The American Heart Association, a voluntary health organization focused on heart and brain health, invites business, health care and community leaders from across York County to attend the 2019 York Heart Ball. The event will take place on Saturday, April 27, at 6 p.m. at the Country Club of York, 1400 Country Club Road, York.
Local news anchor Amy Lutz will host the evening's festivities, which will include silent and live auctions, a heart-healthy dinner, musical entertainment and dancing. The evening's Open Your Heart appeal will feature the story of Bristol Miller, a 2-year-old cardiac arrest survivor from Airville.
On March 1, 2018, 14-month-old Bristol was home with her babysitter while her parents, Josh and Leah Miller, were at work. That afternoon, Josh, who is also a local paramedic, received an emergency page for a pediatric cardiac arrest at the babysitter's address. He knew immediately it was Bristol. He arrived just behind the ambulance to find responders performing CPR on Bristol. Her babysitter, a former nurse, had also been performing CPR. The responders were able restore a normal heart rhythm, but Bristol continued to need supportive CPR on her way to the hospital.
Bristol spent five weeks in the hospital with other complications, including seizures, infection and a blood clot in her heart. Doctors were unable to determine exactly what had caused Bristol's cardiac arrest, but she received an implantable defibrillator to protect her against future episodes. She had to relearn to sit, crawl, walk and talk during her rehabilitation, but she has since returned to the normal life of a 2-year-old girl. She recently became a big sister.
Funds raised through the York Heart Ball will support the American Heart Association's mission to be a force for a world of longer, healthier lives through community education, health care quality improvement, investment in lifesaving research and public policy advocacy.
The York Heart Ball is chaired by Sally Dixon, senior vice president of UPMC Pinnacle South Region, and co-chaired by Michael Gaskins, president and CEO of UPMC Pinnacle South Region.
There is a fee for tickets. For more information about the 2019 York Heart Ball, including sponsorship and ticket packages, readers may visit http://www.yorkheartball.heart.org or contact Wade Markel at wade.markel@heart.org or 717-495-4691.
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