I am proud to be part of a team of changemakers working to transform the future of womens health. Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of women, and the American Heart Associations Go Red for Women Woman of Impact campaign is taking action to change that.
This mission is personal for me. My stepfather, Frank, spent years battling serious heart issues, enduring multiple surgeries and long stretches of uncertainty that affected his life and our familys life in deep ways. In October 2020, at the height of the COVID pandemic, when hospitals were overwhelmed, resources were limited, and even having loved ones close by was restricted, he underwent a life saving heart transplant. Thanks to his strength and to the exceptional care provided by his medical team, many of whom are supported through the American Heart Association, he is now living his life fully again.
Frank is an amazing golfer, and today he is back on the course doing what he loves. He gets more time with his hobbies, more time outdoors, and most special of all, more time with my mother, Libby. They get priceless moments together that we once were not sure he would ever have.
Seeing his second chance changed me too. His journey made prevention feel urgent and personal. Now I prioritize exercise, especially running, not only for myself, but in honor of the gift that heart research and world class care made possible for our family.
But far too many women still do not receive the research, diagnosis, and treatment they deserve. For decades, women have been underrepresented in studies, misdiagnosed, undertreated, and underfunded. Their symptoms are dismissed, and their unique needs are overlooked.
Together, we can change that. When women stand together, we raise awareness, fight for better science, and push for heart health solutions built specifically for women at every age, stage, and season of life. This movement is not just about wearing red or sharing facts. It is about action, advocacy, and refusing to let our greatest health threat go unchallenged.
The time to change the future of womens' heart health is now.
If you are with me, please support my Woman of Impact campaign by clicking the Donate button.
Thank you!