10th Annual Tevis Auto Service Charity Golf Outing
IN MEMORY OF BRITTANNI NEWCOMB
This year’s 10th Annual Tevis Auto Service Charity Golf Outing benefitted the UPMC Heart & Vascular Institute (HVI) Heart Innovation Fund, in loving memory of Brittanni Newcomb, who passed away on June 6, 2022, due to Cardiac Arrest at the young age of 32 years old. The UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute is one of the world’s premier centers for comprehensive cardiovascular care. UPMC is a leading destination for adult cardiac surgery, interventional cardiology, pediatric cardiology and cardiac surgery, treatment and management of adult congenital heart disease, vascular surgery, and more. As one of the first heart transplant centers in the country and as the developer of one of the first heart-assist devices, UPMC has contributed to advancing the field of cardiovascular medicine. Our team strives to provide the most advanced, cutting-edge care for our patients, treating both common and complex conditions. We also offer services that seek to improve the health of our communities, including heart screenings, free clinics, and heart health education. To learn more, visit UPMC.com/HVI.
Brittanni Newcomb was born on July 14, 1989, in Erie, PA, and enjoyed an active and healthy childhood with her parents Lisa Newcomb and Kevin Mullen and their extended family. As a child, Brittanni participated in gymnastics, soccer, fencing, and many outdoor activities with friends and family. At the age of 12, Brittanni was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis (UC), and this limited her abilities to attend or participate in activities as doctors worked with the family to determine the correct balance of diet and medication to control symptoms. These were difficult adjustments as Brittanni was entering her teen years and all the challenges and opportunities that come with transitioning to high school and becoming a young adult. Brittanni was treated for UC by the outstanding clinicians at UPMC Children's Hospital over the years and learned to manage her condition. She developed strong relationships with her doctors and trusted their guidance and advice. Over the next two decades Brittanni maintained the diet and medication regimen to control the UC symptoms, but still experienced painful infections with many hospital stays when her condition became more severe. The continuous medication and restricted diet, along with unpredictable onset and flare-ups had side effects and physical impacts. This resulted in anxiety about being out in public and the potential for a UC related event. She would often have panic attacks before gatherings or public events, but strived to face these challenges along the way.
Throughout the years and regular medical exams and treatment, the focus was her UC and no other medical conditions were identified. Brittanni was an active influencer on Instagram with her interests in make-up, beauty, and fashion. Brittanni loved spending time with her family and celebrating traditional family holidays together. She also loved reading, documentaries, music, and spending time with her cats, Paris and Sonic. Lisa and Kevin regularly spent time at her home doing remodeling and redecorating projects. In May 2022, Brittanni suffered a seizure, collapsed and was ambulanced to the hospital. She was having difficulty breathing and experiencing chest pains. The staff indicated the symptoms were caused by her anxiety and she was experiencing a panic attack. The tests, including an electrocardiogram, detected no irregularities, and after a short stay, Brittanni returned home. Her health seemed to improve, and she was feeling better and discussing her future plans. All of that changed on June 6, 2022 when we received a call at our Pittsburgh home that Brittanni had suffered a medical emergency in her home. Ambulances and Emergency personnel responded quickly to the 911 call, but ultimately, they were unable to revive Brittanni. She had suffered a severe cardiac event and passed away from cardiac arrest within minutes, at the young age of 32. All money raised during today’s event will be donated to the UPMC Heart & Vascular Institute, Heart Innovation Fund, in Brittanni’s loving memory. Our sincere hope is that additional research will lead to new methods of detection and treatment, so others do not experience the sudden, painful loss of a family member at such a young age from cardiac arrest
