When Jayne Campbell was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy as a teenager, no treatment was recommended, and wearing a MedicAlert wasn’t part of the conversation. That changed in 2021, when she received an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD).
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy causes the heart muscle to thicken, making it harder to pump blood and, in some cases, leading to dangerous heart rhythms. With conditions like Jayne’s, serious cardiac events can occur without warning.
As she prepared to leave the hospital following her ICD implant, her care team gave her clear advice: get MedicAlert.
She didn’t hesitate.
For Jayne, the decision was both practical and immediate. If something were to happen and she couldn’t communicate, first responders would need critical information about her condition—without delay.
Her perspective is also shaped by family history. Her sister has lived with the same heart condition for more than 30 years and is a longtime MedicAlert subscriber. Other relatives wear MedicAlert as well for a variety of health conditions. It’s something her family understands: when health situations can change quickly, being prepared matters.
Today, Jayne wears her MedicAlert ID every day. She has never had to use it in an emergency. But that’s not what defines its value.
“It gives my family peace of mind,” she says. “It’s an important device because it speaks for you—when you can’t.” That ability to communicate essential health information instantly can make all the difference in a cardiac emergency, where seconds matter and decisions must be made quickly.
Jayne’s connection to MedicAlert extends beyond her own protection. She is also a donor, motivated by a strong belief that access to this kind of service shouldn’t depend on someone’s financial circumstances. “I feel strongly that others who need it should be able to have it,” she says. “Because for individuals living with serious health conditions, MedicAlert is more than a convenience it can be a critical link to the right care at the right time.” For those living with complex or high-risk conditions, that gap can mean the difference between receiving the right care in an emergency—or not.
When she learned more about programs like MedicAlert Kids and Safe & Found, Jayne immediately saw how the impact of those programs reaches beyond her own experience. She is particularly drawn to MedicAlert’s dementia program, Safe & Found, program and would readily share it with others who could benefit. While dementia has not affected her family directly, she recognizes how vulnerable people can be when they are disoriented and unable to communicate.
Jayne approaches it all with a sense of perspective—grounded, practical, and focused on what matters most: being prepared.
She wears MedicAlert for herself. She supports MedicAlert for others. And in doing both, she reflects a simple but powerful idea: when every second counts, having a voice—even when you can’t speak—shouldn’t be a privilege, it should be a given.
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.
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