When my daughter Aria was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), our world changed overnight. HCM is a disease in which the heart muscle becomes thickened, making it harder for the heart to pump blood. In one moment, I was simply a mom planning playdates and school projects. In the next, I became a caregiver navigating a life of cardiology appointments, medications, procedures, and fear.
People often picture caregiving as holding a hand or offering comfort. And while those moments are real, caregiving is also relentless. It is exhaustion that settles into your bones, constant calculations of symptoms, medications, insurance, and finances, and the emotional weight of setbacks and bad news from a doctor’s visit. It is the quiet grief of watching your child miss out on parts of childhood you once imagined for them.
But this is only part of our story.
Even in the hardest moments, Aria shows me what strength truly looks like. A small smile after a long procedure. A burst of laughter in a hospital room. Her little hand holding mine and telling me she isn’t scared. Watching her do something, big or small, that doctors once weren’t sure she could do reminds me that hope is real and resilience is powerful.
These moments don’t erase the hardship, but they give it meaning. They have taught me that love, when tested, is unshakeable — and that caregivers everywhere carry more than anyone ever sees.
Because of Aria, I am committed to sharing what I have learned: early detection saves lives.
Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States, according to the American Heart Association. Millions of people are unknowingly living with heart disease. One in three women dies from heart disease every year, and more than 23,000 children experience cardiac arrest annually. These numbers are not just statistics to me — they are the reason I speak up.
The good news is that up to 80% of heart disease can be prevented through small, meaningful lifestyle changes, including:
- Managing blood pressure and stress
- Staying active daily
- Eating a well-balanced diet
- Controlling cholesterol and blood sugar
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Avoiding tobacco products
Early detection can save lives. Talk to your healthcare provider about regular heart screenings and family heart history.
This American Heart Month, I ask you to join me:
- Wear red throughout February, especially on National Wear Red Day (February 6), Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week (February 7–14), and Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Awareness Day (February 25).
- Learn CPR — it could save someone you love.
- Celebrate survivors and honor those affected by heart disease.
- And most importantly, start the conversation about heart health.
From one mother to every family: you are not alone, your efforts matter, and together we can change the future of heart disease.
For more information, visit The American Heart Association at www.heart.org.
