American Heart Association, Life is Why 

I am 62 years young...I teach physical education to 600 students every day. My students know heart disease runs in my family and they know how important exercising is for having a strong, healthy heart. I love my students and want to be there for them for at least 10 more years. They know exercising has helped me stay strong and young. I know they see it makes a different. Thank you American Heart Association for all the good information!!!

Stephanie Drawdy so sorry for your loss. Brandi is our "why" too. What a heartbreaking story and important reminder that even the littlest hearts needs help too. Thank you for sharing your "why" with us.

Superb! Being a volunteer, past board member, nutrition consultant & spokesperson for the American Heart Association (for +20 years), helps make a difference~to educate others about the importance of preventing heart disease through lifestyle changes. It's made a difference in my life. At age 9, I was diagnosed with severe hyperlipidemia. Prevention & Intervention are Key!

My sweet, loving daughter, Brandi died of heart disease. She went into congestive heart failure as a newborn....Brandi was born prematurely, weighing only 2lbs 7 1/2 ozs...Brandi most definitely was my miracle baby!! Brandi lived 5 years after having her aortic & mitral valves replaced...& she had many heart issues ALL her life, along with other health issues. She died on Mother's Day twice on May 12, 2013, then we had to make the HORRIBLE dicision to take her off life support at 1:41 am May 13, 2013!! Brandi was the bravest, kindest, young lady!! Brandi NEVER complained about anthing! I always said I was going to be just like her when I grew up!!! :) (She never said anything, but I'm sure she wanted me to hush saying that after the millionth time of telling people that!!) BUT I MEANT/MEAN IT!!) I've NEVER met or ever will again, a person as brave as Brandi...my Moma was a close second!!! I completely shutdown after losing my child!! God truly blessed me with Brandi for 33 years, 10 months, & 9 days! I just loss my Moma, 1 year & 20 days after losing my Brandi!! My heart is broken!! :'( I was hit with a double whammy!!! :'( My Moma died from ASCVD. I also believe my Moma died from a broken heart over the loss of Brandi! Thank you for allowing me to tell my story! God Bless! :)

WHY, because of me and my family, I want us to live a long healthy life. I have seen what heart and vascular disease can do to people (I don't want this to happen to me or my family). Thank you AHA/ASA.