Nell Lim blamed the sun for taking its toll on her 79-year-old body as she mowed her lawn one hot day in November.
When she became puffed and felt a pain in her arm it seemed logical to "get on and do something else".
Eight hours after driving to visit a family member and doing a few other tasks there was more pain down the left arm, a feeling of downward pressure on her collarbone and an intense heat creeping across her back - she was having a heart attack.
An ambulance rushed her to hospital where an angiogram confirmed several arteries were narrowed, one of which was fairly critical.
Ms Lim spent her 80th birthday awaiting bypass surgery, and went under the knife 10 days later in Wellington Hospital.
"I told my two sons before this happened, 'I don't want a big birthday party, I don't want any fuss' - well, I didn't get any fuss but they brought me some lovely food," she said.
Having owned Sang's Garden Centre in Napier for many years Ms Lim had a large garden at home which kept her trim, she also walked, ate well, and lived a healthy lifestyle.
"We have these huge conversations about cancer but I think most people think if you have a heart attack it's because you're overweight or you smoke, but that's not the case. I did think I was pretty fit, I don't drink, I don't smoke." Her story is a pertinent reminder to have a regular heart checkup.
Recovery from major surgery had been "surprisingly good and virtually pain free," thanks to cardiac rehabilitation sessions along with a strict diet and exercise regime. Ms Lim's positive attitude also helped.
"I just thought 'oh well, here we are we can't go backwards with a thing like this'."
An old friend from her garden centre days rallied a group to help with garden upkeep, something she wouldn't be able to tackle for at least six months after the operation.
"I'm not back mowing the lawn yet, my son has been doing that."
Throughout May the Heart Foundation is raising awareness with its annual Go Red for Women campaign. More than 50 Kiwi women die every week due to heart disease - in many cases the loss of life is both premature and preventable.
Heart Foundation Medical Director Gerry Devlin says there's a common misconception that it is a predominantly male concern.
"Heart disease is the biggest killer of men in New Zealand but it's also the number one cause of death for women," he said.
Symptoms of a heart attack can vary greatly between genders - women are likely to experience a discomfort in the upper back, sweating and unusual fatigue, while men feel chest pain or discomfort.
For more information, visit hearthelp.org.nz