Mellanie True Hills
Heart Survivor, Author, Speaker and CEO of American Foundation for Women’s Health
Having it All
Mellanie’s resume includes executive positions at some of America’s highest profile Fortune 500 companies. She wrote two best selling books about the Internet, she was a professional member of the National Speakers Association and spoke at International Conferences. She’s had the jobs many women dream of when building a career. And, she had the stress to go with them…traveling all the time, eating the wrong foods while on the run, presentations worldwide, and a 70 hour workweek. For this boomer woman, it was all (as they say) in a day’s work.
The Body Fights Back
Yes, all in a day’s work…that is until 90% blocked arteries to her heart slapped her down. She started feeling very oddly while at the airport, went directly to see her doctor who sent her to the hospital where she underwent an emergency procedure…a balloon angioplasty and a stent. The blockage in her heart was at a juncture – they put the stent in one side but couldn’t open the other and she nearly missed having a massive heart attack on the operating table. They almost lost her!
Forced Transitions can be a “Good Thing”
The next morning, the gravity of her situation hit her like a 2x4. Her doctor threatened that if she didn’t make changes in her lifestyle NOW, open heart surgery was not far off. She needed to unload the stress and weight. Period!
As a former corporate woman myself, I had to chuckle when Mellanie told me she sent emails to both her boss and her boss’s boss asking for “a couple” of days off to regroup. It is so indicative of our thinking when in high stress careers…a couple of days and I’ll be good as new and back to work.
She used her two days to search the internet for information on women and heart disease and didn’t find much. She shared her experience with all the friends and co-workers that emailed and phoned and she learned that no one was talking about the fact that heart disease is the #1 killer of women. And, she knew that as she was given a second chance, she was going to have to be the one to open the conversation and give women the information they needed.
She continued to work, but prioritized her schedule, cut down on work hours, traveled less, ate a low-fat diet, exercised. Seven months later she flew to San Jose to quit her job. However, when she flew back home her heart started racing, her eyes were blurry and her legs were white and cold. The diagnosis? Atrial Fibrillation (AFIB.) She had blood clots in her heart which often lead to stroke (the 3rd highest killer of women.) She became passionate about heart health!
Create Your Own Space
Mellanie had a fabulous background in speaking with the National Speakers Association, but when she started to call around to drum up speaking engagements regarding heart health, no one was interested. She had to bring awareness to the topic herself! It took quite a while but at last she was able to get started.
Motoring for Heart Health
Grounded from flying, but on a mission to build women’s awareness about the risk of heart disease and the lifestyle changes that can save their lives, her family took off in their motor home. Perseverance is key!
A Book is Born
Those who attended her programs on heart health constantly asked if she had written a book. One of the major things she shares is how she lost 85 pounds and they wanted to know HOW! The result? A Woman’s Guide to Saving Her Own Life, now available at
http://mellaniehills.com/heart.htm
A Different Kind of Life
Yes, as founder of http://www.StopAfib.org, founder of the American Foundation for Women’s Health, a speaker, an author, mother and wife, Mellanie still has a full plate. But, she now knows how to take care of herself. That knowledge is saving her life and that of countless other women as well.
A Matter of the Heart:
• Put yourself and your health first.
• Learn to say “no” respectfully.
HEART Program (5 simple steps to save your life)
H – healthy eating
E – exercise daily
A – attitude about stress
R – rest, relax, rejuvenate
T – take proactive control
As mid-life women we have many demands on our time and energy. If we don’t take care of our health we can never live our dreams.
Thank you Mellanie for your heart-felt passion on our behalf!
Visit Mellanie and learn more about her work and heart health at http://www.MellanieHills.com, http://www.StopAfib.org, and http://www.atrialfibrillationblog.com.
