After Two Cardiac Arrests, Survivor Finally Gets a Diagnosis

It was the start of a family vacation for Katie Sutton, 31, her husband Rick and their three children. When Rick swerved to avoid an accident, Katie grabbed her chest and shouted "Oh my God!" She doesn't remember what happened next because she suffered cardiac arrest.
"I was down for 11 minutes without oxygen, on life support for four days and in the hospital for 17 days," recalls Katie, a Cleveland-area resident. But she recovered and assumed it was an isolated event.
It wasn't. In September 2008, while speaking at a meeting, Katie went into cardiac arrest again. She woke up at University Hospitals Case Medical Center in Cleveland, where Rick is a nurse who manages the noninvasive cardiology department. With help from a meeting attendee, he had saved Katie's life by administering CPR.
Katie's doctor diagnosed her with Long QT Syndrome (LQTS), an infrequent, often hereditary disorder of the heart's electrical rhythm. Either genetic or acquired, LQTS usually isn't discovered until one or more serious abnormal heart rhythms occur.
Katie's identical twin Kristen also has LQTS. Doctors have implanted them both with a cardioverter defibrillator, which delivers an electrical shock if the heart goes into a dangerous rhythm. They also take medication.
Katie Sutton and her sister
Katie, Kristen and their sisters have become involved in Go Red For Women, the American Heart Association's movement to help fight heart disease, the No. 1 killer of women. The women shared their stories at the 2009 Go Red Luncheon in Cleveland.
The American Heart Association funds research on LQTS and many other aspects of diagnosing and regulating abnormal heart rhythms. Said Katie, "I hope my story will make people aware of what an important role the American Heart Association plays in all of our lives." Your gift to the American Heart Association could help us fund the next big breakthrough or life saving discovery. Donate today to help people like Katie, get involved with one of our many causes, like Go Red for Women, or sign up to learn CPR.