BAKERSFIELD,CA - Heart disease is the number one killer of women, but in many cases, it's preventable if risks are identified early.
A new survivor gallery at Memorial Hospital aims to bring awareness to the disease. Eight local women are featured on boards -- all survivors of heart disease. Each of them share a different story of survival.
34-year-old Keyota Cole and her 16-month-old daughter Faith are survivors of heart disease. This mother, daughter duo has beat the odds, but for Cole, having Faith was a miracle in itself.
Cole said, "In their terms, it was supposed to kill me. It was either me or her wasn't going to make it, or both of us wasn't going to make it. Hearing that is hard to hear, but if you're determined and you have faith and you believe that no matter what, you can get through it, that's what I did."
It hasn't been easy. Between the two of them, they've had five open heart surgeries.
Cole had her first surgery when she was one and a half-years-old, but faith underwent surgery just days after being born.
"She wasn't going to make it out of the hospital if we would not have signed paperwork saying that she was going to have to have open heart surgery, she wouldn't have made it out of the hospital," said Cole.
Both were diagnosed at a young age and accustomed to living life a little differently, but to the fullest.
Cole said, "Her heart rate goes up and down, it fluctuates when she's running around, because she's always running around all day. There's not one day since she actually been home from the hospital that she don't just run around."
Their stories are featured in the survivor gallery at Memorial Hospital as a reminder that heart disease can affect anyone.
Dignity Health Community Development Director Robin Mangarin-Scott said, "One of the most important things that they can take away from these women is that they're all different ages, they come from different walks of life, they're different races, and all of us are at risk for heart disease and it's a very different risk than men and it's important for us to find out early and to take care of it right away."
Cole keeps her own reminder of what she and faith have overcome.
"These things are just to remind me of I'm still here and I'm helping other lives beside myself. This is my testimony," said Cole.
Faith will have another open heart surgery when she is three years old.
Dignity Health offers heart health screenings Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 7:30-10am for $25.
A new survivor gallery at Memorial Hospital aims to bring awareness to the disease. Eight local women are featured on boards -- all survivors of heart disease. Each of them share a different story of survival.
34-year-old Keyota Cole and her 16-month-old daughter Faith are survivors of heart disease. This mother, daughter duo has beat the odds, but for Cole, having Faith was a miracle in itself.
Cole said, "In their terms, it was supposed to kill me. It was either me or her wasn't going to make it, or both of us wasn't going to make it. Hearing that is hard to hear, but if you're determined and you have faith and you believe that no matter what, you can get through it, that's what I did."
It hasn't been easy. Between the two of them, they've had five open heart surgeries.
Cole had her first surgery when she was one and a half-years-old, but faith underwent surgery just days after being born.
"She wasn't going to make it out of the hospital if we would not have signed paperwork saying that she was going to have to have open heart surgery, she wouldn't have made it out of the hospital," said Cole.
Both were diagnosed at a young age and accustomed to living life a little differently, but to the fullest.
Cole said, "Her heart rate goes up and down, it fluctuates when she's running around, because she's always running around all day. There's not one day since she actually been home from the hospital that she don't just run around."
Their stories are featured in the survivor gallery at Memorial Hospital as a reminder that heart disease can affect anyone.
Dignity Health Community Development Director Robin Mangarin-Scott said, "One of the most important things that they can take away from these women is that they're all different ages, they come from different walks of life, they're different races, and all of us are at risk for heart disease and it's a very different risk than men and it's important for us to find out early and to take care of it right away."
Cole keeps her own reminder of what she and faith have overcome.
"These things are just to remind me of I'm still here and I'm helping other lives beside myself. This is my testimony," said Cole.
Faith will have another open heart surgery when she is three years old.
Dignity Health offers heart health screenings Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 7:30-10am for $25.