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SoCal Woman Raises Heart Health Awareness To Honor Late Husband

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — One local woman is raising awareness for heart health across the city  just months after losing her husband.

Clint Clausen was the rock in his family of six.

His four daughters Haley, Layla , Sophia, and Sloan, and his wife all remember what a great father Clausen was.

"He was everything. He was my best friend," Kori Clausen, Clint's wife told CBS2's Kristine Lazar.

In August of last year, the Manhattan Beach family was vacationing back east when Clint Clausen suddenly collapsed.

"There wasn't a moment I thought he was coming back. There was nothing left in his eyes," Kori Clausen said.

Clint Clausen died of a massive heart attack, stunning his family.

"Every morning I just think about, he's not here," his young daughter Sophia Clausen said.

Clausen was a marathon runner who played college basketball at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, who seemed like an incredibly-healthy 44-year old man.

"He had a physical the year prior, an EKG, everything checked out clear," Kori Clausen added.

He suffered from an enlarged heart, and two of his arteries were 90% clogged, doctors found out after his death.

"You never think it's going to happen to you," Clausen added.

On Tuesday, Kori Clausen and her daughters presented a check for $11,000 to the Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center in Torrance.

The money will fund heart screenings for those locals who cannot afford the $250 test.

Kori Clausen just recently had her own heart screening completed at the facility in Torrance.

"It's so thorough. I'm sitting there thinking, If Clint would have had this done, there's not a doubt in my mind that he would still be here today," Clausen said.

The American Heart Association recommends all adults after the age of 20 have at least a basic screening every four to six years.

"Heart disease is still the number killer for both men and women," cardiologist Dr. Rishi Kaushal said.

"It accounts for nearly half a million deaths in this country, and half of those patients can be asymptomatic," he added.

A widow now for 18 months, Kori Clausen continues to run the "Four Daughters" Restaurant, which the couple had previously opened together in Manhattan Beach.

"Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming. That's always in the back of my mind," Clausen said.

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