January 11, 2012

‘Heart and Soul’ Event Features Three-Time Survivor

ABERDEEN (Jan. 11, 2012) – Avera St. Luke’s Hospital will kick off February, National Heart Month, by hosting inspirational speaker and three-time survivor Donna Hartley in a special “Heart and Soul” event Monday, Feb. 6, in Aberdeen at the Dakota Event Center (DEC), 720 Lamont St.

Avera St. Luke’s is also celebrating being rated “No. 1” in South Dakota in cardiac intervention (angioplasty and stents) for 2012 by HealthGrades, the nation’s most trusted, independent source of physician information and hospital quality ratings. Dr. Lou Kumar, Dr. Navin Gupta and Dr. Larry Sidaway of Avera Medical Group Cardiovascular Specialists Aberdeen provide comprehensive, 24/7 heart care at Avera St. Luke’s, along with an experienced hospital Cath Lab team.

This special heart healthy event includes a full sit-down dinner, with a choice of roasted pork loin or tilapia with healthy side dish choices. Hartley, the author of the “Fire Up!” book series, will share her motivational story. She is a plane crash, cancer and heart surgery survivor. The message she delivers will have you looking at your life for years to follow. “Fire Up Your Heart!” is a life-changing presentation. Faced with three threatening events, which all happened on March 1, Hartley learned to be a survivor during challenging times. The wisdom she passes on to her audience, especially during these overwhelming periods of change, is compelling and inspirational, with a twist of drama and humor. She’ll share nine strategies to apply to your life personally, as well as professionally.

A former Miss Hawaii and television actress, Hartley has been featured on NBC, ABC, PBS, and in The New York Times. She’s a sought-after expert on surviving change, a member of the National Speakers Association and the owner of Hartley International. Her stories have been published in the “Chicken Soup” series and in the “Chocolate for a Women’s Soul” series.

Tickets for the Feb. 6 event are $15 and must be purchased in advance, available online at www.AveraStLukes.org or during business hours weekdays at Avera St. Luke’s Hospital Administration office, 305 S. State St. Tickets will not be available at the door. For more information, call (605) 622-5230. The deadline to buy tickets is Friday, Feb. 3.

The Aberdeen event kicks off Avera “Heart and Soul” programs in February, which also feature Hartley at stops in Yankton, Sioux Falls and Mitchell.