Heart Month Camper Spotlight: Janet Penn

Reveille Camper: Janet O. Penn from Livingston, NJ

Camper In: 2008 - 2013

Janet's Heart Story: My Father passed from a heart attack. My story is simply that I still miss him...

Heart Month Camper Spotlight: Marie Greengrass

Reveille Camper: Marie Greengrass from Ontario, Canada

Camper in: 2012 & 2013

Marie's Heart Story: My heart submission is “not your traditional quilt square!" Heart health has touched my life as it has many others. I have been very lucky to keep important people in my life around for extended periods of time. My mother and in-laws are well into their 80’s and my father lived until he was 92.  Both my mother and my father-in-law have dealt with serious heart health issues in the past and are here today because of the extraordinary advances science has made in treating and preventing heart disease. I “wholeHEARTEDLY” support the GO RED campaign!  Let’s keep the beat going...

Heart Month Camper Spotlight: Denise Marcelt

Reveille Camper: Denise Marcelt from Charleston, SC

Camper In: 2011 & 2013

Denise's Heart Story: I lost my dad to heart failure in 1985. He was young man of 53 and I wish we new then what we know about living heart healthy!!!
Additionally, my 12 year old Maltese had heart failure 2 years ago and survived! His cardiologist put him on a regime of heart medicine, which he continues to this day. With lots of love, the right diet and his great spirit, he is thriving and back to almost normal!!! He is a happy, playful doggie.

Gloria Cohen's Heart Health Spotlight: I Can't Believe We Didn't Help Her

Reveille Camper: Gloria Cohen from New York

Camper In: 2009 - 2012

Gloria's Story: 
Gloria Cohen is a Reveille camper and she is also the mother of Elise Silvestri, who many of you have gotten the pleasure of meeting at camp over the years. Through Elise's years of work with Camp Reveille and Joan Lunden, Gloria has heard the heart health pitch many times and felt that she was well aware of the signs of a heart attack. Yet when faced with the reality of seeing a friend experiencing the symptoms of a heart attack, to her surprise she didn't react - and neither did anyone else in the room.
Gloria is part of a theatre group that meets regularly, it is made up of well-educated, savvy women. When Gloria recounted this story to me, she was utterly shocked and dismayed that this happened right in front of their eyes. Here is Gloria's story:

One day we all got together to rehearse an upcoming play, when Addy, the star of the show (who is always ready for her close-up) suddenly laid down on the stage. She told us that she was nauseous and that we should go ahead and rehearse without her. We all stopped and expressed our concern but she assured us that she was fine and no one needed to call anyone. So we continued rehearsing and Addy took a seat in the audience. At one point someone took her to the ladies room where she began to retch and broke out into a drenching sweat. We all whispered about taking her to a hospital but she said that she was not in any pain. An hour went by and the rehearsal was over and Addy relented that she felt bad enough that she would let someone drive her car home. I followed them to Addy's house and was planning to go in with her but she said,"no need, go home."

However when Addy got into her house and still did not feel well, she decided to look on the internet for the symptoms of a heart attack. That's when she realized that indeed she may well be experiencing the symptoms of a heart attack. When we all heard the next day that Addy had been having a heart attack right in front of our eyes, and that we all went on with play rehearsal, I think we were all stunned. How could that have happened?

When we heard this story, we couldn't help but wonder if we would have done anything differently. Here we are, preaching about heart health and trying to educate women about the symptoms of a heart attack, yet this scenario could truly happen to any of us. Hopefully after reading Gloria's story you might feel a bit more prepared if you ever found yourself in a position like Gloria did. We can be more alert, more cautious, and prepared to take action when needed. When Gloria's friend Addy said she needed to go home to make dinner for her husband, everyone just went along with it. That's where we, as women, have to change. Just because our symptoms might appear subtle, unlike men who normally experience a crushing pain in the chest, we always need to be cautious.

Here are the warning signs of a heart attack from the American Heart Association: 

• Chest discomfort that lasts more than a few minutes or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.  
• Discomfort in other areas of the upper body – symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach 
• Shortness of breath, with or without chest discomfort. 
• May include breaking out inn a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness 

Source: heart.org

Heart Month Camper Spotlight: Erica Azarigian

Reveille Camper: Erica Azarigian

Camper In: 2011

Erica's Heart Story: Here I am with Mindy Beyer (she's on the left) who was my bunk mate at camp in 2011 and is a Heart Disease Surivor.  We have stayed friends ever since camp and since then, we have both become Moms. She wanted to walk in the American Heart Association walk this past spring, so I went to Maine to walk with her and her family and friends. Mindy made our team shirts which as you can see have hearts on them :) We are hoping to attend camp in 2014!

Heart Month Camper Spotlight: Joy Marshall

Reveille Camper: Joy Marshall

Camper In: 2013

Joy's Heart Story: This is a paper quilled heart with a butterfly in the middle.  It represents "Always in my heart" with a butterfly because when my husband passed away last year butterflies seem to show up when I think of him, especially when I go to his grave site.

Heart Month Camper Spotlight: Rivka Cohen

Reveille Camper:  Rivka Cohen from Sunny Isles Beach, Florida

Camper in: 2010 - 2014

Rivka's Heart Story: I am getting a stress test done today at Dr Pianko in my area, he's the best BEST Dr.!  I like to take care of my body and be sure I am well.  My father and my mother both had heart disease and I feel it is better to be on the safe side and take care of your health with routine check ups. 

