This story shines a light on a little known but relatively common genetic disease known as familial hypercholesterolemia. People who carry the FH gene are prone to unusually high levels of LDL, the so-called “bad cholesterol” and are at risk of heart attack in their 30s and 40s. The story is told from the perspective of a 46-year-old single father with FH who has suffered major cardiovascular problems. His anxiety is palpable, as he worries about the next event, which could be fatal. All three of his children also are carriers of the gene and have very high cholesterol levels, so he devotes much of his energy to keeping them healthy. He also is involved in advocacy for the disease and in raising awareness about the public health risk, encouraging more widespread testing in the United States.
