Stephanie Gets Nourishment and Motivation with Project Angel Heart

Stephanie’s health journey has been a maze of medical challenges. From facing respiratory failure to confronting heart issues and bravely navigating multiple autoimmune diseases, each diagnosis made it harder for her to find a path forward. Then, a few years ago, Stephanie’s journey took yet another challenging turn when she experienced a stroke.

“I was taking 17 different medications, and nothing was getting better,” she shared.

The effects of the stroke, coupled with her existing medical conditions, made everyday activities like cooking a major challenge for her. “I don’t cook because I have memory problems and I’m afraid I’ll leave the stove on,” she confided. Fast food deliveries and processed foods became a temporary fix, but they only exacerbated her health issues.

That’s when Stephanie’s health care team at Kaiser Permanente referred her to Project Angel Heart. Project Angel Heart is fortunate to receive funding from Boulder County Area Agency on Aging (BCAAA), helping us make medically tailored
meals available to older neighbors.

Since receiving Project Angel Heart meals, Stephanie has noticed a big impact on her health. She has been able to get her diabetes and cholesterol levels under control. She is also happy to report that she went from taking 17 medications to only seven now. She says, “The meals from Project Angel Heart have been a lifesaver. My doctors were so shocked because my lab results have improved so much in a short period of time.”

In addition to receiving medically tailored meals at no cost to her, Stephanie said that she also has benefited from speaking to Astrid De la Cruz and Zachary Hedden, Project Angel Heart’s registered dietitians, who are available to every Project Angel Heart client. She’s also attended virtual Food with Heart client-community conversations, which our nutrition team holds monthly on various nutrition topics.

Stephanie shared that she has been able to implement what she learned from the classes, which has contributed to her more than 35-pound weight loss. Moreover, the classes encourage her to keep making healthy choices and allow her the opportunity to connect with other clients. “The conversations are wonderful—they’re very educational, but also motivational,” she said.

Now, after more than a year on Project Angel Heart’s program, Stephanie, age 70, said, “I feel like I’ve gotten my life back. I’m happier and healthier now than I have been in the last 25 years.”