ð’™ Walking for Pablito: A Sister's Promise
On October 2nd, my little brother, Pablito Cotto, celebrated his 43rd birthday.
Just one month later, we buried him.
There are losses that change you forever. This is one of them.
Pablito wasn't just my little brother. In many ways, I was also his second mom. I helped raise him. I worried about him, protected him, celebrated his victories, and loved him with all my heart. The bond we shared was built over a lifetime, and losing him has left a wound that still feels impossible to heal.
The truth is, my grief remains unbearable.
And that grief is why I am participating in the 2026 First Coast Heart Walk.
What breaks my heart even more is knowing that his death may have been preventable.
Pablito had been diagnosed with mixed hyperlipidemia, a genetic condition that causes dangerously high levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood. Over time, those fats can build up inside the arteries, leading to coronary artery disease, a condition where the arteries that supply blood to the heart become narrowed or blocked.
In simple terms, his arteries were slowly becoming clogged.
The problem is that mixed hyperlipidemia is often called a "silent" condition. Many people feel perfectly fine for years. There are no obvious symptoms. No flashing warning signs. Life goes on as usual—until one day it doesn't.
Pablito was diagnosed, but he didn't truly understand what that diagnosis meant. And if I'm being honest, neither did we. We didn't understand the risk. We didn't understand the urgency. We didn't understand that this condition could take his life.
We thought there would be more time.
We were wrong.
Just one month after turning 43, my brother suffered a fatal heart attack.
Three months after his passing, I experienced chest pain myself.
Like many people, I brushed it off. I told myself it was stress. Anxiety. Exhaustion. Too much work. Not enough sleep.
Thankfully, I got checked.
What I discovered changed my life.
I have the same diagnosis.
And so does my mother.
Suddenly, Pablito's story wasn't just his story anymore. It was ours.
That's why this cause matters so deeply to me.
We need more than early diagnosis.
We need education.
We need follow-up.
We need healthcare systems that make sure patients truly understand what they are being told.
Not a five-minute conversation.
Not a stack of paperwork.
Not medical terminology that sounds frightening but means nothing to the person hearing it.
Real understanding.
Because a diagnosis cannot save a life if the patient doesn't understand what it means, why it matters, and what they need to do next.
Today, I walk for my brother.
I walk for my mother.
I walk for myself.
I walk for every family who has lost someone too soon.
I walk for every person who has dismissed chest pain as stress, ignored warning signs, or left a doctor's office feeling confused and overwhelmed.
And I walk in the hope that one day fewer families will have to experience this kind of heartbreak.
ð’™ Will You Help Me?
I am asking for your support as I raise funds for the 2026 First Coast Heart Walk.
Your donation helps support:
- Heart disease research
- Earlier detection and screening
- Patient and family education
- Prevention programs
- Lifesaving treatments and medical advancements
- Resources that help people better understand and manage their diagnosis
No donation is too small.
Every dollar brings us one step closer to saving lives and preventing another family from hearing the words we heard.
If Pablito's story touches your heart, please consider making a donation and sharing this post.
I can't bring my brother back.
But together, we can honor his memory by helping others live longer, healthier lives.
ð’™ In loving memory of Pablito Cotto ð’™ A beloved son, brother, uncle, and friend ð’™ Forever 43 ð’™ Forever loved ð’™ Forever missed
Please donate today and help turn heartbreak into hope.
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