03/06/2026
Today was my appointment day with the Cardiologist.
As I sat in the cardiologist's office and heard the words I have been praying for:"There is nothing wrong with your heart. We don't need to see you again. "I almost cried, in fact my eyes welled up and my heart melted. Right there in the consultation room.
Because you do not understand what those words mean to me.
Let me take you back. In April, I was rushed to A&E with chest pains. The fear that gripped me in that moment, I cannot even describe it. All I could think about was my two children. All I could see was my family's health history flashing before my eyes.
My father died of a heart attack.
He was 53 years old.
I am 53 years old.
Let that sink in!
My sister suffered a stroke back in 2020. My other sister who passed in 2024 had heart disease. Diabetes runs through my family like water.
My auntie and other relatives. Mum died of cancer. The diseases that flow through my bloodline have taken so much from us.
I carry both Indo-Guyanese AND Afro-Guyanese genetics. Statistically, the odds were stacked against me.
One in three Indo-Guyanese women has diabetes. Black women reach menopause earlier with worse cardiovascular outcomes.
My family history reads like a textbook of everything that could go wrong.
And here I am. The same age my father was when his heart gave out.
But today?
Today the consultant confirmed:
No angina. Clean arteries.
Cholesterol within normal range.
Blood pressure 128/80.
Resting heart rate 69.
Not diabetic.
No shortness of breath.
Heart healthy.
At 53 years old. With my family history. With my genetics. At the very age that took my father from us.
My daughter came with me today. She sat beside me through the whole appointment. And when we walked out with those results, she hugged me and said:"Mum, I'm so proud of you". " That's because you eat healthy and you exercise". "Never stop doing what you do mum". I broke!
Because she knows. She knows what this means. She knows what we have watched this family go through. And she just witnessed her mother rewrite the story.
How did I get here?Because years ago, I looked at what was happening around me and I said: "Nah, na me. No tank yo." I chose ME.
I chose the gym 4-5 times a week.
I chose healthy eating.
I chose intermittent fasting. I chose to learn about my body, my hormones, and what my midlife body needs.
I chose no smoking, no drinking.
I chose to invest my time, my energy, and my money into my health and well-being.
Not because it was easy. Not because I had it all figured out. Because I don't. According to "health officials" and according to the BMI index, I would be classified as a typical OBASED woman.
But because I refused to let my genetics and some out dated BMI matrix write my ending. I refused to let 53 be my final chapter.
This is the power of epigenetics. The science that tells us our genes are not our destiny. That the choices we make, what we eat, how we move, how we manage stress, how we sleep, can literally switch genes on or off.
We can change the predicted outcome of our health by the choices we make every single day.
My father's heart gave out at 53. My heart is strong at 53. Same bloodline!
Different choices!
To my children: this is what I am leaving you. Not just words, but proof. Proof that you can look at what runs in your bloodline and choose a different path. You are not bound by what came before you.
And my baby girl, thank you for being there today. Thank you for being proud of me. I do this for you and your brother. Always. 💕
To every woman reading this who has a family history that terrifies her: you are not too late. You are not too far gone. Your body is waiting for you to choose it.
To nourish it. To move it.
To love it.
I walked out of that hospital today with my daughter beside me and tears streaming down my face.
Not because I was lucky. But because I did the work.
And I will keep doing the work. For me. For my children. 💕
For every woman I coach and guide through their midlife journey.
Your genes are not your destiny. Your choices are!
My father's story ended at 53. Mine is just beginning.
Nah, na me! And it does not have to be you either. 💜
Love always Mahalia 💖
Holistic Menopause Coach & Certified Woman-Centered Life Coach
