Advocating for FH from Florida to Washington D.C.

n May 7, 2019 FH Advocate, April Donelson, chose to spend her birthday on Capitol Hill, advocating to make familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) a public health priority with Florida and Texas Congressional leaders. April shared “Ryan’s story” to make sure everyone understands the importance of finding, diagnosing and treating FH.

As April wrote about on our blog on Valentine’s Day, April unexpectedly lost her fiancée, Ryan Patrick Carrigan, last year to FH and heart disease, the #1 killer of both men and women in the United States. April now knows all too well that Ryan’s story is not unique. That over 1 million people in the United States are living with FH today, but are undiagnosed.

“Fighting back. Speaking on Capitol Hill together with members of the U.S. Senate and Congress, and sharing Ryan’s story was empowering – and everything he would have wished. Ryan would want to save every single person that has FH and doesn’t know, or isn’t  managing it correctly, and for changes to be made in U.S. policy to make this happen.”

– April Donelson
FH Advocates for Awareness

Cat Davis Ahmed, Family Heart Foundation’s vice president of policy and outreach, joined April for a day packed with meetings, including Senator Rubio’s office (FL) Senator Scott’s office (FL), and Congressman Buchanan’s office (FL-16). April also met with  Senator Ted Cruz (TX) and Representative Michael Cloud (TX-27).

Since the Family Heart Foundation’s trip to Capitol Hill in January, we have continued to meet with senators and congressional representatives from multiple states across the U.S. We are advocating to increase awareness and treatment of FH, to save generations of families from heart disease. Lend your voices to our efforts, by sharing your story or becoming an FH Advocate.