AMHERST, N.Y. — Lynda Marino, a wife and mother of two from East Amherst, is a survivor.
"I don't look like I'm the face of someone with heart disease," she said.
Marino, 44, was diagnosed with a genetic heart defect, cardiomyopathy, shortly after graduating college. She lived symptom free all her life, until one fateful day in September 2015.
She went into sudden cardiac arrest while driving on Transit Road in Lockport with her then 2-year-old in the car. Good Samaritans jumped into action to save her life.
"I only know the story as it was told to me because I really don't remember that day," she said. "I was slumped over (the wheel). My daughter was in the backseat crying hysterically. The gentleman that was behind me saw that. He was able to get my car to a stop, but it was another couple across 4 lanes of traffic pumping gas that came to assist. They got me out of the car and started CPR immediately."
She was without a pulse, and said it was a series of miracles that day that brought her back to life.
"There happened to be a sheriff's deputy nearby that had an AED in his car. So all of these miracles combined are why I'm here today. It wasn't until 3 or 4 days later in the hospital that I woke up."
Since then Marino has had seven surgeries and now lives with a pacemaker. But that hasn't slowed her down.
Marino has been an active volunteer for the American Heart Association (AHA), raising thousands of dollars and spreading awareness locally with the help of her family and "Sling Sisters" team. She created that name years ago after she and her sister both received an implanted pacemaker and wore arm slings during recovery.
Now Marino will be advocating for heart health on a national level.
She was one of 12 women nationwide chosen by the AHA for the 2024 Real Women Class of Survivors. As national ambassadors, this sisterhood will spread the word about the Go Red for Women movement.
"I would love to see as my daughter grows up that heart disease is no longer the number one killer of women. I'd love to see us become a nation of lifesavers with learning hands only CPR," she said.
That message is also shared by Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin who, like Marino, was brought back to life after sudden cardiac arrest. The two met at the Red Dress Gala in New York City last week.
"As a survivor you don't often meet someone who's been on the same road as you. All I wanted to do was give Damar Hamlin a hug and say we're gonna take our journeys on a mission together," she said.
That mission is to share her scars, and her story, to inspire others to take care of their own heart, and to learn CPR.
"You may be someone's hero. You may be someone's lifesaver and that's really why I'm here today."
For her day job, Marino works as the Marketing Director at Canterbury Woods senior living in Williamsville. Coincidentally, one of the residents was that Lynda interacted with over 20 years ago was Wilson Greatbatch - the inventor of the pacemaker. Little did she know that years later, his device would be keeping her alive.
To learn hands only CPR, see a 1 minute tutorial from the American Heart Association on YouTube here.
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