Growing up, a routine school physical revealed a heart anomaly that would define her life. Diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a genetic heart condition, she lived with chest pain and shortness of breath into adulthood.
After a stroke at age 21, she received her first pacemaker. Her sister Lori, also diagnosed with HCM, tragically died from cardiac arrest, prompting her to found the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association (HCMA).
In 2016, at age 47, she faced a life-threatening episode and received a heart transplant after 71 days on the donor list.
Today, she advocates for early detection and treatment of HCM, emphasizing the importance of family screening and medical awareness.
She credits modern medicine and a compassionate organ donor for saving her life and continues her mission to educate others about HCM.
Her message: With proper care, people with HCM can live full, thriving lives.