My journey with the American Heart Association began long before I even realized it.

In 2020, my brother and sister-in-law learned that their unborn son had a rare heart defect—crossed heart valves. Doctors explained that he would need open-heart surgery immediately after birth in order to survive. From that moment on, the pregnancy was filled with uncertainty, careful monitoring, and a lot of hope.

Henry was born and underwent surgery shortly after arrival. Thanks to the skill of his care team and advances in pediatric heart medicine, he recovered well. Today, he’s a healthy little boy with a small scar on his chest and two cardiology visits each year to make sure his heart continues to grow strong.

That scar is a reminder not only of Henry’s strength, but of the research and medical innovation that made his outcome possible.

At the time, I didn’t realize that the American Heart Association helps fund the kind of research that supports children like Henry—advancing treatments for congenital heart defects, improving surgical outcomes, and investing in care that helps kids live longer, healthier lives. I learned that later, during my interview with the AHA, and it made the mission deeply personal.

This summer, Henry will turn five. His story is one of progress, possibility, and what can happen when research and care move forward together.

And the work continues. Today, the American Heart Association is funding lifesaving research, expanding CPR education, and supporting innovations that improve survival and quality of life for both children and adults with heart conditions.

Every dollar donated helps move this work forward—supporting families, advancing science, and creating more stories like Henry’s.