Blog: How did you get here? A matter of the heart

This post was started on March 16, 2022, and completed on Feb. 22, 2023

Never before have I paid this much attention to my heart. 

It may have something to do with this white box that is attached to my chocolate skin in the center of my chest on today, March 16, 2022.

Hello, my name is Kimberly and I'm wearing a heart monitor.

There was a song a few years ago by Deborah Cox that asks, "How did you get here. Nobody's suppose to be here?" The singer was talking about a man, a lover, who slipped into her heart pass the gatekeeper.

I'm asking the same question, but of this monitor. How did it get here? Ever since my sister died suddenly of a heart attack on Dec. 11, 2011 - the first of my eight siblings to transition - I've been careful about all matters of my heart, meaning holistic care.

A few months after her death, I scheduled an appointment with a cardiologist to see how my heart was doing. He gave me a stress test and said everything looked fine, and recommended that I take a low dose aspirin when I turned 50, which was 10 years away at that time. He told me how to eat heart healthy and sent me on my merry way.

Fast forward 11 years and a few weeks ago. I was on my evening commute home when suddenly, I felt shortness of breath, light-headed and heart palpitations. I pulled onto a side street named Southbound. There was a church just a stone's throw away that I had just passed, so I decided to go there because that landmark would make it easier for someone to find me.

I called 911 and the paramedics met me at the church. They did an EKG in the back of the ambulance, which turned out normal, but advised me to go to the hospital anyway. I declined and said I would be careful going home.

The next day, I had two more episodes so I checked myself into the ER at Novant Health Rowan Medical Center in Salisbury. They, too, ran several tests and again, nothing alarming was discovered. I did have a slight irregular heartbeat, but it could have been normal, the attending physician said, since they did not have another test to compare it to. Read more.

 Press release

‘Ready, Set, Grow’ conference aims to empower women and their careers

CHARLOTTE, NC (Oct. 25, 2023) – Certified career coach and human resources executive Spasha Feaster will host “Ready, Set, Grow,” a women’s career conference, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 4 at the Hilton Garden Inn Charlotte Waverly.

The conference’s goal is to empower women in navigating their careers, to network with other business leaders, and to elevate their personal and professional brand. There will also be a session on wellness and work/life integration.

Feaster, who will be among six other keynote speakers, is a corporate human resources leader and entrepreneur with more than 25 years of experience. She holds a Master of Business Administration degree in human resources and has earned professional certifications in women’s executive leadership, talent management, executive coaching, diversity and inclusion, and master facilitation, training and development, according to her website www.spashafeaster.com.

“Throughout my life, I have always enjoyed planning and hosting parties and events,” Feaster said. “My professional career has included various roles within HR. Each role has afforded me with experience to lead teams, build and facilitate programs, be a mentor and serve as an executive coach. Earlier this year, after lots of prayer and prolonged plans, I decided to use my professional expertise and tap into my network to create ‘Ready Set Grow Women’s Career Conference.’”

Feaster plans to share her personal story of being a wife and mother and how those correlate to her role as a human resources leader. She said she and her husband own a lawn care business together and have found entrepreneurship to be both challenging and rewarding, but it is something from which everyone in their family can contribute and learn.

“Our five-year-old son knows how to rake and shovel, and our 13-year-old daughter can drive a ride-on mower and create our digital media,” Feaster said. “I leverage my professional skills to oversee all HR functions of our business, while my husband manages all daily operations and the workforce.”

Feaster maintains these duties in addition to her full-time role at Spectrum, where she serves as senior director of organization effectiveness while balancing being a mother and wife.

“On the weeks that I travel for my full-time HR role, I still find ways to stay connected to my family, such as FaceTime morning prayer before school, virtual homework help and more,” she said. “Faith, family and friends keep me going.”

She is hopeful that her story as well information from other keynote speakers will inspire and encourage others. “My company has afforded me with so many wonderful development experiences, now I am excited to tap into my love for event planning and give back through a valuable development opportunity for my community,” she said.

Also scheduled on the program are Charlene Keys Bowen, social entrepreneur and best-selling author; Sharhonda Ford, CEO of Beyond the Mask Trauma and Wellness; Christine Goodson, CEO of Titan Talent Partners; Jennifer Manry, principal of Corporate Technology at Vanguard; LaKeisha McAuley, a registered nurse and CEO and president of FHG Health and Wellness; and Dawn Nicole McIIwain, CEO of Queen City Women in Business and cofounder of Skilldora. The event emcee is Brandy Colson of LSH Interiors.

“It is my desire for the speakers to share best practices and tools to help attendees build momentum to propel forward in their careers in both corporate and entrepreneurial sectors,” Feaster said. “I want the conference to provide a space to reflect on core values and the correlation between career decisions and personal life.”

For more information on the event and to purchase tickets, visit www.spashafeaster.com.