Kiersten Rock-Torcivia

Kiersten Rock-Torcivia became involved in advocacy after surviving her own Sudden Cardiac Arrest at the age of 14. After this event, Rock-Torcivia was diagnosed with Arrhythmogenic RIght Ventricular Cardiomyopathy or ARVC. Since then she has started her non-profit Heartfelt Harmonies Charity which is dedicated to supplying AEDs to nonprofit organizations in under-served communities that serve youth and their families with supportive services, thereby reducing the risk of a fatal sudden cardiac arrest. Heartfelt Harmonies also promotes awareness of hidden heart disease among youth and the necessity of AEDs as critical life-saving devices in public spaces, particularly where youth gather. Rock-Torcivia is currently studying nursing at Boston College where she hopes to become a Nurse Practitioner in Pediatric Cardiology and give back to others with similar heart conditions.

About Kiersten’s work “Revival and Survival”:

Revival and Survival are two photographs that I shot with the intention of conveying my patient experience. In revival I used a defibrillator and pads, along with a blood pressure cuff, and stethoscope. Laying across my chest for modesty is a red ribbon which can be seen in my hair in Survival. Survival was created using prescription medications and my collection of hospital wristbands which I have saved since my very first ER trip. Often patients are erased, turned into just words and numbers on a piece of paper. Placing myself among these things I attempt to regain some form of my identity as not just a patient but a person. Truly these pieces together are a representation of the grief and loss that I have felt being a "professional patient" for the past 5 years of my life.

About Kiersten’s work “Underneath”:

Underneath is a photograph of myself where I wanted to show the life-saving medical technology that sits just underneath the skin at my collarbone. My device is hard to see if you don't know to look for the scar, but to me it's always present, sitting just underneath the skin, waiting to shock me back to life.