I am honored to have been selected as a 2026 Woman of Impact nominee for the American Heart Association of Milwaukee. This opportunity holds deep meaning for me, my family, and our team.
Just weeks before I was invited to participate, I lost a very close friend due to complications from a heart surgery - an unexpected and heartbreaking reminder of how urgently continued education, prevention, and research are needed.
This loss reopened wounds from 11 years ago, when we lost another close friend to unmanaged heart disease. He was only 39 years old, leaving behind his wife and their beautiful children. His passing was devastating, and he is missed every single day.
Many people don’t know that I’ve been managing hypertension for nearly eight years, beginning shortly after my oldest son was born. My high blood pressure continued through three miscarriages - losses I carried with me for a long time, often blaming myself and my health as the cause. That hypertension worsened during my pregnancy with my youngest son, igniting constant fear of losing him, and still requires daily management today.
Just over a year ago, one of our Milestone team members nearly lost his wife when she went into sudden cardiac arrest in their living room on a Sunday afternoon. He performed lifesaving CPR until help arrived - an act of courage that ultimately saved her life. Their experience was a sobering reminder that cardiac emergencies can happen anywhere, at any time. It reinforced how critical it is to be trained and prepared, and deepened our commitment to supporting the American Heart Association’s efforts to expand CPR education and heart-health awareness.
The grief, fear, and hope from each of these experiences have strengthened my resolve to be part of the solution. Stepping into this campaign is deeply personal for me, my family, and our team. It is a way to turn loss into purpose and help expand access to the education, resources, and research that can save lives.
Together, we stand for those we’ve lost, those still fighting, and those we can still save. Thank you for being part of this mission and for helping make a life-saving impact. ❤