Laura Haywood-Cory

Heart attack survivor Laura Haywood-Cory didn’t stop at boundaries of fandom in getting out the word about heart health (efforts covered here in “A Heartfelt Fanzine” and “A Second Change of Heart”).

She and Katherine Leon approached and encouraged Mayo Clinic cardiologist Sharonne Hayes to study the rare heart condition called spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD).

Those extended efforts have been recognized by Woman’s Day magazine with a 2012 Red Dress Award. (See the video of her appearance at the February 15 ceremony here [YouTube].)

Her award citation reads:

Laura Haywood-Cory is a graduate of the WomenHeart Science and Leadership Symposium (a WomenHeart Champion) at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. In 2009, she helped enroll women in the largest single-center study of patients who’ve suffered from spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) and heart attack.

A devoted advocate for women with heart disease, Laura volunteers at health fairs and other events across the state [North Carolina] where she educates women about heart disease risks and prevention. She herself is a heart disease survivor, having suffered SCAD and a heart attack in 2009. She is active on the WomenHeart online support forum and has a blog, A Change of Heart, where she chronicles her post-heart attack life.

Laura says tonight (February 28) NBC affiliates may broadcast a story she was interviewed for when in New York for the award presentation. So keep an eye out.