Early-20s Austin athlete survives severe heart failure; joins Heart-Austin
AUSTIN, June 25, 2025 — After an adolescent and young adult life as an athlete, Mary Elizabeth Buckel’s world shifted when she unexpectedly went into heart failure during a bout with pneumonia.
Mary Elizabeth had experienced heart palpitations throughout her wide-ranging athletic career in school, but had always ignored them as normal effects of heavy exercise. However, there was an underlying cause that had gone fully undiagnosed. It came to the forefront after Mary Elizabeth was hospitalized with pneumonia in 2019 – while in the hospital, she unexpectedly went into severe heart failure. Rushed to the ICU, her team of nurses and doctors stopped and restarted her heart several times to try and bring her heart rate down. The doctors determined that she had been born with an undiagnosed heart condition – she had an extra electrical valve and would need emergency heart surgery to cauterize it and stabilize her heart.
The surgery was successful, but Mary Elizabeth’s road to recovery has been long.
“They expect you to just get back to your life right away, and that was definitely not the case – I have lifetime limitations,” said Mary Elizabeth.
She has ended up in the hospital several more times and cannot drink anything with caffeine, sugary beverages, or alcohol. She also is unable to push her body beyond light exercise. These new limitations have forced her to shift her focus and her perspective.
Now, Mary Elizabeth works at the American Heart Association as part of the Community Impact team, using her experiences with heart failure, heart surgery, and the recovery process to improve the Austin community’s access to quality care.
“I just want to help others heal and help prevent this happening to anyone else,” she said.
Lived experience can drive systemic change. Heart-Austin’s community impact work is about helping Central Texas recognize symptoms they often overlook, access care that others may take for granted, and ensure that no one has to navigate their medical journeys alone.
For more information about the latest in Austin’s community impact work and upcoming events, visit Texas | American Heart Association.
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About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public’s health, and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.
For Media Inquiries
Michael Vybiral: michael.vybiral@heart.org
For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)
heart.org and stroke.org
