My name is Candy Earley. I live in Union City, TN. I am 36 and I have been a Type 1 (juvenile diabetic) since I was 4.

Last summer, I had a very rapid heart pulse, and I constantly was short of breath. On July 22, 2007, I was taken to our local E.R. and I was put into a room for observation. The cardiologist came in and assured me that my heart was fine. They blamed everything on an overactive thyroid, which I was later given radioactive iodine.

I still did not think that my body was acting right, so I confided in my endocronologist, who sent me to another cardiologist. He really didn't think there was anything wrong, however he began a 3 day series of test. The 1st set of test, on Monday. were an EKG and an ultrasound type test, it was normal. On Wednesday, I was ask to come back fasting to do the stress test. My veins are horrible because of my diabetes, and the stress test could not be done. I was ask to come back on Friday, August 24, 2007 and have a heart cath. He said he really didn't see a need because I was so young, but I did have a "few" high risk that made him wonder. I went in at 1:00 p.m. to do the cath and the doctor was shocked. I had 83% blockage on my left side in the front and 95% blockage on my right side in the front, and I had 40% blockage in the back, called the "Widows Maker."

I was then airlifted to a bigger hospital to handle such situations. The doctors still did not know what they wanted to do. They considered by-pass surgery, because stents do not generally hold up in diabetics, however, they did not want to do the by-pass because of my age. They said I was so young. The doctors finally agreed to put 1 stent on the left and 2 on the right. They do not do anything to a blockage until it is 80%, so I will have to wait on the back block.

My life is a little better, yet I feel like I have a huge cloud over my head and I just sit and wait for the next episode, and that can be a miserable feeling.

However, to anyone who is listening or reading this, listen to your body. You know your body better than anyone. Had I waited and just assumed I was to young, I would not probably be here to let someone else know. Please, my plea to anyone, listen to your body.

Thanks,

Candy Earley

Union City, TN.