A young woman’s life took a dramatic turn when stress led her to collapse in her garden, and “die” for seven long minutes. Courtney Stocks, just 22 and seemingly healthy, was saved by her quick-thinking dad, who performed CPR until paramedics arrived. She was later diagnosed with mitral annular disjunction (MAD), a heart condition she never knew she had.
Despite living an active lifestyle, the pressures of running her own dog-grooming business took a toll on Courtney’s health. In the weeks leading up to this frightening episode, she experienced heart palpitations and dizziness but brushed them off as anxiety. This shocking incident has now pushed her to speak out, urging everyone to listen to their bodies and not ignore potential warning signs—no matter how fit you might feel.
“It was a normal Sunday,” Courtney recalls. “My parents were visiting, and I went outside to the garden where I fainted. My dad rushed over, and I was gone for seven minutes.”
After this close call, doctors fitted Courtney with an implantable defibrillator to prevent future cardiac arrests. The reality is hitting hard—stress brought on this event sooner than it might have occurred naturally. But instead of letting fear take over, Courtney wants her story to be a wake-up call.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed or noticing symptoms like light-headedness or palpitations, don’t dismiss them. Reach out and seek help. Courtney’s message is clear: “If you have signs that something’s not right, don’t brush it off.”
Her partner, Ellie, has set up a fundraising campaign to help with living expenses while Courtney recovers. Every little helps as she embarks on her road to recovery.
Stay aware and take care of your health—your body knows when something is up! 🌟 #HealthAwareness #StressManagement #ListenToYourBody