Brave Hearts: Keeping A Positive Outlook While Living with HCM - An Interview with Bethany and Hannah Keime.

Feb 16, 2023

📣 What is HCM?

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a disease of your heart muscle, where the muscle wall of your heart becomes thickened. HCM is a genetic disorder that is primarily passed down through families and is brought on by a change or mutation in one or more genes. A child has a 50% risk of inheriting HCM from a parent who has it. The majority of those who have it experience minimal, if any, symptoms and can lead regular lives.

 

In this episode, Gabi introduces you to the Keime Sisters, Bethany, and Hannah. Bethany & Hannah Keime who were both unexpectedly diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, HCM, in high school. Due to their condition, they had to have defibrillators implanted. Hannah's defibrillator saved her life when she went into sudden cardiac arrest in her sleep just 6 months after it was implanted. They share their life and more about CHD @heartcharged on Instagram, which has become a welcoming & responsive hub for CHD warriors and their families.

 

Tune in as Bethany and Hannah share their experiences, what it is like dealing and living with HCM, Advocacies, and their message for someone who also deals with the same situation.

 

Questions on this episode;

• What happened next after the diagnosis?
• How did Bethany and Hannah decide to start @heartcharged? What was the thought process?
• What are some of the things that surprise you about the community as it grows?
• How did you guys go from @heartcharged? What was the process and how is it going so far?
• What is next for you guys when you think of what @heartcharged is gonna look like, hope to accomplish and what to do next?
• What do you think is the biggest takeaway about learning your diagnosis that you wanna share?

Key Points:

• Diagnosis
• What does it actually look like
• Warning signs
• Bethany's Support system
• Coming together to help others.
• Being an advocate
• Survivor’s Gratitude
• Empowering the future generation of live savers
• Teaching chain of survival 
• Life doesn't end with the diagnosis
• Awareness & education mission
• Creating community so othersare not alone
• Early screenings.
• Make sure to listen to your body.
• Working on Legislation 
• #FlashABoobSaveALife Campaign.

 

Quotables

"It's hard but it's all gonna work out"

 

You can reach out to the Keime Sisters through these Social Media Links.

Instagram: 

https://instagram.com/heartcharged?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

 

Website:

https://www.getheartcharged.org