Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States, affecting over 60 million women of all ages, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Despite the prevalence of this condition, the warning signs are often overlooked until it becomes too late.
The Parkview Her Heart Challenge, now in its 8th year, is a holistic 12-week program developed to equip women with the resources, support and community they need to reduce their risk of heart disease.
Tammy's health journey
For Tammy Evans, 59, the Her Heart Challenge came at a critical moment in her life, following years of compounding stress and significant medical challenges. Her health journey began in 2015, the same year she turned 50. Around this time, Tammy faced a series of devasting events leading up to her first health scare. She buried her mother on her 50th birthday after a very short but aggressive battle with cancer. Then, a few months later, her niece experienced a traumatic brain injury requiring a lengthy stay at Cincinnati Children's Hospital.
"At that point, I started running myself ragged physically and emotionally," Tammy recounted. Every evening, she would make the three-hour drive to Cincinnati, sleep on the floor of her niece's ICU room, and wake up early to drive back to Fort Wayne for work.
In December of 2015, Tammy experienced her first stroke. "It was cryptogenic. They couldn't find what caused it, so we started some medication regimen, and then my journey just continued."
Over the next near-decade, Tammy sustained two more strokes, one in 2017 and another in 2020. Then, in June 2023, Tammy had her first heart attack and was admitted to the Parkview Heart Institute.
The catalyst
While resting in the cardiac unit after her cardiac catheterization procedure, Tammy knew she needed to make a change. As if by fate, the spark for her transformation surfaced on her electronic medical record. "Parkview does a really good job of feeding things that you need to your MyChart® page," she recalled. "It immediately went to the Her Heart Challenge."
Tammy had become familiar with the initiative, attending annual events over the years, but she had never considered it for herself. "I always thought, 'I'm young. I've got a handle on this. I'm not sick enough to apply to this group'," she confessed tearfully.
Despite her initial hesitation, from her hospital bed, Tammy filled out the Her Heart Challenge application and made an honest plea: "I am scared. I need a support group. I need encouragement and accountability."
By the time she was discharged and returned home, Tammy received a call from Jill Zahm, MSN, RN-C, AHN-BC, program coordinator, Parkview Heart Institute, with an update on her application. "I went in for an interview, they admitted me into the program, and it has changed my life," she said.
Embracing the challenge
Tammy entered the program with an open mind, unsure of what to expect, but determined to alter the course of her life. She quickly realized there was more to gain than she had anticipated. "It gave me a village of people that truly cared about me. They celebrated even the tiniest wins. I had never experienced support like that before," she said.
Through this newfound encouragement, Tammy also realized the value of being a self-advocate for her healthcare needs. "I've switched providers and that has improved my motivation to continue working hard," she said. "Now, I feel like I have a provider who hears and understands me and believes in me. I didn't stop to take the time to seek that out before."
As she progressed through the Her Heart Challenge programming, Tammy focused on building new self-care habits to support her long-term health. "I've learned to manage my sleep better," she said. The nutritionists involved also make being mindful of what you eat and put into your body much more than counting calories."
In addition to addressing aspects of their physical health, Her Heart participants also set goals to nurture their emotional and mental well-being. For Tammy, this meant examining multiple facets of her life, taking inventory of the things that brought her joy and identifying what weighed her down. It also involved learning to forgive and be kinder to herself.
"That's probably always a constant goal for me. There are weeks that I work way too many hours. I go home on the weekend and sit around or sleep a lot. But I have come to understand that's part of my healing and self-care, too," she said.
Parting words
Looking ahead, Tammy remains committed to her heart health and personal growth. She shared that she has lost 30 pounds since joining the challenge and is motivated to lose 30 more! "I'm just not ready to give up."
Tammy encourages others hesitant to join a program like the Her Heart Challenge to take the leap. She wishes someone had told her, "You just need to apply. You need to go into it with an open heart and mind and take away whatever you can get from it."
Looking for change?
To apply for the 2025 Her Heart Challenge, complete a digital submission here or download the form and return it to Sarah Mohrman, PPG—Cardiology, Parkview Heart Institute, 11108 Parkview Circle Drive, PO Box 5600, Fort Wayne, IN 46895-5600. Applications can also be faxed to 260-458-5850 or scanned and e-mailed to jill.zahm@parkview.com.
For women and men interested in ongoing support for their cardiovascular health from expert Parkview Heart Institute staff members, consider participating in the Her Heart Support Network or Brave Hearts, a focus group for men with heart disease.
