This series spotlights Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic colleagues who are participating in the American Heart Association’s Philadelphia Heart Walk on Nov. 1.
For Kimberly Costa, director of operations for primary care at Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic Medical Group, her participation in the American Heart Walk Association’s Philadelphia Heart Walk on Nov. 1 is twofold. Not only is she keeping alive the memories of her brother and father, whom she lost respectively to heart attack and heart disease, she’s also helping those with family history and limited resources receive lifesaving preventive heart care.
Costa has been an avid walker in the annual event since 2006, when her big brother Walter “Wally” Costa Jr., who had a history of high blood pressure, suffered a fatal heart attack in his sleep at the age of 43. Then, in 2017, Costa’s father Walter “Willy” Costa Sr. passed away at 76. After living with high blood pressure and heart disease throughout his 50s and 60s, he underwent a triple bypass in his early 70s but never fully recovered, regularly experiencing fluid buildup in his lungs.
“It’s a day for them, in a sense,” says Costa, who is one of the coaches for the medical group’s team. “It’s like a memory of them. It’s just a nice feeling. They’re there with you. And you’re supporting and raising money to help another family, per se, to prevent the same thing from happening to them.”
Through funds raised at the walk, the American Heart Association helps individuals who are at risk for heart disease due to family history receive preventive testing and care. Oftentimes, explains Costa, insurance doesn’t cover certain cardiac tests for patients because they are too young, yet they don’t have the means to pay for it out of pocket.
“But it could save their life in the long run,” she says. “I personally see a preventive cardiologist because of [my family history]. A lot of people just think, ‘Oh, I don’t have any symptoms. I don’t have that.’ Well, that’s why you see preventive doctors because they’re trying to save your life. My doctor always says, ‘You could have waited 10 years, but then you would have been waiting with a problem.’ When they look at everything, they don’t look at the next 10 years—they look at the next 30. Make sure you take care of yourself.”
After being a regular participant in the Heart Walk for nearly 20 years, Costa knows firsthand how high the energy will be at Citizens Bank Park on Nov. 1. In addition to folks like Costa, who are walking in memory of loved ones, heart disease survivors show up as well, serving as beacons of hope and inspiration.
“They beat it. They’ve overcome it,” says Costa. “Everybody’s so excited. They’re happy to remember people, but they’re also happy because there’s so many survivors out there. It’s a great morning.”
Each year, with each step she takes along the Heart Walk course, Costa fondly reflects on her two beloved Walters. Wally, her eldest brother who was 18 years her senior, is best described as “jolly,” with the same comedic air as Planes, Trains and Automobiles star John Candy.
“Everybody’s so excited. They’re happy to remember people, but they’re also happy because there’s so many survivors out there [at the Walk]. It’s a great morning.” – Kim Costa
“It’s funny, when we’re watching those movies, it’s like, ‘Oh, Uncle Wally’s on!’” says Costa. “He was very bright and just such a happy person. But his laugh, I do miss his laugh. He had the best laugh.”
As for Willie, he was an extremely hard worker. Along with running two businesses (a trucking company and a bar/restaurant), he raised seven children as a single parent after Costa’s mother, whom he had been dating since the 8th grade, passed away when Costa was 11 years old.
“He was a great dad, a great provider,” says Costa.
For anyone who may have recently lost someone to heart disease, Costa shares some words of advice: “Think of the happy times. Think of the time that you had with them. Always keep their memory alive and then also take the steps to do the preventive care for yourself. But always think of the happy thoughts.”
Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic is a proud sponsor of the Philadelphia Heart Walk. To make a donation or to join a team, visit our Company Page.