On February 16, 2026, at 34 weeks and 1 day pregnant, my life changed forever.

I suffered an eclamptic seizure at home and went into cardiac arrest. My husband found me unresponsive and turning purple. He immediately started CPR and continued until EMS arrived. My heart had stopped, and I had to be shocked back to life.

At the same time, my unborn daughter, Soleia Rae, was fighting for her life too.

I was rushed to the hospital for an emergency C-section. Soleia was born without a heartbeat and needed extensive resuscitation. Against incredible odds, we both survived.

Soleia spent 35 days in the NICU, while I began recovering from something I never imagined would happen to me. The months since haven't been easy. I've had continued medical appointments, heart and neurological testing, and moments where I'm reminded just how much my body went through.

But I'm still here.

Before this happened, cardiac arrest was something I thought happened to other people. Now I know firsthand how suddenly a heart can stop and how important CPR and immediate action can be. My husband's decision to start CPR gave me a chance to come home to my children and watch my daughter grow.

That's why this Heart Walk means so much to me.

I'm walking for the husband who didn't give up on me.

I'm walking for the EMS team and medical professionals who helped save my life.

I'm walking for my children, who still have their mom.

I'm walking for Soleia, because we fought for our lives together.

And I'm walking for every cardiac-arrest survivor and every family whose life can be changed by someone knowing what to do when a heart stops.

On February 16, my heart stopped beating.

Today, I'm walking as a survivor.