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Benefit walk at YSU promotes heart health
By Sean Barron
YOUNGSTOWN
Seeing 4-year-old Phebee DeSalvo in action shows a child who’s energetic, displays a zest for life and loves being surrounded by family and friends – all of which might make it hard to believe she was diagnosed a few months ago with an exceptionally rare genetic anomaly.
“We were told that between ages 4 and 6, she would need surgery to repair her defects,” said her mother, Jillian DeSalvo of Boardman, who noted that her daughter has a rare condition called FOXP1.
Mutations in that protein usually cause intellectual disabilities and language impairments with or without autistic-like signs. Those with the defect often show neuro-motor delays, behavioral problems, features of autism and recurrent facial features such as a high, broad forehead, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Nevertheless, Phebee showed plenty of signs of having fun after being among more than 2,000 people of all ages who took part individually or on teams in Saturday morning’s 2017 American Heart Association Tri-County Healthy for Good Heart Walk. The 1.5-mile benefit walk through Youngstown State University’s campus began and ended at YSU’s Watson and Tressel Training Site.
The event’s main sponsor was Seven Seventeen Credit Union.
The walk was to honor those who have been impacted by heart disease, stroke and congenital heart defects, as well as to promote greater physical activity, encourage healthful lifestyle habits and stress the importance of a good diet.
Another goal was to raise at least $280,000, which will be used to support research, education, advocacy and greater awareness, organizers said.
Despite her health problems, Phebee enjoys school, takes dancing lessons, rides a horse as part of her therapy and loves trips to the beach during family vacations to North Carolina’s Outer Banks, her mother said.
“She’s improving daily. She’s progressing and thriving, and she won’t let it hold her back,” Jillian continued, adding Phebee is scheduled to undergo surgery Oct. 20 at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. “Her neurologist says the sky’s the limit, and to keep pushing her.”
Sixty-six family members and friends made up the Beats for Phebee team. Other teams included Gabriella’s Groupies, along with members of Giant Eagle and Seven Seventeen Credit Union.
Just five short years ago, Kendel Christoff of Hubbard had a heart attack, which, she will tell you, was as much of a positive wake-up call as it was frightening.
“I smoked, I was a fast-food connoisseur, I didn’t exercise, and I was morbidly obese. If there was something you could do to cause a heart attack, I did it,” the 37-year-old mother of two recalled.
Today, however, Christoff has “made a 360 [degree] lifestyle change,” which consists largely of dietary alterations, an increase in physical activity and not smoking. In addition, Christoff, a YSU senior, is part of the university’s nutrition and dietetics program and hopes to use her experiences to help others develop healthier ways of living, she said.
Christoff, whose family has a long history of heart disease, also has been anything but shy about sharing her story. She has been on the popular “Dr. Oz” program, spoken on behalf of the American Heart Association and been featured in Women’s Day magazine, she said.
Accompanying Christoff on the walk were daughters Carmen and Cora, 10 and 12, respectively; her husband, Mike Christoff; and her mother, Michelle Jamieson, who is a heart attack and stroke survivor.
Kendel Christoff added that something can always be found to accommodate good-health practices, regardless of the trappings of living in a fast-paced society. She also had a few practical suggestions for those who wish to maintain health and a greater likelihood of longevity.
“Pick a salad instead of those french fries. Join a $10 gym and make small changes earlier to prevent a heart attack,” she advised. “If you’ve had a heart attack and if you want to live, you have to change everything.”
The 2017 American Heart Association’s Heart Child was 4-year-old McKenna Buttry of Austintown, who was born with a rare congenital heart defect and has undergone two open-heart surgeries. She is the daughter of Albert and Kayla Buttry.
In addition, the walk featured hands-only CPR training, free health screenings, entertainment, exercise sessions and several tables of healthful foods. Other offerings included information on weight management, dietary fiber, bone health and recognizing signs of stroke and heart attack.
Also on hand were chefs from Warren-based AVI Foodsystems Inc., who prepared a variety of meals that consisted mainly of squash and stir-fry combinations.