Hi my name is Yonathan Bezza, and ever since I was young, I've been interested in exploring the heart in college by studying biochemistry. Eventually, I plan on becoming a full-time electrophysiologist, diagnosing conditions related to the electrical system of the heart.
However, that lifelong dream gained an even more personal meaning when, last year, my grandfather passed away from endocarditis, a serious infection of the inner lining of the heart that typically affects the heart valves. You can see the picture of us above with me in the top-left, my father in the middle, my brother on the top-right, and my grandfather in the bottom middle.
I'm incredibly thankful that he was able to live a long and fruitful life, but the truth is that these issues are prevalent.
According to the American Heart Association, every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a heart attack. Every 3.5 minutes, someone dies from heart disease, and more than 121 million American adults live with some form of cardiovascular disease. Finally, nearly half of all U.S. adults have high blood pressure, a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke.
While these statistics are grim, the American Heart Association funds research across the entire lifespan, examining aspects such as congenital heart defects, childhood obesity, and early markers of cardiovascular risk in teens.
That's exactly why I'm asking for your help in working toward a world where solutions exist for conditions such as the one that took my grandfather's life. I've already donated, and if you donate, you won't just be helping a single life; you will be investing in the heart health of millions of people today and in the future. If you aren't able to donate, please consider sharing this page with family, friends, coworkers, classmates, and even strangers.