02/10/2026
58-year-old Lourdes Nicholls has always lived an active lifestyle. A vegetarian who rarely got sick, Lourdes was concerned when she returned home with extreme tightness in her chest following a rare dust storm on May 16, 2025. After an evaluation, doctors determined she had experienced a heart attack as a result of a Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD). SCAD is a serious, often life-threatening emergency where a tear forms in a coronary artery wall. It frequently affects young, healthy women.
As part of her recovery, her cardiologist recommended physical therapy. Lourdes turned to MacNeal's Cardiac Rehab. "When I first started, I was nervous. I was the youngest person there by at least 20 years," Lourdes explained. In the end, she built a community and lasting friendships with her fellow patients and staff.
Lourdes graduated from the cardiac rehab program in October 2025 after 36 sessions. "I didn't want to leave. I wanted to stay because of the wonderful staff and other patients. Everyone was always so encouraging and made you feel normal even when you didn't feel that way inside."
Since completing her program, Lourdes is dedicated to raising awareness about SCAD. She has connected with other survivors and is creating a SCAD support group.
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