In a heartbeat, you could be the difference.

For most of my life, I knew I had a heart condition. I was born with aortic stenosis, and growing up, I learned to live with regular appointments, echocardiograms, and the knowledge that one day my heart might require more than monitoring.

What I didn't expect was how completely my life would change when that day finally came.

I underwent open-heart surgery to replace my aortic valve. I went into surgery knowing that I needed to do this to protect my future, but nothing could have prepared me for everything that came afterward.

In addition to my valve replacement, I needed a pacemaker. I also learned that I would need to take Coumadin, a blood thinner, for the rest of my life. The physical recovery was difficult, but the emotional recovery was just as challenging. There were moments when I looked at my scars, felt the pacemaker in my chest, and struggled to recognize the person I had been before surgery.

Today, I share my story because heart disease isn't always visible. It doesn't always look like someone who is sick. Sometimes it looks like a mother getting her children ready for school. Sometimes it looks like a woman going to work, taking care of her family, and doing everything she can to live a normal life while quietly carrying a heart condition.

I want people to understand that heart disease can affect anyone, including women and mothers who may not realize they are at risk.

My goal now is to turn what I went through into something meaningful. I want to raise money for heart disease research, education, prevention, and support. I want to help other families recognize the importance of heart health and encourage people to listen to their bodies and advocate for themselves.

I am a heart disease survivor. And I am determined to use my story to help give other people more time with the people they love.

My heart surgery changed my life. Now I want my story to help change someone else's.