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	My name is Sheena Marie Oxendine and I am a Native American of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina. I am originally from Pembroke, North Carolina and I am currently a student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. As part of a natural science project in English 12, the students in Mrs. Marlow's class had to create a website about a particular disease. I chose coronary heart disease for my particular assignment for very personal reasons. My father was diagnosed with coronary heart disease about 7 years ago. Within this seven year period he has endured numerous stress tests, blood tests, x-rays, EKGs, and catheterizations. My father also has many factors that contribute to his disease including: genetics, gender, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. I know when my father is having heart trouble because his right arm goes numb and sometimes he has chest pain. My father takes aspirins, along with his other prescriptions to control the contributing risk factors. He also uses nitroglycerin when it is neccessary. My father has never smoked or done any drugs. My mother makes sure that he eats healthy and she does not fry any foods. The man contributor to my father's disease is genetics. His family has a long history of coronary heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Since my dad was diagnosed he has undergone two angioplasties and a 4-way bypass surgery after a mild heart attack. After my father's surgery the doctor's informed us that he still has mulitiple blockages that are forming. The doctor also informed my family that he would never do another open-heart surgery because it would not do any good. I do not know how long my father is going to live. I just hope that I get to spend as much time with him as I possibly can before coronary heart disease takes his life. Hopefully, before that day comes, scientists may be able to find a cure and not a temporary solution. Email: smoxendi@email.unc.edu