Susan Lucciknows how to command attention.
TheAll My Childrenalum, 77, strutted her stuff on the red carpet at the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women Red Dress Collection event on Wednesday night in New York City.
Lucci wore a strapless all-red dress that matched the event’s logo and red carpet. The mermaid-style design had feathers on its bottom and was accessorized with silver jewelry.
When asked why she felt it was important to attend this event, Lucci tells PEOPLE exclusively it is her “passion project” since she had her own cardiac event. “I came out of it knowing that I just had to pass my good luck on,” she says.
Susan Lucci.Astrid Stawiarz/Getty
Astrid Stawiarz/Getty
The actress also recalls her cardiologist telling her she didn’t have to continue raising awareness as part of her work with the American Heart Association, but Lucci felt it was necessary.
“I couldn’t keep that good luck for myself. I couldn’t,” she tells PEOPLE.
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Susan Lucci in 2023.Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Writers Guild of America East
Lucci is fiercely dedicated to her work with the AHA, especially since experiencing her own cardiac trauma in 2018. The star opened up to PEOPLE in 2023 about intense chest pains she experienced and wrote off, assuming it was nothing she really needed to deal with. “I didn’t want to bother the cardiologist,” she said at the time. Eventually, it became too much to bear.
A scanrevealed a 90% blockagein the main artery to her heart: “I didn’t realize how close I came to a fatal heart attack.” Her condition turned out to be genetic (“hereditary from my dad’s side”) and doctors put in two stents. “It’s important for everyone to know their family history,” Lucci said. “I don’t think that I ever mentioned my dad’s family history to a doctor.”
Just a couple years later — after speaking openly about what she went through — she had more pain that led to needing another stent. She, again, was hesitant to call the doctor.
“I almost wasn’t going to speak about it, I was so ashamed of myself. But it’s a reminder to be vigilant,” Lucci shared.
Most recently, she shared apost on Instagramthat featured a quote reading, “Heart health awareness begins with self-care” and reminded her fans to take care of their “precious heart.”
source: people.com
