This post was authored by Marth Gulati, MD, MS, FACC, editor-in-chief of CardioSmart.org.

This month, CardioSmart announced the winners of its annual “I am CardioSmart” contest, which has been held every year since 2013 to recognize people living well with heart disease. People from across the country submitted their stories about how they have taken control of their health after a heart disease diagnosis.

CardioSmart asked their Facebook fans to “like” the story that inspired them the most, and Christian Jacobs from West Jefferson, OH, was selected as the overall winner. He won a trip to Chicago during ACC.16 where he will have the opportunity to share his story with ACC.16 attendees and be recognized at the CardioSmart Patient Engagement Reception.

Christian was diagnosed with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) when he was two and with coronary artery disease when he was 19. His parents were told he wouldn’t live to see age 13 or age 18, but now at 24, he’s an honorary board member of the FH Foundation and works to raise awareness that heart disease does not only affect older people. Jacobs said “it has been my goal to help raise awareness of FH so that others have the fighting chance I’ve had.”

Four other finalists were recognized by CardioSmart this year and we’ve been sharing their stories throughout American Heart Month to raise awareness about different types of heart disease.

Jaycee Elliott of Poteau, OK, was recognized for living well with a congenital heart defect (CHD), and her story was shared during CHD Awareness Week. Jaycee was diagnosed with tetralogy of fallot with pulmonary stenosis when she was two months old and ventricular tachycardia at 18. She’s undergone multiple surgeries throughout her life and, today, lives with a pacemaker/defibrillator. Despite doctors’ predictions that she’d have a short life expectancy, Jaycee is now 30 years old. She graduated college and has been married for six years.

“The challenges I endure have made me the person I am today,” she said. “I have learned that there is a story behind every face. It may not be the same as mine, but it’s inspiring to watch others going through difficult situations handle those things with grace and positivity. I hope to handle every obstacle I face in the same manner and inspire others with my own story.”

Myra Robin from Cecilia, LA, was named an “I am CardioSmart” finalist for living well with heart failure, and her story was shared during Heart Failure Awareness Week. Myra suffered a “widowmaker” heart attack when she was 43 that left her with permanent and irreversible heart damage. Today, she has heart failure, left ventricular dysfunction, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy and atrial fibrillation, but she’s adopted the motto “do not let heart disease define who you are, nor who you can become.”

Myra restructured her whole life to ensure she’s taking care of her heart. She quit her high-stress job for a less stressful one that allows her to work part-time. She quit smoking and learned to alter her family’s Cajun recipes to be lower in salt and fat. She’s also become involved in WomenHeart, the National Coalition for Women With Heart Disease, and has trained as a volunteer advocate and WomenHeart Community Educator to spread the word about heart disease being the No. 1 killer of women.

Tom Weiser from Bellefonte, PA, is living well after multiple heart attacks. Tom was born with FH, but it wasn’t until his first heart attack that he learned he had coronary artery disease, which combined with his FH to create a “deadly combination.” Seven years later he had another heart attack and started a new round of aggressive treatment. He said he knew at that point he “needed to do more.”

“I did the research; I asked the right questions; and when I didn’t hear the right answers, I asked again,” he said. “I became my most educated and most vocal advocate. I even joined the FH Foundation as an Advocate for Awareness to share my story with other patients and their health care providers.”

Tom said the most difficult part of his journey is knowing his children have to fight the same battle. Two of his four children have been tested for FH and one tested positive. He said he is inspired by the continued improvement in drugs and medical procedures that ensures him that while his 8-year-old daughter inherited his disease, she does not have to inherit his symptoms.

Kathy Webster from Overland Park, KS, was recognized for her inspiring story of living well with atrial fibrillation. Kathy was born with supravalvular stenosis that wasn’t diagnosed until she was 18. After her diagnosis and first open heart surgery, she lived with no symptoms for 30 years. In her 40s she developed atrial fibrillation and was diagnosed with aortic regurgitation, leading to another open heart surgery in her 50s.

After her second open heart surgery, she gained 60 lbs., putting her body mass index in the obese category. She also had high blood pressure, high cholesterol and high blood glucose. She said she decided right then she needed to make lifestyle changes.

Today Kathy is chair of the WomenHeart Board of Directors. She lost 60 lbs. and all of her numbers are now in the normal range. She was even able to lower her medication doses.

“I strive to support others, sharing my success story with the hope that others are educated and motivated to make positive changes in their lives,” Webster said.

These five people have made a profound impact by sharing their heart disease journeys as a way to inspire others. I am proud to have them as examples of what it means to be CardioSmart.

This post is the last in a series on the ACC in Touch Blog celebrating American Heart Month. Get a recap of ACC's Heart Month activities here.

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