In a heartbeat, you could be the difference.

My husband, Mike,  died unexpectedly at just 59 years old from a heart attack. I truly believed he was the healthiest person I knew. His death was sudden and completely unexpected, leaving our family, friends, and everyone who knew and loved him devastated.  Saturday night we were watching the SNL season finale and texting our kids and friends to plan upcoming visits and trips and the next morning he was gone. An unimaginable loss. 

An autopsy determined that he died from acute coronary artery thrombosis of the right coronary artery. There was no warning that any of us recognized. His death reminded us in the most heartbreaking way that heart disease does not always look the way we expect it to, and that even people who appear healthy can be at risk.

In the years since his passing, our family has talked often about how we can turn our grief into something meaningful. We have chosen to participate in the Heart & Stroke Walk and raise funds for the American Heart Association in his honor.

We hope our efforts will help support research, education, prevention, and awareness of heart disease and stroke. Most importantly, we hope that greater awareness can help another family avoid the sudden and devastating loss that ours has experienced.

We would be deeply grateful if you would consider making a donation in his memory. Every contribution, regardless of size, will help support the American Heart Association’s work to improve heart health and save lives.

For our family, this walk is about much more than raising money. It is a way to honor a husband, father, son, brother and friend. It is a way to remember the life he lived, the people he touched, and the love he gave us—and to hopefully help others have more time with the people they love.

Thank you for remembering Mike with us and for supporting our family in this effort. Your generosity means more to us than we can adequately express.

With gratitude,

Ann, Anna and Nick Taylor
#belikemike