This year is going to be harder for me than any other year. My best friend of 28 years, died on 7/29/25 from a stroke. She lived with a misdiagnosed heart condition for 32 years. After her daughter was born we almost lost her to congestive heart failure. 

 

After more heart surgeries than anyone should have to endure, cardioversion more times than I can count, and three strokes it was too much. 

 

She lived almost 20 years after that first open heart surgery. We will forever be grateful for the time we got with her. Nothing will ever be the same, but I can hope that we can keep fighting and moving toward a future where people with similar stories get to live past 53.