91 Comments
May 14, 2023Liked by Michael Jensen

Thanks for this. My mother had a heart attack at 48 in 1997. At her cardiac rehab class, they went around the room and said what their symptoms had been. None were the same, and only a few people had had the classic symptoms. That was when we learned that women have different symptoms than men ... even though my uncle is a cardiologist who had had his own heart attack three years earlier.

Expand full comment
May 14, 2023Liked by Brent Hartinger, Michael Jensen

Thank you for sharing your story. First time I’ve heard of a sore back. A good reminder to take care of ourselves & pay attention to signs we may off handedly ignore.

Expand full comment
May 14, 2023Liked by Brent Hartinger, Michael Jensen

I'm sorry you have such heavy memories attached to this day. But thank you for spreading awareness of women's heart attack symptoms - I will keep them in mind for my own mom.

Expand full comment
May 14, 2023·edited May 14, 2023Liked by Brent Hartinger, Michael Jensen

Thank you so much for this!

Expand full comment
May 14, 2023Liked by Brent Hartinger, Michael Jensen

Thank you for sharing the heart information and your family’s story. Having a complicated relationship with parents is a tough thing, as I know from my own experience. Be well.

Expand full comment
May 14, 2023Liked by Brent Hartinger, Michael Jensen

This is so much like my own mother's death. She died in 2002 of a massive heart attack caused by a lifetime of smoking and a horrible diet. There were none of the classic signs we associate with a heart attack. For days she had complained of indigestion and presumed it was food poisoning. Two different hospitals sent her home with antibiotics and instructions to stay hydrated. It wasn't until her 3rd trip to the ER that she complained of chest pain right before she passed out. She never regained consciousness and like you, I had to make the decision to unplug the life support and let her go. She was 52. The addiction was so strong that it controlled her life physically and financially and it ended it.

Expand full comment
May 14, 2023Liked by Brent Hartinger, Michael Jensen

Thank you <3

Expand full comment
May 14, 2023Liked by Brent Hartinger, Michael Jensen

Thank you for sharing!

Expand full comment
May 14, 2023Liked by Brent Hartinger, Michael Jensen

So hard when we lose a parent just when we're reconciling. It was similar with my mom. We were finally beginning to have the friendship I think we both always wanted. I'm trying to do better with my adult children and feel like we have good relationships.

Expand full comment
May 14, 2023Liked by Michael Jensen

Beautiful.

Expand full comment
May 14, 2023Liked by Michael Jensen

Thank you for sharing your story, Michael. I had no idea. Your gift here, to so many, is very appreciated 🙏🏼

Expand full comment
May 14, 2023Liked by Brent Hartinger, Michael Jensen

The impact this piece might have... Very thoughtful, Michael.

Expand full comment
May 14, 2023Liked by Brent Hartinger, Michael Jensen

Thank you for this. 💛💛💛

Expand full comment

Thanks so much for opening up about this and turning your loss into women’s health gain - how beautiful! 🤍

Expand full comment
May 15, 2023Liked by Michael Jensen

Tragic. Thank goodness you guys had that last visit.

Expand full comment

This is a super emotional read, thank you for sharing Michael.

There's a very good book about how huge the data gap is between men and women called Invisible Women by Caroline Criado-Perez . I learned in that about how women have different, never talked about symptoms for heart attacks and myriad other health conditions. It's both shocking and unsurprising at the same time to be honest.

Expand full comment