I am delighted to be doing the AHA Heart Walk again this year, and if you ask me "why" I will answer:
Because I can.
If you don't know my story ... I am the recipient of a heart transplant performed at the UCLA Medical Center in 2011. Yes, I did say a heart transplant, and yes, it was 13 -- almost 14 -- years ago!
Back in 2011, my heart randomly stopped beating due to a very rare condition called Giant Cell Myocarditis. Thanks to developments of modern medicine, after a few very uncomfortable months in the hospital, a transplant was performed and my life was saved. So you see, research into cardiac events and treatments has a very personal meaning for me.
There was a time when I could not walk from my bed to a chair, so the fact that I am able to walk 5K still astounds me. I am very proud to be walking with the team for the UCLA Cardiac Rehabilitation program, since they were so instrumental in my recovery. 5K may not be a great distance for many of you, but it is a medical miracle for me!
I hope you will support my fundraising for the American Heart Association by making a donation of any size. Thank you!
