On June 21, 2008, my life began in a race against time. What was supposed to be a routine ultrasound for my mom turned into an emergency C-section. I entered the world at 35 weeks with lungs far too underdeveloped—and a critical heart defect no one saw coming: Transposition of the Great Arteries. I was born blue, barely breathing, and surviving only through the skill of the doctors who rushed me into emergency care.
Two weeks later—once my lungs had grown strong enough—I had open-heart surgery that quite literally rewired my life. I left the hospital weighing less than five pounds, but carrying a heart that had already endured more than most people face in a lifetime.
My first year was filled with follow-up appointments, therapies, and uncertainty. But now, at 17, I’m grateful every single day that I’m healthy, thriving, and able to share my story. I still go to my yearly cardiology checkups, and I actually look forward to them—they're reminders of where I started and how boldly my heart continues to beat.
It was at one of those checkups that The Warrior Heart Project was born. Sitting in the waiting room, I saw kids who reminded me of myself—tiny warriors, quietly fighting battles that the world doesn’t always see. I wanted to help them feel supported, seen, and strong. So in 10th grade, I began making bracelets: red for heart health, white for hope, gold for strength, and blue—the color I was when I took my first breath. What started at school events grew into an online community of support, conversation, and shared stories.
Each bracelet I create helps fund resources for children with congenital heart defects and their families. Every dollar goes toward treatments, comfort items, and tools that make the hardest days a little easier. And every time someone asks about the bracelet on my wrist, I get to share what CHD is, what survival looks like, and what it means to turn pain into purpose.
This is why I walk.
This is why I ask you to join me.
Heart Walks fund research that saved my life. They support families stepping into the same fear mine once lived through. They spark hope for every tiny warrior still fighting.
When you donate or walk, you’re not just supporting a cause—you’re helping someone like me grow up, dream big, and keep moving forward with a warrior’s heart.
