For Cheryl, MedicAlert was part of family life long before she wore an ID herself. Both of her parents wore MedicAlert IDs. About 40 years ago, her father, Vince, suddenly fell ill while he was alone.
His business partners called 911. First responders recognized Vince’s MedicAlert pendant, called the emergency hotline and learned that he had a severe allergy to penicillin.
“It was a real lifesaver,” Cheryl says. “He was not given penicillin, which is how they would have treated him. That was 40 years ago, long before I needed my MedicAlert pendant.”
What happened to her dad stayed with Cheryl. She knew his ID could do more than identify him: first responders are trained to recognize MedicAlert IDs, which are connected to a subscriber’s medically validated personal health record and the 24/7 emergency hotline. In 2008, when Cheryl suddenly became very ill herself, she wanted that same connection to her own health information. She remembers how quickly her heart rate would climb, even when she was doing something as simple as climbing a few stairs.
“My heart rate would sit around 80 beats per minute at rest, but climbing just a few stairs sent it to 180.”
Cheryl was diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), which can cause her heart rate to rise and her blood pressure to drop when she stands up. Later, she was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) and a severe allergy to vinegar.
“You would be surprised just how many foods have vinegar in them,” she says. “It starts with severe nausea, but if I have a significant amount, I have anaphylactic issues.”
Cheryl enrolled in MedicAlert in 2010. Her ID connects first responders to her Personal Health Record and MedicAlert’s 24/7 Emergency Response Line, helping make her health information available to medical staff when she needs help.
“I wear my bracelet all the time. I never take it off. It gives me comfort knowing that it is there,” she says. “After what happened to my dad, I know how invaluable MedicAlert can be. Emergency workers, nurses, and doctors know MedicAlert, and it helps guide their care—what to do and what to avoid.”
Cheryl also has a port-a-cath—an implanted port that gives medical staff access to a vein to give medication or draw blood—and a bone-anchored hearing aid. She wants medical staff to know about both.
“MedicAlert has given me another layer of assurance. I do not need to worry if something happens; my medical information is all there and available to medical staff.”
Cheryl does not hesitate when asked about renewing her MedicAlert subscription: “I would never consider not renewing.”
When people ask Cheryl why MedicAlert matters, she compares it to other kinds of protection:
“It is absolutely invaluable,” Cheryl says. “Just the same as you have house insurance and car insurance, it is hopefully something you are never going to have to use. But if an event occurs, you are going to be oh-so-thankful that you have it.”
Her father’s experience showed Cheryl how much it can matter for medical teams to have the right information. Today, she carries that reassurance with her, knowing her MedicAlert ID can speak for her if she is ever in a position where she cannot speak for herself.
Are you an individual with a chronic medical condition? Learn more about how MedicAlert can provide peace of mind, protection, and support at medicalert.ca/signup or call 1-800-668-1507 today.
Are you a MedicAlert subscriber and would like to share your story? We would love to hear from you! Share your story.