Pamela's ArtPrize 2010 Series

Woman in Red

Woman in Red honors the American Heart Association's Go Red For Women
Displayed at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel • Grand Rapids

Woman in Red: The Inspiration

At age three, Natalie said, “Mommy, my heart hurts.”

Initial medical tests didn't reveal the real problem. But 12 years later Natalie found herself winded while playing high school lacrosse and casually mentioned to her parents that the pain in her heart had returned.

A non-invasive ultrasound revealed a tiny hole in her heart—a congenital heart defect known as PDA—that allowed blood to flow directly from the aorta into the pulmonary artery.

Using two tiny coils made of a special metal, Dr. Ron Grifka successfully repaired the hole, allowing Natalie to return to the lacrosse field 30 days later.

The American Heart Association's Go Red For Women movement and Natalie Ruggeri's willingness to appear in my artwork inspired my Woman in Red series. Today as a survivor, Natalie offers this advice: “Don't ignore your symptoms. Don't take things for granted. Cherish what you have.” Natalie knows life's value.

Woman in Red at ArtPrize 2010

Pamela has been an ArtPrize artist since 2009