My first "Why" is my dad. In November 2025, my dad was rushed to OSF in Monmouth with a 99% blockage in his heart. He was immediately transported to UnityPoint Trinity in Rock Island, where they performed a heart catheterization to assess the situation. Shortly after monitoring, he underwent a double bypass surgery, followed by a stent placement a few days later.
I am truly grateful for the incredible doctors at UnityPoint Trinity RI-because of them, my dad is still here today and gave us something profoundly meaningful to be thankful for this past Thanksgiving.
My second "Why" is Avery, my son's younger sister. Avery received a heart transplant in February 2023 at just 4 years old. She is fun, energetic, silly, and full of light when she's healthy. After everything her body has gone through, her immune system is very fragile and she gets sick easily. I want to raise awareness within our Quad Knox group for this amazing organization-because kids like Avery deserve the chance to grow, play, and simply be here.
It's time to unite, take action, and save lives. Every dollar donated means more people trained in lifesaving CPR, more research, and more lifesaving moments for everyone. Together, we can turn bystanders into lifesavers.