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Cardiovascular Research Technologies (CRT) 2014CRT continues to be a leading boutique interventional cardiology meeting. Keynote speakers are Former President of the United States George W. Bush and three time survivor Donna Hartley.

Survivor of three life-changing events to share her story  

Donna Hartley has lived through a DC-10 plane crash, a stage III melanoma diagnosis and open-heart surgery to replace a faulty aortic valve. Each event left her inspired, and she’ll share her story along with her passion for advocating for women’s cardiac health during today’s Women and Heart Disease Luncheon Symposium.

In early 2006, Hartley, who is now a motivational speaker, chalked up her tiredness to stress. While she was a busy 56-year-old mom, she was the picture of good health. The prior week, she had downhill and cross country skied, and twice done aerobics. Still, her grandparents, mother and father died from cardiovascular disease. Her intuition led her to get checked out. She learned from a cardiologist that she had severe aortic stenosis, and two weeks later she underwent surgery. 

In her keynote address, Hartley will call on attendees to take the lead in their partnership with patients. “Physicians have to be clear in their communication, listen and take a pulse on if their patients understand what they are truly saying,” she said. “My surgeon described the procedure step by step. He related to me and was very positive. I appreciated that energy. I believed in him, and I could therefore believe in myself.”

She used the two-weeks to prepare herself for surgery, de-stressing, meditating, eating well and not drinking alcohol. “I didn’t have much time, but if they were going to do their part, I needed to do my part,” said Hartley, adding that she continues her quest to stay heart healthy.

 “Doctors do the best they can do, but they need to put some responsibility on patients,” Hartley said. “Women in particular need to be educated. We take on so much stress in raising our families, managing money and working. We also need to take care of ourselves. I caught it in time, made the necessary steps and I didn’t become a statistic at 56.”