I am 16 years old. I love to bowl, swim, go fishing, play video games, watch WWE and hang out with my family and friends. I am in the 11th grade at Coxsackie-Athens High School. All this would not be possible without the American Heart Association!

I was born with HLHS, a congenital heart defect in which the left side of the heart is underdeveloped. I also had a leaky tricuspid valve and significant kidney problems. I needed three major open heart surgeries to reroute blood flow and help the right ventricle pump blood to my body. Thankfully, Albany Medical Center was close by and had a specialist in this field, Dr. Neil Devejian, Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgeon. Together Dr. Devejian, my pediatric cardiologist, Dr. Steven Kamenir. and Urologist, Dr. Barry Kogan saved my life!

My first heart surgery was a week after I was born, the second I needed early at three months of age and the third when I was five. I also had a mechanical heart valve placement, pacemaker placement and many heart catheterizations along the way. Because of my surgeries, I required therapies; Speech, OT & PT. I started meeting my milestones, walking at the age of two.

I like helping my big sister Lexie who has autism. I loved going to my brothers, Kane and Killian's baseball & basketball games when I was younger and later played tee ball, coach pitch and PAL basketball. As sports became more competitive, I had to stop because I am on blood thinners and can't get hurt. I then took on bowling, which I still do today on the school Varsity team.

I really enjoy being part of organizations like Make-A-Wish, Circle of Champs and the Cardiac Kids. The events are very fun and uplifting. Cardiac Kids is where I got started with the American Heart Association. I am very excited for the 2026 Heart Walk! Come walk with me and help me raise money for life saving research!