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Artist's Notebook: My Adventures With Heart Failure

In 2008, after recovering from breast cancer, New York artist Victoria Behm contracted what seemed to be a bad flu. But symptoms persisted beyond the usual time. She eventually found herself in an ER, gasping for breath. Then she was diagnosed with a disease she had barely heard of.

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Stand back or feel my power!

If the LifeVest detects a life-threatening problem, the machine will beep loudly, a red light will flash, the pads will buzz against my body, and a voice will shout a warning. I can hold down the red flashing button and give my heart time to correct itself to avoid the Big Zap (if I’m conscious enough to press the buttons, the zap isn’t needed).

I opted to make little cards to hand out to onlookers as well, like the ones deaf people distribute. If I can no longer press the buttons, the LifeVest will warn onlookers to “not touch patient”—lest a Good Samaritan share in the juice. So far, I haven’t had an episode: no warning, no buttons, no shock.

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