My heart story isn’t one of tragedy — it’s one of survival, strength, and deep gratitude.

At 24, an eighteen second sinus pause led to my first pacemaker. Over the next three years, I faced four unexpected wire dislodgements, each one sending me back into surgery and reminding me just how fragile and powerful the human body can be.

At 27, with two small children depending on me, a pulmonary embolism and the blood thinners that followed caused several holes in my heart to burst. I went into cardiac arrest. Two pericardial effusions failed. I was rushed into open‑heart surgery, where my pacemaker wire was pulled into my aortic valve, forcing my surgical team to act within seconds. They placed me on heart‑lung bypass and made the decisions that ultimately saved my life.

I survived because of modern medicine. I survived because of the skill, dedication, and quick thinking of medical professionals who refused to give up on me. For one year, I lived without a pacemaker — until sick sinus syndrome brought me back to needing one again. Today, I’m living a healthy life, grateful for every heartbeat and every ordinary moment I once feared I might not see.

I’ve been called a medical miracle, but I see myself as a testament to resilience — and to the incredible people and innovations that kept me here. My journey isn’t meant to be sad. It’s meant to show what determination looks like, and to honor the medical teams who helped me fight for the life I’m living today.