Ratona’s Letter 

Dear St. Elizabeth,

Today I write to you with a thankful heart, a heart that almost didn’t make it, but did because of ALL of you – my amazing heart team.

I suffered a widow maker heart attack at the age of 44, as I was teaching a fitness class one Saturday morning at my Yoga studio. As a young woman whose life’s work focused on health and wellness, I never thought this was something that could happen to me!

As someone who always had an active lifestyle, my biggest fear after my heart attack was that I would not be able to live my life to its fullest or do the things that make me feel alive.

I remember my first doctor visit with Dr. Dughman after being released from the hospital. Walking in, I was feeling overwhelmed and frightened. He not only put me at ease with his kindness and smile, but when he told me, “Here’s your path to recovery,” I immediately felt better knowing there was a plan and team in place to help me get back to living life fully.

I’m happy to report that after following that plan, I’m not only living life fully again, I’ve done things I’ve never done before and plan to do more!

Since my heart attack, I have climbed 90-foot rock walls and travelled to Maine to summit Mt. Katahdin, which means “The Greatest Mountain.” But the greatest mountain I overcame this year was living through and recovering from a near fatal heart attack, thanks to all of you.

You didn’t just save my life; you gave me the GIFT OF LIFE!

May you be Happy, Healthy & Free,

Ratona Harr

I’m right here because St. Elizabeth is too.