City Heart Champion

CORPUS CHRISTI, TX - February is Heart Health Month and Melissa Castro, Auto Theft Task Force grant administrator, is working to raise awareness about women's heart health and the battle against cardiac disease. Castro is not only a survivor of heart disease but is also one of only two women in Texas to receive the honor of Heart Champion for WomenHeart for 2018.  

Castro, who underwent a quadruple bypass in 2014, was recently named a Support Network Coordinator for the National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease. She says her passion to educate those most susceptible to heart disease was inspired by the loss of her brother, who underwent the same procedure just four months ahead of her own. 

“My brother touched so many lives in his short time with us,” Castro said. “My quest is to take over his legacy and WomenHeart is my path for raising awareness in his honor.” 

As a support coordinator, Castro now leads monthly peer support groups providing psycho-social and emotional support for female heart disease patients.