When Tara Garcia was born, her skin displayed a blue hue, indicating a critical lack of oxygen in her system. The medical team warned her parents that their newborn might not survive the night. After being transferred to a different facility, doctors identified the issue: her heart contained a congenital defect known as transposition of the great arteries, where the two main arteries were mistakenly swapped, disrupting normal blood flow.
In 1974, corrective surgery for such conditions in newborns wasn’t common; instead, surgeons opted for a procedure aimed at keeping her alive until she grew larger. Her family was given the daunting advice to avoid letting her cry, fearing it would put undue stress on her already fragile heart. After a challenging year, Tara underwent an arterial switch surgery, where the medical team repositioned her heart arteries. Following her recovery, her parents committed to ensuring she experienced as normal a childhood as possible, limited mainly to her annual check-ups with her cardiologist in New York City.
“I wanted to try everything,” shared Tara, who is now from Towaco, New Jersey. “I took dance lessons growing up and even attempted softball. I wasn’t great at it, but I gave it a shot.” Other than experiencing some additional heart surgery in sixth grade, her heart condition seemed to have minimal impact on her daily life, although her lips and fingers would occasionally change color when she ran or was exposed to cold weather. During elementary school, she faced some teasing from a boy named Julian Garcia. However, by high school, they formed a close friendship that blossomed into romance after college.
As their relationship deepened and engagement seemed imminent, Tara began contemplating motherhood. Having worked in preschools from the age of 16, she had a genuine love for children. Previously, she hadn’t considered her heart condition as a potential barrier to having kids. During her next cardiologist appointment, she decided to ask about it, inviting Julian along for support. Unfortunately, the doctor’s advice was “devastating.” At 23, she was still under the care of a pediatric cardiologist, raising concerns about her potential to carry a child safely.
Seeking a second opinion, a different cardiologist reassured Tara that many women with her heart condition had successfully given birth and believed she could too. However, for added safety, the doctor advised her to get a pacemaker due to her heart rate dipping significantly while sleeping. Tara had the pacemaker for about a year before she became pregnant. In 2002, at age 27, she welcomed a daughter named Abigail, and both were initially deemed healthy.
However, just two months later, while at a mall with a friend, Tara experienced a racing heart and collapsed, leading to an emergency room visit. Doctors diagnosed her with atrial fibrillation, a frequent form of irregular heartbeat. Tara subsequently faced multiple episodes, requiring various procedures, including cardioversions and ablations, in hopes of finding relief. A particularly effective ablation stabilized her heart for a time, but over the next eight years, she witnessed several more AFib episodes—often requiring her daughter to call 911, with Tara occasionally riding in an ambulance.
In 2012, Tara faced a need to change her pacemaker battery, and doctors suggested replacing it with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) that served both as a pacemaker and a safeguard against dangerous heart rhythms. Initially apprehensive at age 38, Tara had to accept it was necessary based on her medical assessments. The transformation of her perspective happened in October 2022 when she collapsed at home, and Julian quickly summoned assistance, witnessing a miraculous turnaround as her ICD shocked her heart back into rhythm. Remarkably, she was able to walk to the table to wait for help.
Just two months later, her heart stopped again, but the ICD once more played a crucial role in saving her life. Early in 2023, Tara underwent an extensive ablation procedure, managing to enjoy a series of significant family milestones. In 2024, she and Julian celebrated 25 years of marriage with a family trip to Aruba, both turned 50, and Abby graduated from college. Although doctors have indicated the possibility of a future heart transplant, Tara is currently focusing on her health and adapting her treatment plan.
“I’m just going to embrace life fully,” she declared. “I’ll do everything I can.” The narratives of those battling heart disease and stroke highlight the resilience of survivors, caregivers, and advocates, showcasing their inspiring journeys.