On the day Angie Loving exchanged vows with Sam Abadir, she was in line for a heart transplant, having survived a significant heart attack just three months earlier. Their wedding took place on February 29, 2020, and despite her ongoing battle with recovery—learning to eat, speak, walk again, and dealing with issues related to blood clots—Loving was certain about one thing: her commitment to Sam. “I was aware that my life had changed since the heart attack on November 14, the previous year,” Loving reflected. “But without Sam, I couldn’t imagine moving forward. Together, we were stronger than ever.”
Loving’s trauma began the previous fall, just as she was preparing for a beach vacation in Florida with friends. Feeling unwell and attributing her discomfort to a recent dinner of pizza and wine with Abadir, she brushed off initial signs of distress until they escalated. Noticing symptoms that resembled heartburn, she recalled reading that it could indicate a heart attack, prompting her to consult the American Heart Association’s website. Convincing herself it was a case of overreaction, she decided to drive to a nearby emergency room, thinking, “Maybe they’ll tell me I’m just being silly, and I can continue with my plans.”
Her decision proved life-saving. However, she nearly didn’t make it to the hospital—she lost consciousness while driving, crossed multiple lanes of traffic, and impacted a stop sign. When she regained awareness, she realized the seriousness of her situation. A policeman witnessed her incident and, upon learning of her condition, called for emergency assistance.
At the hospital, tests revealed that Loving experienced a severe heart attack, leading doctors to insert three stents to alleviate blockages. She was then transferred to a specialized facility, where physicians informed her and her family that a heart transplant would be necessary. To aid her healing process following the trauma, Loving was placed in a medically induced coma. Surprisingly, a week later, her heart began to show signs of improvement, allowing her to be taken out of the coma and reducing the urgency for a transplant.
However, her road to recovery was still fraught with challenges. A mishap during a medical procedure severed some nerves, reducing her physical abilities and causing significant numbness on her upper right side. This incident also led to dangerous blood clot formations tied to a genetic disorder identified as factor V Leiden. These clots caused her right arm to swell dramatically, necessitating surgical intervention, but the aftermath left her unable to perform everyday functions, requiring her to relearn essential skills like walking, speaking, eating, and even writing.
Throughout her ordeal, Abadir remained a steadfast presence, continually reassuring her that he would marry her whenever she was ready. But Loving expressed a strong desire to fulfill her vision of walking down the aisle in a gown rather than a hospital gown. After a five-week hospital stay, she was discharged just before Christmas and moved in with her parents, who provided crucial support during this trying time.
Little by little, with immense determination and the encouragement from loved ones, Loving began regaining strength. She slowly shifted her focus away from her heart’s condition and returned to work as the assistant vice chancellor for human resources across two campuses of the University of Kansas. Committing to improve her health, she implemented a low-sodium, protein-rich diet and adopted a rigorous fitness routine that included waking up as early as 4 a.m. to exercise. Abadir adapted to her condition as well, finding ways to assist her since she could not feel her right side by holding her left hand to provide a sense of security and connection.
Initially eyeing summer for their wedding, the couple found significance in their journey and opted for a small ceremony on Leap Day 2020. “Sam believed that date symbolized our uniqueness,” Loving shared. “We could celebrate on either side of Leap Day in other years, and every fourth year, have an adventure together.” An additional motivator for selecting this date was her recovery progress, which allowed her to walk again. On that day, she proudly donned the heels she’d practiced in, even if she wasn’t particularly speedy—she still managed to walk down the aisle.
Yet, there is more to their story. Upon departing the hospital, Loving and Abadir were overwhelmed by the support from family and friends offering food and flowers. Abadir made a notable suggestion, encouraging loved ones to have their own heart health checked instead. “This,” he remarked, “would mean more to Angie than anything else.”
In the ensuing years, the couple inspired over 100 individuals to seek medical evaluations, resulting in more than a dozen discoveries of potential heart issues among those they nudged toward proactive screenings. According to Abadir, some were even compelled to seek emergency care due to serious conditions uncovered during these checkups. “It’s all about encouraging everyone to get their blood pressure, cholesterol, and arteries examined,” said Loving. “If we can intervene early, we can potentially prevent heart disease.”
Through their experience, Angie Loving and Sam Abadir have become advocates for heart health within their community, motivating others to take charge of their health and raising awareness about the potential dangers of heart disease.