Catherine Biggers got involved with the Phoenix Heart Ball in 2020, inspired and motivated to join the initiative after she almost died from a heart attack.
“I guess it happens to women in their late 40s and early 50s who are healthy… they just don't know why,” says Catherine Biggers, Paradise Valley resident and passionate philanthropist.
Catherine’s story is an anomaly. She lives an active lifestyle, eats right, loves to travel and has no history of heart issues.
“I had a non-traditional heart attack given I don’t have normal risk factors like genetics, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol,” she says.
It's an eye-opening account.
One day, Catherine was playing tennis, but when she got on the court, something didn’t feel right.
“My chest hurt, but things subsided and I started playing. After a few swings, the pain returned, so I went home. I even Googled ‘heart attack’ due to the left arm and chest- that's what you hear.”
Since the discomfort wasn’t terrible, Catherine decided to sleep it off assuming things would diminish. But around 4am, she was awoken by agony taking over her arm, chest, back, neck and jaw.
“I was tempted to take a Tylenol and forget about it, but ultimately went to the hospital. The doctors concluded I was having an active heart attack.”
At the time, Catherine was 45 years old… a beautiful, athletic woman. She never imagined finding herself being rushed in an ambulance to a Cardiac ICU.
“Picture an elephant sitting on your chest crushing you, and a really strong person grabbing your arm until it throbs.”
The Cardiac ICU became Catherine’s home for a week. There, she learned that despite what we see in the movies, heart attacks happen over time and get more drastic as the blockage of the clot grows.
“It's better to be sent to the hospital and be sent home than never make it to the hospital.”
By the time she made it to the ICU, Catherine’s clot was in late stages. Had she not trusted her intuition and gone to the hospital, it could have been fatal.
“I was on medication and in and out of consciousness for a few days. When I left the hospital, I was hit with a wave of shock. I had PTSD and feared falling asleep. For months, I’d try to keep my eyes open and watch silly shows to stay awake. Every time I saw an ambulance I'd cry."
According to Catherine’s cardiologist, she had Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD), a rare heart condition that accounts for about 25% of heart attacks in women under 60 years old.
“After discharge, I didn’t have to alter my lifestyle- I was already healthy. That’s the scary part. It was kind of like, ‘good luck, we hope we won't see you again.’”
Catherine’s trauma therapist helped her move forward. She also utilized her recovery time wisely and meaningfully, researching the American Heart Association seeking information, insight and involvement.
“I was at a birthday party and sat next to a woman who just so happened to be chairing the Heart Ball that year.”
It was serendipitous. Thanks to that birthday party exchange, Catherine joined the Heart Ball. She’s going on multiple years serving an array of committees.
“I find value in sharing my story. Know your body. Be your own advocate. If we don't care for ourselves, we can't care for those we love. I could have had a very different outcome.”
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“Picture an elephant sitting on your chest crushing you, and a really strong person grabbing your arm until it throbs.”