NEWS

Nanuet woman's story of survival wins award

Michael D'Onofrio
mcdonofrio@lohud.com
Roxanne Watson of Nanuet is a culinary arts student at Rockland Community College Nov. 28, 2016. She is a heart transplant recipient, and is active in getting people signed up as organ donors.

When Roxanne Watson writes, it has the potential to save lives.

As a heart-transplant recipient, the Nanuet resident is an unflagging evangelist for heart health and organ donation. She has shared her story at schools, businesses and anywhere people will listen in Rockland, and has become a familiar face around the county in the process.

During an interview between her classes at Rockland Community College on Monday — where the energetic 62-year-old is a full-time student studying hospitality management and culinary arts — Watson revealed how she is spreading her message to a larger audience.

A blog about her heart transplant that she had accepted for publication in the spring edition of Heart Insight, the American Heart Association’s digital magazine that focuses on prevention and management of cardiovascular disease and related conditions, won a first place award at the Folio: Eddie & Ozzie Awards, a magazine competition that recognizes excellence. The awards ceremony in October handed out more than 250 awards in 33 categories, according to the company’s website.

Roxanne Watson of Nanuet at Rockland Community College Nov. 28, 2016. She is a heart transplant recipient, and is active in getting people signed up as organ donors.

Watson's blog — “What a Silent Heart Attack Sounds Like" — beat out seven other nominees in the "Association/Non-Profit – Column/Blog” category to win an "Eddie Digital" award. Watson said she was surprised to discover her blog was nominated, and even more shocked to see it win.

"I was inspired ... to share my story," said Watson as she chatted inside the student union on the RCC campus.

“It’s easy for me to write it because I talk about it all the time,” she added. “I share my story almost everyday somewhere, so I basically just put it to words.”

Watson’s blog describes her story of survival that began when she felt “a little twinge in my back” in 2006 while helping to unload a truck at work.

Six weeks after she felt that twinge, she learned it was a heart attack. That diagnosis led to years of hospital visits and treatments for her chronic health issues.

Her life nearly ended waiting for a heart.

“I was 95 pounds, dying in (the coronary care unit) for 104 days,” Watson said. “And it was horrible. And I vowed when I was in that hospital, that if I lived, I was going to tell the story to be able to save somebody else.”

In July 2010, she received the heart of 23-year-old Michael Bloain Bovill, who died while riding his motorcycle across the George Washington Bridge.

Watson wears her advocacy for organ donation on her sleeve — literally. Her hat, electric green wristbands and necklace promote Donate Life, a nonprofit organization advocating organ, eye and tissue donation.

HER STORY: Organ donation gave Nanuet woman new life

CARDIAC CARE: 10 things you need to know now

She also volunteers for the nonprofits Live On NY, a state-run organ procurement organization in the greater New York City area, and WomenHeart, a national coalition for women with heart disease. And she raises awareness as a contributor for The Huffington Post.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States and accounts for one in four female deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And nearly two-thirds of women who die suddenly from coronary heart disease have no previous symptoms, according to the CDC.

Roxanne Watson of Nanuet at Rockland Community College Nov. 28, 2016. She is a heart transplant recipient, and is active in getting people signed up as organ donors.

After more than six years with her new heart, Watson said she was doing “fabulous” and had no complications.

This week also marks another milestone: Watson is on track to sign up her 9,000th organ donor.

In addition to writing, Watson said her longterm goal is to run a food truck in honor of her heart donor. The food truck, she added, would help her fund a foundation she also hopes to begin to raise awareness for heart health and organ donation.

Watson said she already knows the name she will use for the food truck and foundation: “Michael’s Heart.”

Twitter: @mikedonofrio_