I’m walking with the American Heart Association this June because this mission is personal. I'm walking for my mom.

In June 2021, my mom had a heart attack -- and didn’t know it. The signs in women are different, and too often they’re missed.

While she was recovering in the hospital, her heart went into ventricular fibrillation. She coded. Twice.

Today, I am the proud daughter of and caregiver to a heart transplant survivor.

9 out of 10 people who suffer cardiac arrest outside of a hospital don’t survive. Most never receive bystander CPR. That statistic is terrifying. It’s also changeable.

The American Heart Association funds research, educates communities, and trains everyday people to become lifesavers. That work is why my mom is still here. It’s why other families get more time.

Almost five years to the day after we rushed to the hospital, I’ll be walking in gratitude -- and in hope.

If you’re able, will you join me in supporting this work? Every dollar helps train more people in CPR, fund critical research, and save lives.

Let’s turn more bystanders into lifesavers.

p.s. Photos below from the day we celebrated mom's 1-year anniversary post-transplant and from the day she walked her first 5k post transplant!