Did you know Congenital Heart Defects (CHD) are the most common birth defect in children? Did you know that nearly 1 in every 100 children will be born with CHD? At just two days olds, the doctors told my parents they thought something may have been wrong - and my lifelong battle with CHD began. Unfortunately for most, heart disease is all too personal of a topic. That is why I have chosen to be a Honeywell team lead for this year’s American Heart Association Heart Walk on September 28th and I hope you will consider walking alongside me.

After being born with Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) and Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD), I successfully underwent four open heart surgeries prior to age seven. The first two surgeries closed the holes in my heart, and the next two were valve replacements. Along with the help of several heart caths and my annual check-ups, I have not had another major surgery since 2005. Although there will be more surgeries in my future, I am blessed to be healthy today.

I never viewed my story as a setback, but rather a platform to help others going through similar experiences. I did my first heart "walk" in diapers, pulled in a wagon by my family as I was not healthy enough to walk on my own. I began volunteering with the American Heart Association at the age of three, raising money for kids like me. In elementary school, I became a keynote speaker sharing my personal battles while emphasizing negative experiences don’t have to define you. In 2010 and 2012, I had the extreme honor of lobbying on Capitol Hill, speaking with President Obama’s top aides and the late Arizona Senator John McCain. 

The American Heart Association is an organization near to my heart, and I hope you will consider joining my team as we continue working to raise awareness for the leading cause of the death in the word, Heart Disease.