David Jorden experienced the first in a series of heart attacks at age 49.
\nIn April of 1993, he underwent triple coronary bypass surgery at the Altoona Hospital. Following the surgery, he was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, an inflammation of the heart muscle. In October 1999, a procedure to insert an internal cardiac defibrillator was performed.
\nTwo years later, David traveled to Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh for stent surgery, which was followed in early 2002 by Enhanced External Counterpulsation, a non-invasive technique to improve heart function.
\nGrowing progressively weaker, Jorden\u2019s last option was a heart transplant. This surgery was performed at Presbyterian Hospital in April 2002.
\nBecause of the progression of his heart condition, Jorden retired from Penelec at 50 years of age. Although he was limited in physical activity, he managed to keep his sense of humor and get involved in hobbies, such as computer technology and target shooting.
\nHis wife and four children were a constant source of love and support throughout his 15-year ordeal involving more than 30 hospitalizations and many procedures.
\nIn the last few months before his heart transplant surgery, Jorden endured many hours of pain each day.
\nNow, Jorden, at age 65, is being honored as the honorary chairperson of the Twelfth Annual American Heart Association Sweetheart Ball, scheduled for Feb. 15 in the main ballroom at the Lakemont Park Casino.
\nThe ball will begin with a silent auction at 6 p.m. in the SoHo Room with complimentary hors d\u2019ouevres, champagne and strawberries. Dinner includes a choice of salmon filet or vegetarian dish, followed by a Viennesse table dessert buffet extravaganza.
\nBarry Wright, master of ceremonies, will then conduct a live auction immediately after the dinner.
\nA preview of the auction items includes: a 2-night stay in New York City and tickets to a Broadway show; a $1,000 scholarship to Mount Aloysius College; gourmet dinner for eight in Chef Simons\u2019 home; tickets to Yanni at the Bryce Jordan Center; autographed sports memorabilia; children\u2019s collectible; a Diamond Heart Pendant necklace; a Toftrees Four-Star Golf Resort package; and much more.
\nGary Racon and the Studio-e Band of Pittsburgh will provide music for the evening from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. The Medpark Division of the Alpha Management Corporation will provide valet parking.
\nMajor corporate sponsors for the Sweetheart Ball are Bon Secours-Holy Family Regional Health System, FirstEnergy Foundation and Pfizer Inc.
\nTickets for the Ball are $75 per person and can be made by contacting the American Heart Association at 949-3160.
\nJorden\u2019s daughter, Beth Luther, credits her father\u2019s survival to advances in medical technology.
\n\u201cWhat\u2019s amazing is how technology has changed from 15 years ago to now,\u201d said Luther. \u201cWhen my dad had his first heart attack, they could not offer him the medications and procedures that have developed in the past couple of years.\u201d
\nShe recalls the physical and emotional hardships her father experienced.
\n\u201cThe way that heart patients have to live life \u2013 they are the heroes,\u201d said Luther. \u201cThey are the ones that physically and mentally endure pain.\u201d
\nThe Jorden family also credits the AHA for playing a key role in funding the research resulting in technological advances.
\n\u201cWhat we really need to focus on is the money that is used for research if what keeps people like my dad alive,\u201d said Luther. \u201cThe doctors never gave up on my father. Thanks to the American Heart Association, there was always a \u2018next step\u2019 to extend the quality of his life.\u201d
\nBecause of his heart transplant, David Jorden was finally able to pick up and hold his youngest grandchild, an act he was never strong enough to accomplish with his other eight grandchildren. He and his wife Barbara now have dreams of traveling to Scotland.
\nIn looking forward to this year\u2019s Sweetheart Ball, Luther commented: \u201cAt past Sweetheart Balls, my family and I would listen to the success stories of other heart disease survivors and wish it would be us one day.
\n\u201cNow, here we are.\u201d
\nAccording to Sweetheart Ball Co-Chairwomen Dee Lowery and Patti Moncman, the goal for 2003 is $70,000.
\n\u201cThis past year has been a very difficult year for many non-profit organizations to raise the needed funding for programs, however, we are cautiously optimistic that with the help of the local community, we will meet our 2003 goal,\u201d said Lowery. \u201cVarious local businesses have stepped to the plate to support our cause and we are most grateful for their continued support.\u201d
\nProceeds from the Sweetheart Ball and other AHA fundraiser are used for heart disease and stroke research and education. On the local level, the association\u2019s Blair County Division offers various programs and services to schools, businesses and organizations which include a speaker\u2019s bureau, blood pressure screenings, stroke risk assessments, CPR classes and educational materials addressing all aspects of heart disease and stroke.
\nIn Pennsylvania, major teaching hospitals such as Children\u2019s Hospitals of Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, Geisinger Medical Center and the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center receive AHA monies for research in cardiovascular diseases and stroke.
\n\u201cHeart disease is the number one killer and stroke is the number three killer in our nation,\u201d said Anthea L. Germano, communications chairwoman for the association\u2019s Blair County Division. \u201cEvery year since 1963, Congress requires the president to designate February as American Heart Month to encourage all Americans to join the battle against these diseases. The American Heart Association is the largest non-governmental supporter of heart disease and stroke research and is the authority on cardiovascular diseases information.\u201d
\nThe theme for American Heart Month 2003 is \u201cGet Hands On and Help Save a Life.\u201d The AHA urges individuals and businesses to learn CPR, know the signs, symptoms and risk factors of heart attack and stroke and support automatic external defibrillator programs in the community.
\nOther activities scheduled for February include a remote broadcast by radio station WALY 103.9 outside the entrance to Kaufmann\u2019s Department Store in the Logan Valley Mall. The broadcast will take place from 7-9 a.m. on Friday and will feature free blood pressure screenings provided by HealthSouth and complimentary carnations donated by Peterman\u2019s Florists.
\nThroughout the month of February, Kaufmanns will donate a percentage of the proceeds for every new credit account to the Blair County division.
\nFor more information about American Heart Month or other AHA programs, contact 949-3160.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
David Jorden experienced the first in a series of heart attacks at age 49. In April of 1993, he underwent triple coronary bypass surgery at the Altoona Hospital. Following the surgery, he was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, an inflammation of the heart muscle. In October 1999, a procedure to insert an internal cardiac defibrillator was performed. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-47338","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-local-news-in-the-tyrone-pennsylvania-area"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tyronepa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47338","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tyronepa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tyronepa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tyronepa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tyronepa.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=47338"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/tyronepa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47338\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tyronepa.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=47338"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tyronepa.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=47338"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tyronepa.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=47338"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}