Sarah Casalan recalls distinct moments from the night she experienced a heart attack two years prior. Initially, she suspected that the indigestion she felt was from a hamburger she had eaten the previous evening. Given her typically robust digestive health, this was surprising. However, when she found herself lying on the bathroom floor, sweaty and nauseous, and unable to get up, she sensed something was seriously wrong.
At that time, Casalan, who serves as the president of the UPS Store Inc. and was a single mother to two young boys, did not immediately suspect a heart attack. Despite her active lifestyle and good health at the age of 47, she was perplexed by the absence of chest pain, a common symptom of heart attacks. The realization that she might indeed be experiencing a heart attack occurred only moments before she lost consciousness.
Upon getting assistance from her mother, who was visiting that evening, medical intervention quickly revealed that she had a complete blockage in her left ascending artery, known as a “widowmaker” heart attack, which has a low survival rate outside hospital settings. Doctors later suggested that her condition might have been exacerbated by an inflamed heart post-COVID-19 infection.
Following her heart attack, Casalan experienced multiple cardiac arrests and was placed on life support for both her heart and lungs. Her family was prepared for the worst, and she was added to a heart transplant waiting list. Now recovered after a challenging journey, Casalan has returned to her leadership role at the UPS Store network, sharing her story to advocate for health equity and support working mothers.
Casalan emphasizes the importance of faith in medicine, recounting her experience on life support and the surgical interventions she underwent. She advocates for medical advancements, attributing her recovery to the efficacy of science and medication. After being told by her doctor that lifestyle changes are important, but medication and science are crucial, she reflects on her medical journey.
The experience reinforced the necessity of listening to one’s body. Through genomic risk analysis, Casalan discovered a higher-than-average risk of cardiovascular disease. Reflecting on her past lifestyle in New York City, where she maintained a busy and stressful life, she acknowledges a tendency to neglect self-care, especially amidst personal challenges like a stressful divorce.
Casalan’s leadership style transformed as a result of her experiences. She emphasizes vulnerability and transparency with her team, fostering an environment for open discussions about personal and professional challenges. She acknowledges that setbacks, such as discovering another artery blockage requiring surgery, altered her perspective on resilience and adaptability in the face of adversity.
Casalan underscores the community’s essential role during her recovery. Her family and support network, including her sisters, mother, and a dedicated nanny, provided stability and care for her children during the crisis. She strives to maintain an environment of love and safety for her sons, who have also grown resilient and supportive, even finding humor in their shared experiences.
Casalan’s journey and the lessons she learned are a testament to the power of community support, medical science, and the importance of heeding the signals of one’s body for maintaining health and well-being.
