Heart Disease

A detailed Summary of Heart Disease


I was eleven years old when my oldest sister, Willie, was admitted into the hospital for heart problems. At that age, I didn't understand what was going on with her, but I knew she was very sick. By the time I reached my fifth-teen birthday, my sister was back in the hospital again. It was then that I understood what was happening to my sister. As a baby, my sister was diagnosed with rheumatic fever. Rheumatic fever is a delayed consequence of an untreated upper respiratory infection with group A streptococci (streptococcal pharyngitis or "strep throat") (South Dakota Dept of Health). This disease can cause inflammation of the heart and damage to the heart valves (American Heart Association). Inflammation of the heart leads to scarring and deformity, causing the valves to malfunction (Microsoft Encarta). This strain on the heart muscle causes rheumatic heart disease, which can cause death in middle or later life (Microsoft Encarta). Rheumatic Fever is preventable, but if it is not treated early it can cause serious damage to the heart.

The symptoms of rheumatic fever, which usually develop within two weeks but may not appear for several months, includes fever, skin rash, swelling of the joints,


The last time my sister was hospitalized I knew something was wrong. She was no longer that cheerful person. Her smiles turned to frowns. That glow in her eyes turned to tears. An infection had once again entered her body. It was then I believe my sister realized how fatal her condition was. I recall my sister telling me she was tired and sick of the pain. As the tears rolled down her face, she turned to me and said, "I can see the hurt in your face baby sister, don't be afraid for me because the Lord will take care of me." My sister died two days later. She died before she could receive a new heart.

When the doctors told my family that my sister needed a heart transplant they felled to pieces, but my sister remained strong. She continued to be that cheerful person that we could run to when we were feeling down. She always had this wonderful glow in her eyes. I would come home from work and she would have dinner cooking for the entire family. She continued to play games with her two little daughters. My sister even stayed cheerful when she was finally confined to a wheel chair. She never let the thought of her illness get her spirit down.

Rheumatic heart disease is a condition in which the heart valves are damaged by rheumatic fever (American Heart Association). Rheumatic fever begins with a strep

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Approximate Word count = 896
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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