{"id":83549,"date":"2025-06-16T13:05:13","date_gmt":"2025-06-16T19:05:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/?p=83549"},"modified":"2026-01-27T15:57:02","modified_gmt":"2026-01-27T22:57:02","slug":"life-saving-call-heart-health-educator-recognizes-signs-of-heart-attack-in-her-own-mother","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/life-saving-call-heart-health-educator-recognizes-signs-of-heart-attack-in-her-own-mother\/","title":{"rendered":"A life-saving call: While on the job, a heart health educator recognized the signs of a heart attack \u2014 in her own mother"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;\" class=\"sharethis-inline-share-buttons\" ><\/div><figure id=\"attachment_83551\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-83551\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-83551\" src=\"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/06\/13113024\/IMG_4802_PS3-lily-and-lee-heart-attack-web.webp\" alt=\"Lily Wyn with her mom, Lee Belanger. Lee\u2019s commitment to a healthy lifestyle inspired Lily\u2019s career in health education, so when her mom called with classic heart attack symptoms, it was a bit of a shock to them both. Photo by Joel Blocker, for UCHealth.\" width=\"640\" height=\"426\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-83551\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Lily Wyn with her mom, Lee Belanger. Lee\u2019s commitment to a healthy lifestyle inspired Lily\u2019s career in health education, so when her mom called with classic heart attack symptoms, it was a bit of a shock to them both. Photo by Joel Blocker, for UCHealth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>UCHealth health educator Lily Wyn was preparing to screen students at a Colorado Springs high school when her phone rang. Just a few feet away, her colleague was wrapping up a lesson on heart health, specifically how symptoms like nausea and shoulder pain can be signs of a heart attack.<\/p>\n<p>The timing couldn\u2019t have been more surreal. On the other end of the line was Wyn\u2019s mother, Wanda \u201cLee\u201d Belanger, calling from home in Windsor. She was watching Wyn\u2019s toddler, Brecken, and was feeling \u201coff.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe said I needed to call my husband to come home because she was feeling nauseous,\u201d Wyn said.<\/p>\n<p>As Lee bent over to pick up her grandson that morning, she felt a strange pain around her breastbone.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt felt like indigestion, but I never get indigestion,\u201d Lee said.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_83553\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-83553\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-83553\" src=\"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/06\/13113315\/IMG_4705_PS6-lily-and-lee-heart-attack-web.webp\" alt=\"Lee Belanger with her grandson, Brecken Wyn. As a busy caregiver, Lee's health quietly slipped down her list of priorities until a heart attack made her re-evaluate her lifestyle. Photo by Joel Blocker, for UCHealth.\" width=\"640\" height=\"426\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-83553\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Lee Belanger with her grandson, Brecken Wyn. As a busy caregiver, Lee&#8217;s health quietly slipped down her list of priorities until a heart attack made her re-evaluate her lifestyle. Photo by Joel Blocker, for UCHealth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>She tried Tums \u2014 twice \u2014 but the discomfort returned. Then came the shoulder pain.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd there, in the next room, I can hear my colleague in the background telling the students that shoulder discomfort and nausea can be signs of a heart attack,\u201d Wyn said. \u201cI told my mom, you need to go to the hospital.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goredforwomen.org\/en\/about-heart-disease-in-women\/facts\">the American Heart Association<\/a>. And shockingly, only about half of U.S. women realize it\u2019s their No. 1 killer. Knowing the signs of a heart attack, calling 911 and prioritizing heart health \u2014 even when life is hectic \u2014 can be life-saving.<\/p>\n<div class=\"su-youtube su-u-responsive-media-yes\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"400\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/uFTmHsmBJdg?mute=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture\" title=\" Family Ties | Lily and Lee | Harry Mack x UCHealth | Ep. 043\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p>It\u2019s those lessons that Wyn brings to students. She and her colleague were at the high school as part of UCHealth\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/services\/community-health\/healthy-hearts-and-minds\/\">Healthy Heart and Minds program<\/a>, which focuses on student heart health education and screenings. Though Wyn typically works in northern Colorado, she was in Colorado Springs to help expand the program in southern Colorado. With parental consent, students can get screenings for cholesterol, blood pressure and growth at multiple stages: in elementary, middle and high school. Health educators then provide support to families that need it.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was a weird turn of events to have to tell my mom, \u2018You\u2019re having a heart attack,&#8217; but it\u2019s also important that I was able to do that,\u201d Wyn said.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_83554\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-83554\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-83554\" src=\"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/06\/13113353\/IMG_4446_PS9-lily-and-lee-heart-attack-web.webp\" alt=\"Lily Wyn, right, with her mom, Lee Belanger, son, Brecken and daughter, Matilda. Photo by Joel Blocker, for UCHealth.