Lois Anne Trader   Who really cares that supposedly 500,000 women die a year from heart disease? I read it once, but didn't believe it. 
Then I died on June 6, 2003. 
With radiating pain in my upper back, I went to ER. My intuition told me something very unusual was happening. Abnormal EKG's, nitroglycerin administered under my tongue, a lot of blood drawn, tears running down my face, it didn't seem good.  About two hours later a cardiologist opened the curtain separating me from the man getting stitches, 'You're young and a woman, probably indigestion, you'll rest better at home.' With that I was discharged. A few hours later at home I had a massive coronary and died. Wasn't indigestion. I have missed a lot since then.  My oldest daughter and her husband had a baby boy, two years later they had a baby girl. I had always planned on being a cool grandma.  My other two daughters graduated college. One got married. My brother committed suicide when his daughter was a baby, and we lost touch with her mother. My mom was reunited with my oldest brother's daughter, after thirty years. A miracle I had dreamed of most of my life. Threading is more popular than waxing or plucking your eyebrows.  I never enjoyed having my eyebrows waxed. I missed my anniversary - 26 years of marriage. Three reminder cards came in the mail to have a mammogram. The Women's Breast Cancer center wasn't notified.  Oprah ran a special on women's heart disease in 2005. I liked Oprah, I would have missed it.  I worked full time. 

Real version:  Barely conscious, I was taken to emergency room the next day. I needed surgery; I have been given another chance at life. I wrote a book: Lady in the Red Dress: A personal story of a woman with heart disease. I am your sister, your mother, your neighbor, the lady you see panting on the treadmill, and yes that is me you see grocery shopping on Saturday morning. I am Lois Trader, a woman living with heart disease. I care that 
I was hours away from being one of the 500,000.  I have a story to tell.