As the years pass, time seems to evaporate faster than ever. Photographs become more than just images; they are the precious threads that hold together moments now lost to time but forever alive in our beating hearts. Life’s pace quickens with age, and the people we once took for granted have soared beyond our grasping reach, transforming into cherished memories that shape who we are.
For the past 17 years, many of you have walked alongside me on my American HeartWalk journey, and you know the steadfast reason behind the steps I take: my dad, Gilbert. A true warrior and multiple-time heart attack survivor, my beloved “bionic man” who defied the odds thanks to groundbreaking medical technologies that kept his heart beating strong long after it should have. His strength and resilience inspire me every day.
Then, in 2022, my “why” became even more personal—my brother Kevin. When his heart faltered, I had to perform CPR to save his life. Beyond stressful of this dreaded event, I am grateful to the American Heart Association that equipped me with this life-saving skill, and I am eternally grateful that Kevin is still here, picking and loving on his lil sister, me!
I walk to honor my dad’s memory, to pay tribute to my brother’s courage, and to stand with the countless friends whose lives have been touched by heart disease. Each step is a promise—to never take time or health for granted, and to fight for a future where no family has to face heart loss alone.
“If you haven’t got any charity in your heart, you have the worst kind of heart trouble.” Bob Hope
