Why I walk
Long before I ever wore a white coat or introduced myself as a cardiologist, I understood on a deeply personal level just how devastating heart disease can be to a family. I was only fifteen when my father underwent quintuple bypass surgery. At an age when most teenagers are thinking about school dances and driver?s licenses, I was learning about coronary arteries and recovery units. That experience shaped me more than I realized at the time. It planted a seed, a determination, to one day be part of the fight against heart disease.
Years later, as I approached my 40th birthday, the same decade my dad was when his heart problems began, I found myself facing a sobering reality. My father had suffered another stroke and was now living with even greater disability. It was heartbreaking to watch someone I loved so much lose pieces of his independence, his vitality, and his life to a disease that, in many cases, is preventable. It was also a wake-up call for me.
I knew I had a choice: I could continue down a similar path, or I could rewrite my own story. I chose change.
I committed myself to learning how to truly nourish my body, not just with food, but with balance. I focused on nutrition, not restriction. I learned how to manage my emotions and thoughts so I would no longer use food as a coping mechanism. I embraced strength training and fell in love with weightlifting. And I reconnected with a lifelong passion: dance, something that brings joy to both my mind and my heart.
Through this journey, I didn?t just change my body. I transformed my life. I became stronger, healthier, and more resilient, not only for myself, but for the people I love and for every patient I now have the privilege of caring for.
Heart disease has taken a lot from my family. It has taken mobility, health, peace of mind, and time, precious time. But it has also given me a powerful purpose. That purpose is why I support the American Heart Association. Because every life saved, every heart attack and stroke prevented, every healthy habit started, it all matters.
My mission now is to inspire others to take control of their health before it?s too late. That means getting screened. It means moving your body. It means making choices every single day that protect your heart, not just for yourself, but for the people who love you.
The American Heart Association is not just about research or statistics. It?s about stories like mine and stories like yours. It?s about giving families more time together, more memories, more tomorrows. And that?s why I will always stand with the AHA, because together, we can change the story of heart disease for generations to come.
