When our son Rob was born unexpectedly at just 30 weeks, we were thrown into a world we never imagined?one filled with monitors, alarms, and tiny miracles. Rob spent 47 days in the NICU, fighting to grow stronger each day. It was during this time that we learned he had Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT), a condition where the heart suddenly beats much faster than normal due to abnormal electrical pathways. Watching our fragile newborn experience episodes of rapid heartbeat was terrifying, and we quickly realized how critical heart health and research are?not just for adults, but for the tiniest lives too.
As Rob grew, his SVT persisted, and doctors discovered he also had Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) Syndrome, a rare condition where an extra electrical pathway in the heart causes dangerously fast heart rhythms. At just 7 years old, Rob underwent a cardiac ablation?a procedure to eliminate the extra pathway and correct the SVT. It was a moment filled with fear, hope, and gratitude for the medical advancements that made it possible. The procedure was successful, and Rob came through with the resilience that has defined him since day one.
Today, Rob is thriving?but we know that many families are still facing the uncertainty we once did. That?s why I am raising funds for the American Heart Association: to support life-saving research, improve treatments, and give every child with a heart condition the chance to grow up strong. Your donation helps fuel the science that saved Rob?s life?and will continue to save countless others.