From heart failure to heart function: Jennifer’s story

May 7, 2024

Since she was diagnosed with heart failure, Jennifer tries to live her best life everyday. She and her husband Bob enjoyed a holiday in Mazatlan in 2023.

Jennifer Monaghan was a healthy, active stay-at-home mom when she was diagnosed with a heart condition.

“I came downstairs one night after tucking my daughter in, and no words would come out,” she recalls. Her husband recognized immediately that she was having a stroke.

After being admitted to Kelowna General Hospital, she started to undergo a lengthy series of tests. It was in the course of testing that doctors discovered she had cardiomyopathy, a dysfunction of her heart. Jennifer would go on to spend a month in the hospital in rehabilitation and would later attend KGH’s Heart Function Clinic. “That was the beginning of my health journey,” says Jennifer. She was 43 years old at the time.

In this Story…

Learn more about Jennifer's story

Learn more about heart failure

Learn more about Jennifer's story

Approaching her condition with curiosity and determination

For the next six years, Jennifer admits she didn’t pay a lot of attention to her heart condition. She didn’t have symptoms, medications were keeping her stable and she was going for annual cardiologist appointments.

A smiling woman with blond hair wearing a red sweater, red pants and a grey t-shirt with a heart stands on a street in front of homes and a black pickup truck in the background — Jennifer was recently interviewed by Global News Okanagan about her health journey.

Then in 2018, she started to notice changes in her health. “I was always tired no matter how well I slept. I was out of breath walking up the gentlest inclines,” she shares. Tests were inconclusive, and she continued to attend the Heart Function Clinic. Last summer, she started retaining water as her condition progressively declined.

Throughout her journey, Jennifer has approached her condition with curiosity and determination. “There was no reason for me to have a heart condition, and I thought, there must be an answer out there,” she says. “I’ve always been active, I don’t smoke, I eat well and I’m not overweight. I don’t have diabetes or high cholesterol and I was young to be developing heart problems. But still, I had a stroke, cardiomyopathy and now, heart failure.”

A group of 14 people wearing red t-shirts and bike helmets hold a sign that says women's heart health in front of a building on a sunny day — In June 2023, Jennifer participated in Ride for Heart, a fundraising event put on by the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

Since her diagnosis, Jennifer has immersed herself in self-education and volunteering. She volunteers for the Heart and Stroke Foundation, Interior Health and other organizations. She was also selected as a patient for the British Heart Foundation’s international review team and has undergone genetic testing for inherited cardiomyopathies with a doctor in Vancouver.

A woman with long blond hair wearing glasses and a white t-shirt stands in front of a podium that says ACRM next to a screen showing a presentation — Since her diagnosis, Jennifer has become a strong advocate for women's heart health. She hopes those diagnosed will empower themselves with knowledge and make life changes. Here, Jennifer is presenting at the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine on patients as partners.

Above all, Jennifer wants you to know that heart failure isn’t what you might think it is. “It’s not a condition of the elderly. It’s also an unfortunate name for a disease. You can live well with heart failure for a long time with proper management and support.”

If you’re diagnosed with heart failure, Jennifer counsels to learn about your heart health, and to make life changes that could help your heart. “I try to live my best life everyday and work on all those things I want to do,” she adds. “I really appreciate how wonderful life is and how easily it can be taken away. I also tell all my friends, especially my female friends, to get their hearts checked.”

Learn more about heart failure

Heart failure is a medical condition in which the heart does not pump as strongly as it should, and usually develops gradually. The body does not get the right amount of blood and oxygen it needs to work properly. The weakened pumping action can cause a back-up of fluid (congestion) in the lungs and other parts of the body, leading to what is known as congestive heart failure. Heart failure is also known as cardiomyopathy, meaning there is a dysfunction of the heart muscle.

Our heart is connected to every other part of our body. Heart failure often develops from, or leads to, other health conditions.

In Canada, more than 750,000 people are living with heart failure. Every year, 90,000 Canadians from all communities and walks of life are diagnosed. Heart failure touches the lives of one-third of the population, both directly and indirectly, and is one of the fastest growing cardiovascular conditions in the world.

Heart failure does not only impact the elderly

Dr. Amit Khosla is a cardiologist and works at the Central Okanagan Heart Function Clinic in Kelowna, and is the medical director for heart failure at Interior Health. He echoes Jennifer's sentiments that heart failure can happen to anyone.

“A lot of people associate the term ‘heart failure’ with elderly patients who are at the end of their life,” says Dr. Khosla. “Though it’s a chronic condition, patients can live a full, good-quality life when they have heart failure with appropriate medicines and management. Advances in heart failure care and therapies in the past 10–15 years and other advances in cardiology have led to a better prognosis, and fewer deaths.”

A man with short black hair wearing a burgundy sweater and stethoscope stands in front of a window through which buildings can be seen

Dr. Amit Khosla is a cardiologist and medical director of heart failure at Interior Health. He works at the Central Okanagan Heart Function clinic in Kelowna.

Managing heart failure

Heart failure is managed with medication, and sometimes requires mechanical intervention (e.g. a pacemaker), or surgery. It’s a condition that requires ongoing follow-up and reassessment.

A woman with reddish hair wearing glasses and a white t-shirt writes on a form on a desk in front of two computer monitors showing trees next to the ocean

Alicia is a registered nurse at one of IH's seven Heart Function Clinics. One of her roles is educating clients and writing medication action plans.

Interior Health patients may be referred to one of seven Heart Function Clinics. “Our specialized clinics give patients access to cardiologists, nurse practitioners and registered nurses, dietitians and social workers,” explains Dr. Khosla. “We offer adjustments to medication, patient education and assessments.”

Recognizing that being diagnosed with heart failure can be overwhelming, Interior Health recently created Managing Heart Failure Edubites, a five-part video series that offers concise, easy-to-understand information.

Managing Heart Failure: Heart Failure Education Edubite Series

We are grateful to the KGH Foundation for their financial and project support in making these videos a reality.

The Central Okanagan Heart Function Clinic team. From L to R: Marie, registered dietitian, Baljinder, office assistant, Ivana, RN, Tracey, RN, Alicia, RN, Kim, manager, Regional Cardiac Program & Central Okanagan Heart Function Clinic & KGH Device Clinic, Simran, office assistant, Genevieve, community integration care coordinator, Jeannine, NP.

Heart failure symptoms, diagnosis and risks

The primary symptoms of heart failure are:

Shortness of breath
Excessive swelling in the ankles, legs and feet
Fatigue and weakness

Heart failure is diagnosed by a physician or nurse practitioner. “It can be a tricky diagnosis to make, and symptoms can vary quite a bit. Shortness of breath and fatigue are common symptoms. A diagnosis encompasses a whole range of dysfunction of the heart muscle,” explains Dr. Khosla. “The most important tests include an echocardiogram (ECHO) and ultrasound of the heart. Some blood tests are helpful as well.”

Know your risks

You’re at higher risk for heart failure if you: