VAIL \u2014 Gerald R. Ford and his wife Betty left a vivid public service history in the Vail Valley and now their\u00a0daughter, Susan Ford Bales, is building on their legacy by sharing a story close to her own heart.<\/p>\n
Actually, it is a story about her own heart and Bales will tell it during a special Vail event planned for Friday, Feb. 1.<\/p>\n
Back in 2010, at age 53, Bales suffered a sudden cardiac arrest.<\/p>\n
\u201cI went into what they call defib when I was working out in a gym,\u201d said Bales.<\/p>\n
Luckily the gym where she was working out was attached to a hospital. Doctors regularly exercised at the site and a surgeon was able to shock her back to life, using an automated external defibrillator.<\/p>\n
In the aftermath of the episode, Bales learned that she had a severe blockage in one of her arteries. \u201cI am now the proud owner of a stint and pacemaker,\u201d Bales said.<\/p>\n
She has also become a passionate advocate for improving heart health and widespread access to the type of device that saved her life. Which is why she is returning to Vail next month\u2014to promote the efforts of Starting Hearts.<\/p>\n
Starting Hearts is a nonprofit based in Avon whose mission is to save the lives of sudden cardiac arrest victims through free CPR and defibrillator education and widespread distribution of lifesaving defibrillators everywhere in public.<\/p>\n
Since its inception in 2010, Starting Hearts has educated more than 18,000 citizens in lifesaving and leadership skills, as well as increased the number of defibrillators in Eagle County, to more than 400, or one for every 130 citizens, one of the highest per capita rates in the nation.<\/p>\n
Starting Hearts will present an Evening with Susan Ford Bales on Friday, Feb. 1\u00a0at the Gore Range Room of the Vail Golf Club.<\/p>\n
\u201cMost of my talk will be telling my story. I think we can all learn from others\u2019 stories,\u201d said Bales. \u201cStarting Hearts is a wonderful\u00a0organization and the advantage of people\u00a0knowing what to do when something happens is so important. If it had happened to me at home, I wouldn\u2019t be giving this speech\u00a0because\u00a0there wouldn\u2019t have been anyone there\u00a0to resuscitate me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bales learned a great deal from her heart episode. During her recovery, she learned that there was actually a family history of heart disease.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t know it at the time,\u201d Bales said.<\/p>\n
Reflecting on the event also made her realize she hadn\u2019t picked up on a number of heart disease warning signs. She noted that she wasn\u2019t feeling well the morning she went to the gym.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had read all the things about having jaw pain or arm pain and basically ignored it,\u201d said Bales. \u201cMy biggest message to people is: don\u2019t ignore the signals. You hear all these stories, and you have to actually\u00a0listen to them and register it.\u201d<\/p>\n
“We are so very honored for Susan to return to Vail to speak about her personal and family’s heart history,” said Lynn Blake, founder of Starting Hearts, who is also a sudden cardiac arrest survivor. “Susan’s story is truly inspirational and we are so pleased that she would make a triumphant return to Vail to share with us and support our mission to save the lives of sudden cardiac arrest victims.”<\/p>\n
While the Ford family no longer owns Jerry and Betty\u2019s Beaver Creek home, Bales noted she has many fond memories of the community.<\/p>\n
\u201cI do come back to spend a week or so in the summer,\u201d Bales said. \u201cIt is lovely to walk around and see my parents\u2019 names.\u201d<\/p>\n
“The Ford family is revered here with such an amazing legacy, including the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens and the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheatre,\u201d\u00a0said Alan Himelfarb, Executive Director of Starting Hearts. \u201cSusan has so many deep friendships in the Vail Valley and we have heard from many who anticipate her return.”<\/p>\n
If you go\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n An Evening with Susan Ford Bales<\/em><\/p>\n What:<\/strong> Bales will share her personal story as well as stories about the Ford family\u2019s heart history.<\/p>\n When:<\/strong> 6 p.m. cocktails and 7 p.m. dinner on Friday, Feb. 1<\/p>\n Where:<\/strong> Gore Range Room of the Vail Golf Club<\/p>\n Details:<\/strong> Tickets are $150 per person and just 100 are available with tables of eight for $1,200. To purchase tickets, visit http:\/\/www.startinghearts.org<\/a> or call 970 763-5306, extension 102. A silent auction is planned during the cocktail hour and all event proceeds will go to Starting Hearts.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n