MILWAUKEE — The month of February is dedicated to promoting heart health awareness. It’s something Cindy Milgram is focusing on after receiving an unexpected diagnosis. 

“I was an asymptomatic patient that went in for an annual physical,” said Milgram. “The doctor heard a heart murmur. I’m healthy, young, not feeling any symptoms.” 

After receiving an echocardiogram, she was diagnosed with Barlow’s Mitral Valve Disease. 

“We met with a number of different doctors for a second, a third and a fourth opinion,” said Milgram. “What mattered to me is I didn’t know much about my condition, but I wanted to find someone who did.”

Three months after her diagnoses, she underwent surgery. 

“I had a leaky mitral valve and my mitral valve was prolapsed or enlarged,” said Milgram. “So I had surgery to put a clip in the mitral valve and the prognoses was that I’d have a normal life.” 

Milgram is a school board member for the Richmond School District. She was back at school board meetings just a month after her surgery. She also started cardiac rehab.

Throughout her journey, she said she focused on her mental health.   

“It’s so important for heart patients,” said Milgram. “It’s a diagnosis where people can feel very lonely and isolated from, so it was good to have a network of people I could talk to to understand what I was going through.”  

Milgram has joined the American Heart Association Advocacy committee. She said if she can take anything away from this experience, it’s to put your health first.  

“To make those doctor’s appointments,” said Milgram. “If you do have something going on with your body, listen to your body, mention that to your health care professional. If they don’t listen, then that’s not the right health care professional for you. You only get one body, one chance you have to advocate for yourself.” 

Milgram said it’s something she did after her diagnosis — because of that, she’s able to celebrate a decade in education, advocating for students in her district.