At sixteen, I was diagnosed with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HOCM) and diastolic heart failure after struggling to keep up with my competitive volleyball team. What I first dismissed as being out of shape turned out to be a life-altering heart condition. The thickened walls of my heart made it harder to fill and relax properly, eventually leading to the placement of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) to protect me from sudden cardiac arrest.
At nineteen, I’ve undergone open-heart surgery and faced numerous setbacks, but each challenge has strengthened my resolve. My experience as a patient has inspired me to pursue a career in healthcare, where I hope to advocate for others and give back to the community that supported me. The mission of the American Heart Association deeply resonates with me, and I am committed to using my story, education, and future career to raise awareness and improve outcomes for others living with heart conditions.
9 out of 10 people who suffer cardiac arrest outside the hospital die. In most of those cases, bystander CPR was not performed. But we can change this.
Cardiac arrests happen at work, in homes, on athletic fields and in neighborhoods everywhere, and the readiness of our community can be the difference between life and death.
I Walk to Save Lives. Help me reach my goal today.