Heart Attack Survivor Plans Book Signing Today

Seven months ago, author Sharon Donovan suffered a massive heart attack on Aug. 11, 2010.

A lifelong diabetic, Donovan, 55, of Avalon, had lost her eyesight at age 25, but she'd never had heart problems before. 

“I wasn't expected to live. In fact, I did die twice on the table,” she said. “When I came to four days later I found I was being kept alive by a heart pump.”

Allegheny General Hospital heart specialists saved Donovan’s life by implanting an advanced, highly portable left ventricular assist device, called the HeartMate II.  The technology is used by many heart failure patients as a bridge to heart transplantation, and Donovan is among a growing number of patients for whom it is a permanent solution – an approach called “destination therapy.”  

Donovan said she wears a back purse around her neck to carry the batteries, which weigh about 10 pounds.

“I have to carry them around with me all the time to charge the heart pump,” she said.  

Because of the heart attack, Donovan had to put off completing her seventh novel. But today she’ll celebrate the publication of “Charade of Hearts” at a book signing event today in Sewickley. Donovan said members of her medical team will be with her today when she signs copies of her book at 11 a.m. at the .

Among those celebrating with Donovan and lining up for signed copies will be AGH cardiothoracic surgeon and  Sewickley resident Dr. Robert Moraca, a graduate. Also coming are AGH cardiologist Dr. Raymond Benza and nurse Sherrie Stutz, who coordinates the hospital’s LVAD program.

 “They’re a wonderful team,” Donovan said.

 Donovan said she writes two types of books, inspirations and suspense stories, “like night and day,” she said. “Charade of Hearts” is the latest book of about 12 books in the “Jewel of the Night” series. Set in Hawaii, the mystery centers around a diamond. The books contain elements of danger, expense, intrigue and romance.

Donovan said she is looking forward to the “Beckoning of Books” signing and panel discussion today, as she has never been involved in anything like it. She said there will be about a half-dozen other authors there, too.

 Donovan, a former secretary, wrote a biography, “Echo of a Raven,” that discusses her life throughout the past 20 years and how she turned to writing to help find her way through difficult times. To write her novels, she uses a computer with adaptive software that reads back the words she types.

“My passion was painting. I couldn’t do that anymore. I eventually went back to school in writing, and now I paint messages with words,” she said.