A family saga. A medical mystery. A fight to save lives.

Dear Friends and Valued Readers,

I’m excited to share Before the Last Heartbeat, a long-overdue true story written with the intimacy of a novel. It blends humor, tension, heartbreak, and a real-life medical mystery.

You’ll step into the world of a family who loved deeply—an ordinary family forced into an extraordinary fight for answers and survival. To understand what came next, you need to know who we were before everything changed: what made us laugh, what held us together, and how we loved before the heartbreak, before the unimaginable, before our world turned upside down.

A true story of love, loss and resilience by Nancy Toran Duitch

About the Author
Nancy Toran Duitch

Nancy Toran Duitch is a visionary entrepreneur and philanthropist whose leadership has shaped some of the most recognizable consumer brands of the last three decades. A trailblazer in wellness, beauty, and lifestyle innovation, she has built, scaled, and successfully exited multiple companies through groundbreaking branding, e-commerce, and multi-channel marketing strategies.

Her career reflects not only creative vision and strategic foresight but also a profound sense of purpose.

In 1991, following the sudden deaths of her siblings, Nancy and her mother co-founded the Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndrome (SADS) Foundation, now known as The Future of Inherited Arrythmia’s FIA,  later joined by the Cardiac & Arrhythmia Research & Education (CARE) Foundation. 

Dedicated To My Warrior Mama, Doris May You R.I.P.

Dedicated To My Warrior Mama, Doris
May You R.I.P.

"SHE WHO SAVED ONE LIFE, IT'S AS IF SHE HAS SAVED THE WORLD."

DORIS TORAN GOLDMAN THROUGH THE AGES

JACK TORAN

JACK TORAN

SHARON TORAN TURNER & JON TURNER

SHARON & JON TURNER'S WEDDING

RYAN'S BAR MITZVAH

Ryan's Bar Mitzvah and the Laker Girls.
Ryan's Bar Mitzvah and the Laker Girls.

RYAN & KIM's WEDDING

Various Nancy's Family Pictures

Various Nancy's Family Pictures

NANCY'S GRANDMA & GRANDPA & COUSINS & FRIENDS

The Future of Inherited Arrythmia's FIA

The Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndrome (SADS) Foundation is now known as The Future of Inherited Arrythmia’s FIA.

If you or someone you love has experienced any of the following:

•    fainting (especially during exercise, stress, or excitement)
•    a racing or irregular heartbeat
•    unexplained dizziness
•    seizure-like episodes
•    a family history of sudden, unexplained death

Early screening can be lifesaving.

Jack the Husky

Jack

Testimonials
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Powerful story

September 15, 2026

I was surprised by how powerful this story is. Nancy Toran Duitch skillfully weaves her family’s deeply personal journey with clear explanations of the medical science behind inherited heart rhythm disorders, making complex concepts accessible to every reader. This book is both moving and informative highlighting the critical importance of awareness and early diagnosis in preventing sudden cardiac death.

Sumeet Chugh MD (Price Professor, Vice-Dean and Chief AI Health Research Officer, Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai, Los Angeles)

Cried and laughed at the same time

September 1, 2026

I feel honored to have been one of your beta readers. I cried and laughed and believe this will save a lot of lives.

Miranda Fuller

Impressive layout

August 23, 2026

Was just browsing beforethelastheartbeat.com and was impressed the layout. Nicely design and great user experience. Just had to drop a message, have a great day!

Ken Tipping

Don’t miss a beat - join me on the journey.

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