According to the American Heart Association, one in three women die of heart disease and stroke each year.

In 2003, the AHA and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute took action against a disease claiming the lives of nearly 500,000 American women each year– a disease women were not paying attention to. The National Wear Red Day was born and is held on the first Friday in February every year to raise awareness about heart disease being the number one killer of women.

A Wear Red for Women Day was held at Lehigh Valley Health Network Feb. 6 to celebrate four women among the first patients within the past two years to undergo procedures at LVHN using some of the latest technologies in the industry.

Honored were Grace Miller, of Boyertown, Robin Mathias, of Emmaus, Dolores Schumann, of Bethlehem, and Sandra Wolf, of Allentown.

Miller, diagnosed with aortic stenosis, underwent a transcatheter aortic valve replacement April 17, 2013. Miller knew her health issues were peaking in 2012 when she could no longer shop with her daughter. Miller's doctor Raymond Singer, M.D., chief of cardiothoracic surgery, and his team determined she was a candidate for TAVR when traditional open-heart surgery was deemed too risky.

Miller is now back to her activities, including shopping, sewing and completing crossword puzzles. "I was up and walking after four days," Miller said.

Singer said the successful surgery was a "large collaborative effort one with a team approach."

Schumann was the first patient at Lehigh Valley Hospital to receive a left ventricular assist device in February 2013. The surgically implanted, battery operated pump is sutured to the heart and takes over the pumping action for a heart muscle too weak to squeeze blood out to the brain and other organs. The device is not an artificial heart nor does it replace the patient's heart.

Schumann's doctor Timothy Misselbeck, M.D., director, mechanical assist device program, said Schumann wanted to dance at her grandson's wedding, which she did. "I feel wonderful," Schumann said. "I feel great."

Ronald Freudenberg, M.D., medical director, heart and vascular center and chief, division of cardiology, introduced Mathias.

Heart issues began 20 years ago for Mathias. She could not walk 10 feet without feeling lightheaded and fatigued and has a family history of heart disease. She was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, the most common type of arrhythmia, where the heart can beat too fast, too slow or with an irregular rhythm.

Mathias's cardiologist, Gregory Altemose, M.D. recommended she try a minimally invasive procedure called convergent. The procedure was a success and she is back to her normal activities.

"I think it is wonderful the strides they have made here at LVHN," Mathias said. "You no longer have to travel for the latest procedures and the nursing staff here is head and shoulders above the Cleveland Clinic. I'm so grateful."

Freudenberg also introduced Wolf who was the recipient of focal impulse and rotor modulation, a mapping system for atrial fibrillation.

"My episodes came and went and I got very dizzy," Wolf said. "I was in and out of hospitals." Wolf had her procedure Sept. 10, 2014 and Wolf said, "so far, so good. The next time you are cranky about your computer, think about it," Wolf added.

In addition to celebrating women, another pioneer was honored Feb. 6.

Charles Chrin, of Charles Chrin Companies, Easton, was honored for committing a $5 million gift to the health network's Heart and Vascular Center. In recognition of Chrin's generosity, the center is being renamed the Charles Chrin Heart and Vascular Center.

"Thank you for allowing me to be a part of the future, with an organzation that has such a compassion for the community," Chrin said speaking through his grandson James Chrin.