Survivor Honoree

Erin Fortin, Ph.D.
Erin Fortin Photography

Erin Fortin is a bicoastal business owner and mom of 2 living in Saratoga. She and her husband, Brian, were 5 minutes into a run when her vision suddenly went black. Brian carried her home and by then, her head was throbbing. A longtime migraine sufferer, they assumed that’s what it was, and Brian gave Erin her migraine medication. But a couple of hours later, vomiting and confusion set in. Brian Googled her symptoms, rushed Erin to the ER, and they learned she had survived an ischemic stroke. Erin, now blind, was trying to understand how this had happened to a 37-year-old non-smoking marathon runner.

Erin’s stroke was caused by an ASD – a complex hole in her heart. Two cardiac catheterizations to close the hole were unsuccessful, which lead Erin to having open-heart surgery. She spent a week in the hospital, three months in cardiac rehab, and every day since working on her resilience. Eighty percent of her vision has returned, and she is training for a marathon again.

Erin tells all her friends to seek baseline screenings – they could save your life. She’s sharing her story to help support others. Her main message is to chase after the things you want in life. She advocates with Go Red for Women so that better resources and more equitable care mean that survival isn’t an exception.