Melissa Chaulk

My Why

❤️‍🩹 Sometimes, it takes losing someone we love to realize just how important our health really is. I’ve learned that I don’t want to wait for another catastrophic event to make my health a priority. I want to take better care of myself now and encourage the people I love to do the same.

In 2022, I lost my Dad to a heart attack, and it turned my world upside down. Jas and I had just returned from a trip to Orlando. I knew my Dad’s health wasn’t the greatest, but nothing prepared me for the news from my Mom. As if the grief wasn’t enough, Jason and I both got COVID when we returned from Florida. My parents were 4,000km away in British Columbia, and I had to wait until I was well enough to fly before I could be with my Mom. My closest family and friends couldn’t even come by to hug me or offer their condolences. Those were some of the longest, hardest and saddest days of my life. Even writing about it now brings tears to my eyes. If you’ve ever lost a parent, you understand. It’s earth-shattering. It changes you. It changes your life. And it changes the people around you.

Losing my Dad has made cardiovascular health deeply personal for me. It has also reminded me that prevention matters.

❤️ 8 in 10 cases of heart disease and stroke are preventable through healthy lifestyle behaviours. I’ve always been active and tried to eat well, but since losing Dad, I’ve become much more intentional about my health. I’ve worked on my nutrition, significantly reduced my alcohol intake, and made movement and strength training a bigger part of my life. I joined a CrossFit gym, reduced my fat mass, built muscle, and continue to challenge myself physically. It’s also important to recognize that taking care of your heart isn’t only about what you eat or how much you exercise. Managing stress, protecting your mental health and surrounding yourself with positive, supportive people matter too. CrossFit has become an important part of that for me; it makes me stronger physically, helps me manage stress and has had a huge impact on my mental well-being.

I can’t change what happened to my Dad. I can’t bring him back, but I can choose what I do with what his loss taught me.

I can take better care of myself.

I can encourage the people I love to take better care of themselves.

And I can support research, education and prevention so that, hopefully, fewer families have to experience the kind of loss mine has.

That’s why I’m supporting the Heart & Stroke Foundation this month. If heart disease or stroke has touched your life or even if you’ve simply been lucky enough that it hasn’t, please consider making a donation. Every contribution helps support lifesaving research, education and advocacy that can make a difference for families like mine.

❤️ If you’re able, please donate and help me honour my Dad by turning loss into action.

And if you’re not in a position to donate, that’s okay. Start with yourself. Go for the walk. Make the appointment. Pick up the weights. Eat a more nutritious meal. Manage your stress. Check in on someone you love.

Don’t wait for a life-changing event to make your health a priority. You are worth taking care of and so are the people you love.