Today we share the first in a series called “Dish from the Heart” - personal stories about the impact heart disease can have on an individual and their family.  We hope these first-hand experiences will inspire you to join Let’s Dish! and the American Heart Association in the fight against heart disease and to live each day with your heart health in mind.  You can find more information on the AHA’s health efforts and the Go Red Campaign in our Let’s Dish! stores this February.

My Mother’s Story by Nikki Dungee

Last year, while preparing for one of our morning dish sessions in Columbia, I received a terrifying call from my mother’s doctor who informed me that my mother might be having a heart attack. She had just been checked into the ICU.

This was especially upsetting because my mother had survived a massive heart attack at the young age of 40 almost 20 years ago. I wish I could say that I remember what I did next, but the one thing that stands out in my mind is how my staff rallied around me, helped me get my ticket and got me to that plane. The next thing I remember is standing in BWI ready to board all within a couple of hours of receiving that call.

Thankfully my mother did not have a massive heart attack, but she did in fact have heart disease.  And if she planned on sticking around to watch her grandchildren grow up, she had better change her lifestyle quickly.

My mother is probably my biggest cheerleader when it comes to Let’s Dish!. As a full time grandmother she relies on Let’s Dish! for a couple of reasons. First as a gastric bypass patient, she enjoys the smaller portion sizes and loves being able to freeze the remaining portions for later. Plus, it’s a great way for her to maintain her weight. Second, she loves the convenience of having already assembled meals in her freezer that her four grandchildren love to eat when they’re at Grandma’s house. Finally, once Let’s Dish! began to promote all the heart healthy options on their monthly menu, she knew that this was a match made in heaven.  Not only did she think it was a good idea, but her doctor even encouraged her to eat as many Let’s Dish! meals as possible.

– Nikki

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Nikki Dungee is the District Manager for the nine Let’s Dish! stores in Maryland and Northern Virginia. She has been with Let’s Dish! for nearly three years and recently joined the regional headquarters team.  Many of you may know Nikki from her days as General Manager of the Let’s Dish! store Columbia, MD, or before that in our Baltimore store in Timonium, MD. 

We’d like to express our appreciation to Nikki and her mother, Patricia Riley-Goynes, for sharing their first-hand experience with heart disease.  We are thankful her story has a happy ending and congratulate Patricia for changing her lifestyle.