Heart disease touches so many. My family has been impacted in so many ways. We lost my brother-in-law in 2011 from an undiagnosed heart condition. He was only 31. My dad wears a pace maker and now a watchman to help fight blood clots. My sister and I both battle hypertension. I lost one of my best friends in July of 2022 to a massive heart attack, he was 39. But this year, I am dedicating my team to my 17 yr old daughter, Kate. Kate, a competitive dancer and varsity pom member went to get her physical for school pom. The doctor asked to speak to me in private because he had to fail her after a concern with her heart. It's then that Kate tells me that her heart starts beating so fast that she can actually see it. Then she fainted at school. She was diagnosed with POTS - postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. The disease has been progressive to the point where she has had to hang up her pom poms and is now homebound for her senior year. We don't know exactly how it happened although they believe it is a result of covid. She received a puppy in July that is being trained as her service dog in hopes that we can send her to college and let her live a more independent life while we wait for a cure or more effective treatment.
We are happy to support American Heart Association and the tireless work they do dedicated to the relentless pursuit of longer, healthier lives for all!
Imagine how much stronger we can be as a team!
The Heart Walk is a time of celebration, joy, and inspiration. It's also an event where people work together to support one single goal - to create a world free of heart disease and stroke.
This year, the American Heart Association’s centennial is a celebration of the of the lifesaving achievements and shared vision for a bold second century that will exponentially advance heart and brain health.
Be a relentless force. Be a supporter of critical research. Be a lifesaver. Be a part of an unstoppable team. Join me now and walk to save lives.