Daiana Diaz Montes, LQTS Type 2
We are now Thryv.
LQT Therapeutics Inc. has changed its name to Thryv Therapeutics Inc.
My name is Daiana; I’m a 22 year-old with Long QT Syndrome (LQTS) Type 2, and I am pleased to be able to share my story.
I was born with LQTS and a long QT interval in my heartbeat, but it was unknown to me, my family and all our doctors. During my early childhood, while I had spells of dizziness, fatigue, nausea and chest pains, I was never diagnosed. All that changed in 2013.
In 2013, I became very ill and my heart went into several episodes of sudden cardiac arrest. Throughout the recovery process, I was diagnosed with LQTS Type 2, and soon thereafter, in 2015, my father passed away at the young age of just 49 due to heart failure. On my own road to living with LQTS, in 2017, I endured my first open heart surgery to repair a blocked artery.
However, I don’t give up easily. I consider myself a brave, strong and courageous warrior, and I fight for each heartbeat every day. And, I’m grateful I have lots of support. I am blessed to be able to spend time with my friends, my Godmother and her children, and I speak with my grandmother every day. I also value the frequent talks I have with the two strong, loving mother and father figures I have in my life.
And then, of course, there’s my medical team.
I go to my cardiologist every two months, and there have been occasions where my health has required in-patient stays at Stanford Hospital - since my diagnosis seven years ago, I have had four heart surgeries in total. As part of my maintenance regimen, every day I take nadolol, a beta blocker, to prevent arrhythmias that could lead to sudden cardiac arrest, and I have frequent EKGs.
As a LQTS patient, I enjoy sharing my story to teach others about Long QT Syndrome and raise awareness of the disorder. Over the years, I have learned to take life one day at a time. I am not afraid of Long QT Syndrome, and I am determined to not let it stop me from enjoying life and reaching my dreams. I may have a heart condition, but I’m a stronger person for it. I have grown from LQTS, learning to be strong, courageous and fierce, following my cardiologist’s rules, taking my medicine and attending my many medical appointments, and living a healthy, happy, normal life. It’s my goal to take my learning and understanding of LQTS and the human heart to work in pediatric cardiology.
Recreationally, I love to run, dance, sing, play baseball, surf, ride ATVs, read scriptures and go to church. And in my free time, I enjoy helping the firefighters and police officers who do so much for our community.
