Thank you for the kind words. My ex Maryann has a daughter from another marriage that had a heart attack at 30 but she survived. It seems coincidental but Maryann's mother also died of a heart attack at age 65. She only knows one side of her family so you could be right in thinking it's genetic. Could you tell me the type of test needed for her since my Heather has no DNA since she was cremated. Also what would the cost of the test be on average? Thank you again.

There are a few different conditions that should be screened for. Your best bet is to find a genetic counselor that specializes in cardiac disorders and have them order the appropriate tests for the living relatives. Where do you live? Mayo Clinic would be one place that could help but I may be able to help direct you to another closer to you. Cost is sometimes covered by insurance. Different companies may work with you. There are several companies that offer testing now.

I am so sorry for your loss Brian, but I feel it's a blessing I landed on your post. I have just been diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension with eisenmegar syndrome. That means the right side of my heart is enlarged and I have a hole in my heart. It's a miracle that something was spotted on a chest x-ray which led to this recent diagnosis. Everyone is born with a hole in the heart and for most, it closes up naturally. Others can go their whole life like that and never know. The rest are at great risk and don't even know something is wrong until a heart attack happens. In my case it is not only herititery, but I also have a heart murmur. I am healthy and 49 yrs old. I was supposed to have my gallbladder removed but was cancelled, but the pre-op physical found this disease. I am in the process of lining up open heart surgery. I don't want to die, but even more I don't want to leave you knowing you just want to know why. There was nothing you could do and no signs of heart problems because your daughter was a healthy young woman. From here on, encourage her blood relatives to get checked out, staring with a chest x-ray. God bless you and know He is with you during this difficult time.