\" width=\"640\" height=\"426\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-83554\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Lily Wyn, right, with her mom, Lee Belanger, son, Brecken and daughter, Matilda. Photo by Joel Blocker, for UCHealth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><strong>A heart attack can happen to anyone<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Lee had always been active \u2014 the kind of person who was always on the go, cooked healthy meals and encouraged her family to care for their bodies without shame or guilt.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe inspired my love for healthy foods,\u201d Wyn said. \u201cThere was never shame for eating, but rather she encouraged eating as a way to care for your body.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Her mother\u2019s lifestyle inspired Wyn\u2019s path as a health educator. As a child, she participated in Healthy Hearts and Minds, then a week-long summer camp where she learned about nutrition and physical activity. Now she teaches those same lessons to students.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_83555\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-83555\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-83555\" src=\"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/06\/13113650\/IMG_4775_PS7-lily-and-lee-heart-attack-web.webp\" alt=\"Lily Wyn with her mom, Lee Belanger. It was Lily who urged her mom to go to the hospital after her mom called her with troubling symptoms. Photo by Joel Blocker, for UCHealth.\" width=\"640\" height=\"426\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-83555\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Lily Wyn with her mom, Lee Belanger. It was Lily who urged her mom to go to the hospital after her mom called her with troubling symptoms. Photo by Joel Blocker, for UCHealth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Since 2021, Wyn and her husband have shared a home with her parents. \u00a0Their multigenerational household is busy and full of activity \u2014 walks, bike rides and constant motion that makes a heart attack seem unthinkable.<\/p>\n<p>But then it happened. And it changed everything.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Don\u2019t ignore the signs of a heart attack<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>When Wyn hung up the phone that morning, Oct. 13, 2024, she knew something was wrong. She left Colorado Springs immediately and began the two-hour drive to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/locations\/uchealth-medical-center-of-the-rockies\/\">UCHealth Medical Center of the Rockies<\/a> in Loveland.<\/p>\n<p>Back in Windsor, a friend arrived to watch Brecken while Lee\u2019s husband drove her to the hospital about eight minutes away. On the way, Lee vomited twice.<\/p>\n<p>Health experts say it\u2019s ideal for people who are in distress to call an ambulance.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cToo often, people drive themselves to the hospital instead of calling 911,\u201d said <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/provider\/justin-a-strote-md-cardiology\/\">Dr. Justin Strote<\/a>, a UCHealth cardiologist. \u201cIf you are having a heart attack, time is of the essence.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ambulances aren\u2019t just transportation. They are mobile emergency rooms. Paramedics can begin treatment immediately, assess symptoms and alert hospital teams so care is ready the moment patients arrive, Strote said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe sooner you can get medical treatment, the better,\u201d he said. \u201cThere is also the risk of cardiac arrest during a heart attack. Paramedics are equipped to deal with this. That\u2019s help you wouldn\u2019t get if you were in a private vehicle.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Lee walked into the ER and received help immediately. Tests revealed a complete blockage in one of the three major arteries feeding her heart.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe had a classic heart attack,\u201d Strote said. \u201cShe did the right thing to get checked out, as unexplained heartburn in a person not prone to heartburn is an indicator of a heart attack.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Other symptoms of a heart attack include:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Chest pain or discomfort. This can feel like aching, tightness, pain or pressure.<\/li>\n<li>Pain or discomfort in other areas. This can include the arm or shoulder, neck, jaw, teeth or upper abdominal.<\/li>\n<li>Shortness of breath. Can be with or without discomfort.<\/li>\n<li>Cold sweats.<\/li>\n<li>Nausea or vomiting.<\/li>\n<li>Lightheadedness or sudden dizziness.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In that moment, everything Wyn had taught others about heart health became personal.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was a bridge of my personal and professional life \u2013 a very powerful event,\u201d Wyn said.<\/p>\n<p>Wyn and Strote both reiterate the importance of knowing the signs of a heart attack and acting on those signs.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTrust your gut,\u201d Wyn said.<\/p>\n<p>And don\u2019t wait to seek help.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>When life gets in the way of heart health<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>At the hospital, Strote placed three stents in Lee\u2019s blocked artery to restore blood flow to her heart. She now takes daily medications to prevent future complications. The heart attack made Lee reevaluate her health and lifestyle.