A Heart in Bloom: Woman of the Year Tea
Gail Dicus was presented the second "Heart Healthy Woman of the Year" award by Saint Luke's Muriel I. Kauffman Women's Heart Center at "A Heart in Bloom" signature event held Sunday, September 16.
"Gail is a vibrant and successful woman in every aspect of her life and we are thrilled to recognize her achievements with this award," said Tracy Stevens, M.D., medical director, Saint Luke's Muriel I. Kauffman Women's Heart Center. "She is very diligent with her nutrition, exercise and mental health while empowering others to do the same -- she ‘walks her talk' everyday."
Since a 2000 diagnosis of viral cardiomyopathy, a life-threatening condition that attacked her heart and lead to a 2005 heart transplant, Gail has been an advocate for women's heart health and a role model for family, friends, colleagues and the community. Today she strives to lead an exemplary life as a heart transplant survivor. "Everyday, I feel an obligation to honor my new heart and the donor who was wise enough to recognize the importance of organ donation," said Dicus, a long-time Kansas City-area realtor, wife and mother of four sons.
Since her transplant, Gail has also honored the promise she made to herself and others just before the surgery -- to educate women about the risks of heart disease. She is a motivational speaker for The Gift of Life, an organization that promotes organ donation and awareness. Dicus is also a member of the Community Advisory Council for the Center for Advanced Heart Care, participates in fundraisers for The American Heart Association and Midwest Organ Donation, and donates time at St. Luke's Mid America Heart Institute and other area hospitals to visit with heart transplant recipients about the importance of positive thoughts and powerful prayers. She is making a strong effort to influence women to pay attention to cardiovascular risk factors and to pursue a healthy lifestyle.
Featured guest speaker at the event was Marilu Henner, author and television personality. Bringing her message of good health and vibrant living to new and growing audiences, Henner energetically spoke of her years of being overweight and stifled by bad health, and her journey of discovery to good health. Audience members received her latest book, Healthy Holidays.
The Heart Healthy "Woman of the Year" designation was originated in 2006 to honor a woman who is an advocate, a motivator and a role model to all women who want to initiate or maintain heart healthy lifestyles. The first Heart Healthy "Woman of the Year" was Deb Dutro, a proactive survivor who used her determination and positive attitude to arm herself so she could beat the odds.
Nominate Someone!
Nominate someone you know for the 2009 "Heart Healthy Woman of the Year" award.
- Nomination Form (187kb pdf)
- Guidelines (4.5mb pdf)
