The donations raised by the Heart Walk will help fund lifesaving research, advocate for better access to health care, improve patient care, and reach at-risk populations until no more loved ones are lost to heart disease and stroke. I Heartwalk for the millions of people who have been affected and for their loved ones. I Heartwalk for people just like you and me who want to help make our community a healthier, more active place. And most importantly, I Heartwalk for the strongest and bravest person I know, my mom.
In September 2015, we found out my mom had 3-6 months to live if she didn’t have her aortic valve replaced. In that moment (and probably until we arrived at the hospital for her pre-op appointment a month later), I didn’t believe it. My mom was always the rock of our family. Our super woman that put everyone’s needs (and health) before her own. And to hear she wasn’t unbreakable, let alone that we could lose her, was absolutely unimaginable.
“What happens when people open their hearts? They get better.” Call it fate but about a week after my mom’s open-heart surgery, we stumbled upon a sign with this quote hanging in front of a church. This quote brought tears to my eyes and has stayed with me ever since because in that moment it finally felt like everything was finally going to be okay.
On October 2nd, we will celebrate the 9th anniversary of my mom’s surgery and second chance to live a full and healthy life with renewed focus to continue the fight against heart disease.
Please consider donating to this amazing cause on my fundraising page on the link below. Any contribution is much appreciated, and your generosity would mean so much to me!
