Facing Heart Failure in Today's Society

Many of the comments I've seen regarding the passing of the seventy-five year old woman, with an alleged heart condition, during an incident at an Indiana restaurant are disheartening. They represent some of the most insensitive thoughts I've seen within our society. It just makes me wonder what the sentiments would have been surrounding an experience I had recently.

Returning to daily life after hospitalization

While visiting a friend and enjoying the breeze on her front porch we went to grab some lunch. I placed my "pickup" order through a third-party app. My son placed his online, because there was a better offer based on what he wanted (and we dropped it off to him).

Side Note: Just to be hospital free and get out of the house to enjoy her porch felt so good!

We pulled into the drive-thru and I was told I could only pick up my order inside, because it was placed through the third-party app. I explained I had a disability. They said that didn't matter.

I have been in and out of the hospital at least 4 times from December of 2025 through May of 2026. I was admitted to the hospital December 18th and ended up spending Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve, New Year's Day, Easter Day through May 5th; and then Mother's Day (May 8th - May 12th) in the hospital.

Managing an LVAD, PICC line, and physical recovery

In addition to my LVAD bag on the left weighing about 8 pounds, I've also had a PICC Line on the right since January weighing nearly 8 pounds itself. Then add 70 pounds of fluid loss since December of 2025. I'm 5 '10 " and went from 222 pounds to 149 pounds. Now I'm working on rebuilding strength and muscle mass while balancing this added weight. So me saying I had a disability was more than me just speaking words.

Confronting ADA accessibility barriers at the drive-thru

At this point my food is paid for, I still have to get my son's order; and I wanted to speak with a manager about the lack of an accommodation to pick up my order through the drive-thru due to my disability.

Well, it got worse. While speaking with the manager, about four employees of varying ages began speaking to me aggressively. I asked, you don't have an ADA policy? I was told no!

Denied accommodations and business policy failures

Then they said if you would have placed your order online through our website directly, like your son, then you could have picked it up in the drive-thru. However, since my order was placed through a third-party app I had to go inside. I said, that made no sense. If I can pick up one through the drive-thru then I should be able to pick up the other.

The hidden physical toll of stress on heart failure

I was so frustrated that my heart was racing, and my hands were shaking to the point that I couldn't even type their names into my phone. The employees over-spoke the shift manager, who had no control of her staff. This incident escalated and became more traumatic than I could have ever anticipated.

It seems my experience happened just 3 days after the incident in Indiana. It leaves me to question, what if my defibrillator had shocked me - or worse? Would I have been blamed for going inside; because I was aware of my heart condition?

I did record what happened, and later found out they in fact denied me equal access under ADA. The problem is, it shouldn't have to take all of that. I entered with my PICC Line and driveline visible. There was no apology, or any type of compassion.

I know this is different from the incident in Indiana, but when did society become so emotionally disconnected and seemingly heartless that it disregards those living with invisible illnesses or conditions?

I do not expect anyone to tiptoe around me because of my heart failure diagnosis. However, I should be able to receive respect and be treated with dignity while patronizing a business or using their services whether I have a disability or not.

Living with heart failure is not easy. It's often a silent and invisible condition. Telling someone to just stay calm, or not to allow people to get you upset is easier said than done. Many times heart failure patients can't control how their body, or heart, responds to a situation. Some of the effects such as a-fib, tachycardia, sudden cardiac arrest, and heart attacks can lead to loss of life.

Demanding dignity, accountability, and systemic change

On another note, my experience highlights the lack of consideration or reasonable policies for those with disabilities by corporations. I do intend on ensuring that this matter is appropriately investigated, and policies are put into place so that others may not go through something similar in the future.

Have you ever experienced an event while eating out, shopping, traveling, or just doing activities outside the home which affected your heart failure condition?