A stress test is a an important way of measuring your cardiovascular fitness.  It is done by monitoring the heart rate during a period of increasingly strenuous exercise. It is not a scary test or something that judges how in shape you are, it is a way of monitoring your heart health.  This is something that can be done proactively, rather than waiting to be diagnosed with heart disease.  Heart disease can be prevented with wellness care such as these types of tests. 

Heart Month Camper Spotlight: Barbara Sullivan

Reveille Camper: Barbara Sullivan from South Portland, ME

Camper In: 2011, 2012, 2013

Barbara's Heart Story: This is my sister and me. I have a love of hearts. I love to photograph things that are in the shape of a heart. I also have a garden full of beach rocks that i have collected over the yrs that are all heart shaped.

Please include your name, city/state, and your personal heart story if you have one.

Heart Month Camper Spotlight: Cyndy Bell

Reveille Camper: Cyndy Bell from Auburn, ME

Camper In: 2012 & 2013

Cyndy's Heart Story: 

This picture is Cyndy with her granddaughters, Grace and Kiara. Their heart-shaped red velvet cake was made in honor of her mother, Pauline who died in January of 2013 in Missouri. 

"I had just had surgery and couldn’t travel for her funeral. So in February, on Valentines Day weekend we had a memorial for her here in Maine. We had all of the grandchildren write messages to her and we tied them to balloons and let them go to greet her in Heaven."

Heart Month Camper Spotlight: Monica Iken Murphy

Reveille Camper: Monica Iken Murphy, New York NY

Camper In: 2013

Monica's Heart Story: This is me with Madison and Megan Murphy.  My mother Christina who is 73 years old has a pacemaker and is doing well.  Her father (my grandfather) had heart disease.  After WWII he was captured, and after a year of captivity he was released due to his heart disease.  He was lucky, his heart saved him. We are posting this to honor my mother, to honor my grandfather, and all those who are no longer with us. 

February is American Heart Month

February in officially the month of hearts... Valentine's cards, heart shaped boxes of chocolates, hearts on display at every store... but most importantly February is American Heart Month. Throughout the month, The American Heart Association as well as many other organizations spread the word about heart health, education, and disease prevention. Heart disease is a major concern for our country. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) "every year, about 715,000 Americans have a heart attack. About 600,000 people die from heart disease in the United States each year—that’s 1 out of every 4 deaths. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women." 

Throughout the month of February on both Camp Reveille's blog and Joan's blog, you will find information about heart health and camper spotlights focusing on Reveille women who either have a personal story about heart health or simply support all the wonderful strides we're making as a country in the area of heart health. 

WANT TO BE INVOLVED?

If you have a story to share, please email us, we would love to spotlight YOU! 

Also - remember all your heart pictures that you sent in??  We love them and we are extending this submission through Heart Month!  At the end of the month we will reveal our Reveille Heart Health Image, so keep them coming! 

Heart Picture Submissions:

Send us a photo of yourself holding a heart (drawn, printed from the computer, an object, or simply making a heart using your hands). You could even be wearing your favorite Camp Reveille t-shirt! (Check out the photo's that we did to get an idea!) We will compile all of your photos in to one big heart as a powerful piece of "heart art" for all to enjoy! 

Welcome to the Camp Reveille Blog!

Joan Lunden's Camp Reveille started 7 years ago as as a weekend health & wellness retreat where women from around the country could take a break from their everyday lives.  Throughout 7 seasons, the "girl getaway" has proved to be a place for relaxation, inspiration, healing, rejuvenation, and most of all - FUN!  Women flock to the picturesque setting in the lake region of Maine for a long weekend away with Joan Lunden who offers fitness classes, traditional camp activities, informational breakout sessions, inspirational camp fires, and of course all the fun of being away at summer camp! 

At Camp Reveille, it is quickly apparent that there is a magic that is created when a group of women come together.  There is a power stronger than we could have ever imagined, and that magic lasts well beyond the "goodbyes" at the end of the weekend. Reveille has grown to become more than just a weekend retreat, it has lived on to be a community of women who share, create personal bonds, and support each other throughout the entire year.  Through emails, phone calls, Facebook conversations, and even hometown visits, Reveille has become a community where everyone belongs.  

Joan invites you to become a part of this Reveille Community, whether you've been to Camp or not because as women, we have a lot to share.  We hope you will join us on this journey through life together where we can all share our stories, tips, recommendations, and advice.  We want to be with you for your greatest moments of celebration and support you through your toughest moments with strength.  And most of all, we want to keep life interesting, happy, and healthy and always keep having FUN! 

Check back frequently, or join our newsletter to receive updates on new blog postings and features.  Here's what you'll have to look forward to:

• Tips & advice from Joan and the experts: Joan has access to the top experts in the country on beauty, health, career, caregiving, parenting, and more.  Have a question you want answered?  Share it with us and we'll do our best to find the answers! Be the first to let us know what you want to learn more about! 
• Reveille Readers: We all find ourselves searching for the next book to delve in to!  We will compile book recommendations and highlight one each month, following up with a dialogue about the topic. Be the first to share your book recommendation here!
• Reveille Recipes: With this many women coming together, we know there are some great recipes out there!  Whether it's a holiday family favorite or a heart healthy snack, we want to feature YOUR recipe! Be the first to share your recipe with us here!
• Reveille Camper Spotlights: We hear the most amazing stories about YOU. Reveille is made up of strong survivors, successful entrepreneurs, do-it-all mothers, creative retirees, self-reinventors, loving caregivers, marathon runners... we've got them all!  By spotlighting our campers, we will celebrate the strength and diversity in our Reveille community. Be the first to share your story with us here!