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Date Published: Thursday, January 31, 2019
Date Updated: Monday, July 18, 2022

Real Women, Real Stories: Girls’ Night Out Celebrates Heart Disease Survivors

Annual Event Raises Awareness for Women’s Heart Disease And Funds for WMCHealth Heart & Vascular Institute

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VALHALLA, NY - (January 30, 2019) – The Westchester Medical Center Health Network (WMCHealth)'s Girls' Night Out event, a fun, invigorating evening celebrating women's triumphs over heart disease, will be held at the Doral Arrowwood Hotel and Conference Center in Rye Brook on February 8.

Benefiting the WMCHealth Heart and Vascular Institute, the highly-anticipated Girls' Night Out event will feature a delectable dinner and opportunities to purchase or win a variety of fashion, beauty and entertainment items and more.

Storytelling will be the evening's highlight as women cared for at Westchester Medical Center and Maria Fareri Children's Hospital share their dramatic and heartwarming stories of triumph over cardiac disease. One of the many compelling stories is that of 4-year-old Orianna, of Pearl River, NY. Orianna was born with a congenital heart defect and underwent pediatric cardiothoracic surgery at Maria Fareri Children's Hospital, using a one-of-a-kind, less invasive technique performed only by surgeon Khahn Nguyen, MD, at Maria Fareri Children's Hospital.

Orianna was home with her family just two days after the surgery and is now a fun, vibrant "girly girl" who loves to dance and play dress up.

Other featured patients include: Esther, a 30-year old mom from Merrick, NY, who was diagnosed with a condition called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and required a heart transplant just last year; Irene, a retired kindergarten aide from Newburgh who experienced trouble breathing and was diagnosed with an electrical malfunction in her heart; Troy, a child life instructor from Harlem who suffered a stroke just a few months ago; and Yvonne, a resident of Trumbull, CT, who experienced a heart attack while doing yard work one weekend and woke up three weeks later in Westchester Medical Center's intensive care unit.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the WMCHealth Heart & Vascular Institute, which is home to the Hudson Valley's most comprehensive cardiac care program. The Institute offers a wide range of cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery and vascular surgery services to patients of all ages.

Girls' Night Out will be emceed by award-winning, WCBS-TV news anchor Mary Calvi who also recently released a new book, Dear George, Dear Mary.

To purchase tickets to Girls' Night Out or to learn more about the event, please visit www.westchestermedicalcenter.org/GNO or call Jenna Macca at 914.493.5414.

Visit facebook.com/WestchesterMed for a sneak peek at the stories of the amazing women who will be honored at Girls' Night Out on February 8.