The Brief
- After surviving a rare case of heart failure at 21, Orlando athlete Delainey Francis is raising awareness about myocarditis in young people.
- Her symptoms began as flu-like discomfort but quickly escalated to a life-threatening emergency requiring heart surgery.
- Now 22, she urges others not to ignore their symptoms and to trust their instincts when something feels wrong.
ORLANDO, Fla. – An Orlando woman is making it her mission to keep young athletes healthy.
‘I woke up in extreme pain’
What we know:
Delainey Francis, a 22-year-old Orlando woman and former athlete, is raising awareness about heart health among young people after surviving a rare and life-threatening heart condition. Once involved in swimming, ballet, cheerleading, and volleyball, Francis began experiencing flu-like symptoms last year that escalated into something far more serious.
Doctors ultimately diagnosed her with myocarditis — an inflammation of the heart muscle — along with a severely weakened heart. She underwent major surgery to have a heart pump implanted and has since been recovering.
What we don’t know:…