Stephanie’s Stand for Heart Health

Stephanie Percival

What began as a typical day for 43-year-old Stephanie Percival quickly turned into a life-changing experience. While at an event with a friend, she was suddenly hit by a wave of nausea, pressure across her chest, and an overwhelming feeling that something wasn’t right.

As someone who lived a healthy, active lifestyle and volunteered in health awareness, the idea of a heart attack felt unimaginable — but that’s exactly what was happening.

Stephanie’s story is one of courage, quick action, and the critical importance of listening to your body. “I knew what was happening,” she recalls. “But I still didn’t want to believe it.”

At first, she dismissed the symptoms. It wasn’t until she messaged her husband — who immediately urged her to call 9-1-1 — that she acted. That call may have saved her life.

When paramedics arrived, her ECG showed abnormalities, but it was the bloodwork that confirmed the diagnosis: she was having a heart attack.

Stephanie spent six days in the hospital, and thanks to her decision to seek help, she avoided what could have been a far worse outcome.

The emotional aftermath, however, has been tough. “There’s a lot of grief that comes with receiving a serious health diagnosis,” she says. Counseling, honest conversations with her support system, and daily walks have become essential to her healing process.

Although she was aware of the risk factors for heart disease, she was still taken by surprise. She emphasizes how heart attacks don’t always look like the dramatic portrayals on TV — during hers, she could still walk, talk, and even joke with the paramedics.

Now, she’s using her voice to advocate for better preventative heart care for women. After her heart attack, she connected with Heart & Stroke NB to help raise awareness and ensure more women recognize the signs she now knows all too well. “If you feel something is off, call 9-1-1. Don’t wait.”

Stephanie’s resilience, openness, and dedication to making a difference are helping close the knowledge gap — and encouraging others to act quickly when it matters most. Her story isn’t just about survival — it’s about saving lives.