For the past few years, I have helped out with AHA's Telethon as this is a cause near and dear to me.
This year, I have chosen to walk in honor of two extremely important people in my life - my Aunt Deb and Papa.
In 2019, my family endured the sudden and traumatic loss of my Aunt Deb at only 57 years old.
She was the matriarch of our family - helping all of us in any way she could, and treated her nieces and nephews like we were her children, as she did not have her own.
In 2017, our Aunt Deb found out that she had atrial fibrillation and her heart was operating at a very low percent. Although she received proper treatment, this remained a large hinderance for her the next couple of years. Ultimately, her heart condition led to other complications that suddenly took her from us.
There are no words that could ever express the depth of her loss. Someone who had the BIGGEST and most selfless heart, and should have been here to experience many of mine and my cousin's greatest joys over the last 7 years - from new houses, to weddings, to children... our Aunt Deb would have been a vital part in all of this. We miss her every single day.
In 2021, my family experienced yet another tragic loss - our beloved Papa.
He was not only our grandfather, but truly our best friend. He was the life of the party - lively, hilarious, charismatic. It was never a dull moment. Nothing mattered more to him than his family, and he loved to instill his wisdom (and funny one-liners) into us. We were blessed with 93 incredible years with him... but no amount of time would have ever been enough.
In 2001, Papa underwent an emergency open heart surgery after finding out he was on the verge of a massive heart attack. This surgery required a valve-replacement, and without it, he would not have survived. Ironically, our Papa (who was in the cattle business) was given a cow-valve. Our family couldn't get over the fact that the animal he devoted his life to buying/selling, would also be the animal to save his life. Even moreso, surgeons told us that this valve would last him approximately 15-years if he was lucky... but for our Papa, it lasted him 20. Heart disease runs in Papa's family, and we were so blessed that it did not take him from us as soon as it could have.
I Walk to Save Lives, and to remember the lives that have played a critical role in who I am today.
Help me reach my goal!