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI wasn\u2019t doing all the right things, but probably more than many my age,\u201d Lee said.<\/p>\n<p>One of her biggest challenges is stress.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_83556\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-83556\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-83556\" src=\"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/06\/13113817\/IMG_4545_PS2-lily-and-lee-heart-attack-web.webp\" alt=\"Lee Belanger plays with her granddaughter, Matilda, at the home she shares with her daughter, left, Lily Wyn, and their two families. Photo by Joel Blocker, for UCHealth.\" width=\"640\" height=\"426\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-83556\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Lee Belanger plays with her granddaughter, Matilda, at the home she shares with her daughter, left, Lily Wyn, and their two families. Photo by Joel Blocker, for UCHealth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Lee and Jerry have full custody of their son\u2019s daughter, now 7. She came to live with them when she was just 18 months old. Lee also regularly cared for Brecken while Wyn worked. At the time of her heart attack, Wyn was 36 weeks pregnant with her second child.<\/p>\n<p>The demands of caregiving, chronic pain and the daily hustle of raising a young child again had pushed Lee\u2019s health to the back burner. She was exercising less frequently and had less time to plan healthy meals. She felt stressed all of the time.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAt my age, I was not prepared to do all the things required now to raise a kid,\u201d Lee said. \u201cThere is so much to keep up on: the apps, school communications, activities. \u2026 I stopped all the things I should have been doing for my health and focused on raising a kid again.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_83552\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-83552\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-83552\" src=\"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/06\/13113205\/IMG_4590_PS4-lily-and-lee-heart-attack-web.webp\" alt=\"Lee Belanger with her grandson, Brecken Wyn. Photo by Joel Blocker, for UCHealth.\" width=\"640\" height=\"426\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-83552\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Lee Belanger with her grandson, Brecken Wyn. Photo by Joel Blocker, for UCHealth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Even after improving her high cholesterol in 2023, life\u2019s demands crept back in \u2014 until her heart forced her to stop and listen.<\/p>\n<p>Since her heart attack, Lee has completed 36 sessions of cardiac rehab. What began with hesitation turned into a powerful reset.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe staff was fantastic,\u201d Lee said. \u201cOnce I got to know everyone and heard their stories, I looked forward to going. It was good to build that habit of working out.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m feeling great now,\u201d she added. \u201cI\u2019ve noticed I\u2019ve got more energy and don\u2019t need those cat naps during the day.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>For Wyn, the experience has deepened her commitment to work. She now shares her mother\u2019s story with students \u2014 not to scare them, but to empower them.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cKids can relate more to what you\u2019re trying to teach them when it\u2019s personal,\u201d she said. \u201cI love seeing the light bulb moment for students \u2014 when they realize that the power of their health is in their own hands.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_83557\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-83557\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-83557\" src=\"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/06\/13114009\/IMG_4465_PS8-lily-and-lee-heart-attack-web.webp\" alt=\"Lily Wyn, left, with her mother, Lee Belanger and daughter, Matilda Wyn. Photo by Joel Blocker, for UCHealth.\" width=\"640\" height=\"426\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-83557\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Lily Wyn, left, with her mother, Lee Belanger and daughter, Matilda Wyn. Photo by Joel Blocker, for UCHealth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>That light bulb moment has come for Lee, too. She\u2019s back to focusing on thoughtful food choices, moving with intention and prioritizing her well-being \u2014 not just for herself, but for the family she loves.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>UCHealth health educator Lily Wyn was preparing to screen students at a Colorado Springs high school when her phone rang. Just a few feet away, her colleague was wrapping up a lesson on heart health, specifically how symptoms like nausea and shoulder pain can be signs of a heart attack. The timing couldn\u2019t have been [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2164,"featured_media":83551,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"video","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[710,379,3512,8763,128],"class_list":["post-83549","post","type-post","status-publish","format-video","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-stories","tag-community-health","tag-healthy-hearts-and-minds","tag-heart-and-vascular-care-cardiovascular","tag-heart-attack-care","tag-heart-health","post_format-post-format-video"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.4 (Yoast SEO v27.4) - 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