Why do I walk for the American Heart Association?
On December 7, 2016 I was on my way to give a speech for the Dean's Holiday Reception for the University of Dayton School of Law. It was the day before the start of my 2L finals and I was in the car with my then boyfriend (now husband). My mom called me from the British Virgin Islands where she and my dad, along with some of their friends were on vacation celebrating my parent's upcoming 40th wedding anniversary.
I will never forget telling my now husband to pull the car into a parking lot as my mother told me there had "been an accident" and my father had passed away earlier that day after having suffered a heart attack while snorkeling. I later found out that the AED device on the boat was not working and they did not have time to get an ambulance to take him to the hospital.
That moment is ingrained in my brain and almost 9 years later, I am still grieving and trying to process a life without my amazing father. My dad never got to see me graduate law school, become an attorney, land my dream job, get married to the love of my life, or meet his amazing grandson. I did not even get to say goodbye.
In the U.S. someone suffers a heart attack every 40 seconds. The average age for men for the first heart attack is 65.6 y/o, my dad was 66. He had just retired in January of that year. He had a lot more life to live.
As a way to honor my father, and to help raise awareness, money, and resources about heart attack, heart disease, stroke, and hypertension, I am asking you to take a few steps:
1. Schedule a Doctor Appointment to check your health
2. Learn Hands Only CPR
3. Join the Heart Walk on Nov. 1 either in person or virtually
4. Donate on behalf of someone you love, to help save and extend lives.
