There was a moment when everything could have gone a different way.

When I needed heart surgery, I was stepping into the unknown. But what I didn’t fully understand at the time was how much work had already been done before I ever got there.

The procedure I had, the Ross procedure, is not simple. It is not routine. It is the result of years of research, refinement, and belief that better outcomes are possible.

My surgeon, David Adams, took an approach that gave me not just a successful surgery, but a real quality of life moving forward.

That does not happen without organizations like the American Heart Association pushing science forward and supporting the work that makes these outcomes possible.

So this year, I am walking.

I am walking because I get more time.
I am walking because I get more life.
I am walking for the people who are still waiting for their second chance.

If you are able, I would be grateful for your support.
Join the team, donate, or simply share. It all matters more than you think.