My Why

My journey with the American Heart Association is deeply personal.

In November 2023, what was expected to be a routine outpatient test for my mom turned into a life-changing experience. She suffered a heart attack and underwent open-heart surgery with a double bypass. Complications followed—she required an additional emergency procedure due to a collapsed lung and internal bleeding. What should have been a simple visit became a 14-day hospital stay.

Just three months later, in February 2024, my dad faced his own heart battle. He underwent a triple bypass surgery, where doctors discovered a rare heart structure. Shortly after surgery, he experienced a cardiac tamponade and had to be rushed back into surgery within hours. His journey turned into a 5-day hospital stay.

Two parents. Two heart attacks. Just months apart.

That’s when I knew I had to do more. Walking for my parents. Fighting for healthier hearts.