Today is National Wear Red Day, a campaign created by the American Heart Association's "Go Red for Women" movement that's designed to raise awareness about women's heart health. Before leaving home today, put on something red and do your part.
Did you know that more American women die of heart disease than any other illness, and one out of two women will develop heart and vascular disease during their lifetimes? I didn't, but thanks to Barbra Streisand, I'm learning.
Nearly four years ago, Barbra took on a new role. You probably didn't read about it in the trades, and neither TMZ nor People Magazine did a story about it. No, it wasn't a movie or a performance. Streisand wanted to do something to shine a light on the issue of women and their hearts, she wanted us to learn what she'd learned -- and do something to save our lives. It was more than a song, more than a character, more than just being an entertainer. She wanted us to take care of ourselves.
In 2010, Barbra made a $5 million donation to Cedars-Sinai hospital to back up her desire to get involved. She said at the time, "I have played many roles over the years, but one that makes me particularly proud is the role I play as a supporter of the Cedars-Sinai Women’s Heart Center. It is an honor to have the opportunity to ask for your support of this wonderful program."
Streisand's dedication to this issue has been impressive -- and not just to her loyal and dedicated fans. Marlo Thomas wrote an article yesterday about the Go Red for Heart Health initiative. The "That Girl" star wrote, "Barbra’s knowledge of the subject and commitment to the issue continue to amaze me. …Barbra pointed out to me, 'Twenty-five to fifty percent of women don’t fit male patterns for heart disease. Women having a heart attack, for example, don’t always experience what men usually do, like chest pain associated with exertion. Instead, they may feel chest pressure, indigestion, shortness of breath, or fatigue. Women need to know this.'”
Barbra has said that this issue matters to her and clearly it does. After all, donating millions of dollars is substantial proof -- it's putting your money where your mouth is -- even if you're as fortunate as she's been. But she's done so much more than write a check. She's instituted an online fundraising campaign to raise an additional $5 million, and has been omnipresent in championing this cause.
She told Thomas, "I have always been an advocate of women's issues and I have been outspoken on issues of gender inequality throughout my career. When I discovered that gender inequality still exists in the medical sciences when it comes to research and treatment of heart disease, I was stunned and knew I had to do something.
"I have had both close friends and family members impacted by the illness. Sadly, I think most people have had someone in their lives who has suffered a heart attack and/or has all the risk factors for cardiovascular disease. It has now become an epidemic, given that 500,000 women in the United States die from heart disease each year, and women are more often hospitalized for heart failure."
What Barbra didn't say to Marlo is that one of those family members touched by heart disease was Diana Kind, Barbra's mother. In 1990, while Streisand was directing and acting in "The Prince of Tides," she learned that her mother – who was then 82 – needed heart bypass surgery.
Today, the bypass procedure has become somewhat commonplace. Many people have had the operation, but 22 years ago, it was much more precarious. Diana could have died on the table.
Barbra left South Carolina and the movie behind to be at her mother's side in Los Angeles. "When I was faced with the potential loss of my mother the movie became much easier. It lost its importance. It took the proper place -- it's much more secondary to life."
Fortunately for Barbra and her family, Diana survived the procedure and lived many more years. Diana went to her daughter's 50th birthday in 1992. She got to see Barbra perform live at the 1994 concerts in Las Vegas and New York. And even more important, when Barbra married James Brolin on July 1, 1998, Diana watched as Barbra walked down the aisle on the arm of her grandson, Jason Gould.
Thanks to the heart bypass surgery, Diana Kind lived to the age of 93 -- another eleven years. Even though at the end of her life, Alzheimer's Disease effected her brain, her heart was strong. And interestingly enough, Barbra said that in the end, what she was still able to share with her mother was music. Her mother could recall the tunes she loved and with Barbra, they could sing "One Kiss" together and connect.
So, today, when I dress to go out, I'm going to reach for the red and tell anyone with whom I speak to take care of their hearts. Women, this is something we all need to do. Men, talk to the women in your life that you love and ask them to have their hearts tested.
Valentine's Day is still two weeks away, but today's the true day to show your Valentine that her heart matters to you.
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