LOVELAND — Zerlina Dubois and her 7-year-old son, Gabriel, will join about 200 people Saturday for the Clermont County Heart Walk to raise money for the American Heart Association and raise awareness of heart disease.

Gabriel was born with a heart defect and underwent open-heart surgery at 5 months old to repair a hole in his heart and other damage caused by a birth defect.

WARNING SIGNS

Heart attack Pressure, squeezing or pain in the center of the chest Pain spreading to the shoulders, neck or arms Chest discomfort with lightheadedness, fainting, sweating, nausea or shortness of breath Stroke Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding Sudden trouble seeing Sudden trouble walking, dizziness or loss of balance or coordination Sudden severe headache with no known cause

“If he'd been born five years earlier, he wouldn't be here. That's how much technology has changed,” Mrs. Dubois said.

“Gabriel is always at the walk. I think it helps him, and he gets to meet people with similar experiences and medical problems.”

Although Gabriel has no limitations on his lifestyle, doesn't take medications and is even able to participate in soccer and ice hockey, Mrs. Dubois knows that without recent research about congenital heart defects that affect children, her son wouldn't be as healthy as he is.

And that's why she does everything she can to support the Heart Association.

This weekend's 5K walk, which begins at 10 a.m. with registration at 9:30 a.m. at Nisbet Park along the Loveland Bike Trail, is part of national efforts to raise money to fight the nation's No. 1 killer.

The heart association says heart disease and stroke represent 41 percent of all deaths in Ohio, and in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, 10 people have a stroke or mini-stroke each day.

The event is also meant to promote healthy living and the importance of exercise in preventing heart disease.

The association distributes literature about the warning signs of heart attacks and strokes because a quick response is important to recovery, Lori Fovel, the association's communications specialist said.

“Knowing the warning signs is so important, because if they can get the help that they need, it increases the chances of survival, and oftentimes, that's the only thing we can do,” she said.

Brown County will host its Heart Walk 9 a.m. Oct. 12 at Lake Waynoka in the Little Turtle area, and Middletown's Heart Walk is 10 a.m. Oct. 19 at the AK Steel Stage at Bicentennial Commons. The Heart Association has a mini-marathon in March.

To register as an individual or as a team for any of the Heart Walks, contact the American Heart Association Greater Cincinnati Chapter at (513) 281-4048.

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