Anchorage Woman's Cold Leads to Life-Saving Heart Discovery

What started as sniffles for Anchorage resident Malia Texeira turned into a medical emergency that caught everyone by surprise. When her cold symptoms progressed to shortness of breath, she went to the doctor expecting medicine and rest.

Instead, doctors discovered something far more serious. During a routine checkup, they detected a heart murmur, an abnormal sound indicating blood wasn't flowing properly through her heart.

Texeira was immediately admitted to the hospital. Within days, she learned she needed open-heart surgery, a diagnosis that would have been missed if she'd ignored her symptoms.

The surgery was successful, but recovery tested her patience in unexpected ways. "My biggest fear was dealing with post-surgery," Texeira said, noting that staying active has always been central to her lifestyle.

Months later, she's back to swimming, walking, and moving her body every day. Her strength continues to return as she rebuilds her routine one step at a time.

Sunny's Take

Texeira's message is simple but powerful: listen to your body. "If you feel anything off with your body, go get it checked," she said, hoping her experience will encourage others to seek care when something feels wrong.

Her story arrives at a critical time. According to the American Heart Association of Alaska, heart disease remains one of the leading causes of death for women, yet symptoms are often dismissed or downplayed.

"It's important for women to advocate for their health and take charge of their heart health," said Chrissy Collucci, executive director of American Heart Association Alaska. The organization points to education and awareness as essential tools for saving lives.

Texeira's experience became part of National Wear Red Day, an annual campaign raising awareness about women's heart health. The American Heart Association Alaska will host its Go Red for Women Luncheon on February 13th at Anchorage's Dena'ina Center, where stories like hers remind women that early detection saves lives.

What seemed like an inconvenient cold became the reason Texeira is alive today, proof that sometimes the smallest symptoms deserve the biggest attention.

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