Nearly everyone has a story touched by their heart or that of a family member. My family is no different. I am committed to the missions of the American Heart Association and to walking as part of the annual AHA heart Walk, and hope your connection to heart health will move you to participate in the Walk, through a gift to the walking team I am leading, or by joining and walking as well.
On two specific occasions, our family has witnessed the impact of experts that care for the hearts of others. The co-chair of this year’s Walk, UIHC Pediatric Heart Surgeon Dr. Ian Law, treated and cared for two our three children. Our eldest, Anthony, and our youngest, Mariana, suffered from unique heart conditions and challenging futures. We became aware of Anthony’s heart arrhythmia when he was 5-years old, and for the next decade he was under the watchful eye of Dr. Law. Hopes that Anthony’s condition would improve faded when Dr. Law informed us that his irregular beats were growing to an alarming level. Shortly after turning 16, a heart ablation procedure was performed by Dr. Law, and Anthony’s worsening heart condition was thankfully relieved.
While a different and unrelated condition, our daughter Mariana also faced a teenage heart challenge, and again, Dr. Law and UIHC experts evaluated her and performed a similar procedure, which has corrected her heart concerns. For both, we feared what might lie ahead for our children and we came to know how important heart health, care and treatments are; they made all the difference to our family.
Additionally, both my father and my father-in-law dealt with heart ailments over the years, and I expect this is not an uncommon happening for most families. The impact that the American Heart Association has on the people and families impacted by heart challenges is inspiring. My family and I are proud to be part of this year’s AHA Heart Walk on May 6th, beginning at Kinnick Stadium. We hope that you will share of your generous heart in supporting this life-saving and life-changing fundraiser….and if you are able, register at www.heart.org/corridorheartwalk and join us on May 6th!