In late June, Parkview patient care tech, Nichole Voland, got a visit from someone with devastating news. “There was a knock on the door and an officer said, ‘I'm sorry. I regret to inform you that your mother has passed away.’"
While Nichole and her family were aware that her mother, Cheryl Panning, had some health issues, they couldn’t have imagined how dire the situation was. “The day before, I was texting my mom, everything was good. And then, in a blink of an eye she was gone.”
Weeks before her passing, Cheryl had concerns about her heart health and had an EKG in the emergency room, which didn’t note anything concerning aside from high blood pressure. An autopsy after her death would show that Cheryl had been suffering from chronic heart disease and a heart arrhythmia, in addition to other comorbidities.
It was difficult for Nichole to accept, knowing her mom had been making strides with her well-being, striving to introduce a low-sodium diet and moving her body regularly. “I just kept thinking, if she would have had a heart scan, would it have caught this?”
Raising awareness
An idea was born, and Nichole decided to reach out to the Parkview Heart Institute via Parkview’s intranet, known as Pulse. She shared that she, “wanted to raise awareness and encourage people to get heart scans like the HeartSmart CT, so they can be more proactive and maybe prevent another family from hurting like we do. It’s about being proactive.”
Nichole proposed a walk, to remember those who have passed away because of or are impacted by heart disease. “I wanted to do it to honor my mother, like a memory walk, but then it expanded to a broader message of awareness, which is amazing.”
Nichole has become passionate about the power of screening. “People have this misconception that heart scans are so expensive. They think they can’t afford it, but they are quick and affordable and such a smart investment in your future. I’m 46, and I think a lot of people my age have the mindset that we aren’t there yet. We are.”
Making her mother proud
With support from the Parkview Heart Institute, Nichole's friends and family, heart institute co-workers, Her Heart program participants and Brave Hearts support group members will gather to walk on Thursday, October 29, at the Parkview Family Park. “My mom would be so proud of me for doing this,” Nichole said.
Participants will bring a photo of the loved one they are honoring to wear in a lanyard around their neck. “There will probably be a lot of emotions on the day of the walk. I’m just happy I’m able to celebrate my mom in this way. It’s funny, she loved walking and I know she would think this was so cool, and I go to text her, and I can’t. I can’t tell her about it, but I can show up for her. I can walk for her.”
Ultimately, Nichole’s hope is that, in addition to remembering loved ones, the event will serve as a reminder about the power of heart screenings. “I can’t change the past, but I can motivate someone else. We’re coming into Thanksgiving and Christmas, our first without her, and Christmas was her favorite holiday. It’s going to be hard, but this is giving me purpose.”
Save the date!
Plans are in place for next year's walk that will be open to the public. The anticipated walk will take place on World Heart Day, Wednesday, September 29, 2027.
Learn more about scheduling heart screenings by visiting us here.
