Heart disease has always been a cause I cared about, but this year, it has become deeply personal.

My mother, one of my greatest sources of strength, is fighting a serious battle with heart disease. She suffered a heart attack, multiple strokes, and was diagnosed with diffuse triple vessel coronary artery disease. Watching my mother fight for her life has been one of the most difficult and emotional experiences our family has ever faced.

When someone you love is fighting for their health, you begin to see life differently. You realize how precious the simplest moments are and how much you would give for more time, more memories, more laughter, and more days together.

Sadly, my mother’s story is not the first time heart disease has touched my family. I have also lost a brother in law and a close family friend to heart disease. These losses have shown me just how deeply this disease impacts families and how important it is to continue the fight for awareness, prevention, research, and better treatments.

Through my work at UT Southwestern, I am proud to be part of a healthcare community dedicated to making a difference in the lives of others. But today, my reason for walking is much more personal.

I am walking for my mother. I am walking in memory of those we have lost. And I am walking for every family praying for more time with the people they love.

I chose to support the American Heart Association because I believe we can turn awareness into action and research into hope. Every step we take and every dollar we raise can help support research, education, prevention, and lifesaving advances that give families hope for more tomorrows.

If my story resonates with you, I would be truly grateful for your support. A donation of any amount can make a difference. If you are unable to donate, sharing my fundraising page or simply keeping my mother and our family in your thoughts and prayers would also mean so much to me.

Thank you for helping me turn something deeply personal into an opportunity to create hope for others.

This is more than a walk for me. It is personal. It is purposeful. And it is my way of honoring those we have lost, standing beside those still fighting, and hoping for more time with the people we love.