This is my second year as a director with the American Heart Association in Nashville an organization I’m proud to have been an annual donor for several years  My son Turner was born with SVT, Supraventricular Tachycardia, a condition that caused his heart to race at dangerously high speeds. He spent weeks in the NICU while doctors searched for the right medicine to stabilize him. Eventually, they found the answer: Flecainide. It gave Turner the chance to grow up with a normal life, and provided peace of mind that his heart was safe. He took Flecainide every day for two years until he outgrew the need for regular doses.

Flecainide is part of the treatment guidelines created by the American Heart Association. It has also been the focus of several research initiatives the AHA has helped fund. That’s the power of this organization through science, advocacy, and education, the AHA drives real breakthroughs that touch lives, like Turner. Heart disease remains the #1 killer of Americans and congenital heart defects are the most common birth defect in newborns. The work isn’t done, but the impact is undeniable.

Our mission at the American Heart Association is to be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives, and it’s a mission I now live both personally and professionally. My son is thriving today because of the kind of research and resources your donations make possible. I hope you’ll join me in supporting this incredible organization. Whether you walk, give, or simply share our story, you are part of something that saves lives like Turner’s.