart..."      "After years of frustration..."      Are you living with cardiovascular disease? Would you be willing to share your story? Please contact us at women@texasheart.org.

  

Barbara Covington on lessons learned after her health crisis
Barbara Covington, businesswoman, songwriter and heart patient, shares some lessons she has learned after her health crisis was treated at Texas Heart Institute.Watch her video.

'Bionic bride' now has real heart: 'God does miracles'
Mechanical pump took the place of her damaged heart; now she has transplant

Bionic bride has real heart
Allyssa Smith Babineaux on NBC's TODAY show.   

Artificial Heart Valve Undergoes Testing

Two great-grandmothers (Anna Jean Irwin, left, and Ana Riddel) share more than a first name after both underwent a unique procedure at THI to correct a life-threatening heart valve condition, severe aortic stenosis. Cardiologists and surgeons implanted an artificial heart valve in each woman using a non-surgical technique. Read the full story in the Texas Medical Center News.

A Proper Wedding

In December 2010, Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital heart transplant recipient Esmeralda Miranda experienced a very special time in her family's life and agreed to share it with us in this video for the season.

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Updated May 2013