About Me
Kimberly Brown
Heart of the Matter – Founder and Director
Teacher, Author, Heart Coach
Living with Heart Failure and Hypertrophic-Cardiomyopathy
Hey there! I am a Heart Warrior. Maybe you are too?
After my own journey of life or death heart moments, I have devoted myself to helping people with their heart health.
I have spent days in the hospital, had several moments wondering if my life was over and many hours studying the workings of the Heart and natural methods for preserving healthy function.
It brings me joy to share what I have learned and help people improve their health
I have always been a super strong,
resilient, healthy, robust country girl.
I was a farmer, working physically hard in the heat for years. I enjoyed hiking, dancing, riding bike riding
However When I look back on my life, I was always the one in the back when I hiked with my friends.I couldn’t keep up with the other dancers in my dance troop.
I was always the slower one.
The birth of my 2nd baby was difficult to recover from
As I entered peri-menopause, I started to experience dizzy spells, heart pounding and shortness of breath.
Being the natural healing, alternative medicine type I ignored my symptoms for years.
Finally I made an appointment to see a cardiologist.
Even then, I cancelled the appointment because I was not feeling “too bad”
When I finally went in, the cardiologist told me I had a cardiac arrythmia, and prescribed medication and more tests
In October 2017, I was Diagnosed with an unknown mass on my heart, perhaps a tumor.
At the time I was, I was the primary caregiver of my 2 boys, living alone with themFor 4 years, I had been in a long distance relationship that was on the rocks in the midst of a scary heart condition perhaps exasberbating my heart condition.
The day after the diagnosis my boyfriend ended the relationship and left us.
Over the next 10 days I went into constant atrial fibrillation, rapid heart rate, followed by heart failure.
After a near death experience of an unsuccessful cardio version, I was put on a mercy flight to OHSU in Portland, OR
At OHSU I was diagnosed with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. (HOCM). An enlarged, mishapen heart muscle, often caused be a genetic inheritance.
Bummer.
But I was alive. and in good hands of the cardiac wizards of OHSU.
The following 18 months I tried to keep my heart beat steady.
Sometimes my heart was staying in rhythm, living a relatively active life and sometimes off rhythm which results in not able to hardly stand up.Through a series of 4 hospitalizations, 3 ablations, 2 cardioversions, IV drips and tests.
I am grateful that I still have my heart
and we are alive.
I have navigated the profound journey
of many hospital experiences
with grace and an open heart.
I see this experience as an initiation
into my highest calling for my life.
My focus is to help people heal their hearts
and live a life with more cardiac well being.
I have many tools
that I have aquired through this experience.
I understand so clearly the connection between our emotions, lifestyle and love with our heart health.
I offer Heart Of The Matter to all of your hearts.
