I carry a picture with me in my portfolio of a little boy I met at a Heart Walk last year. His name is Colton, and by the age of 9 when I met him, he’d already endured five heart surgeries, suffering a stroke during the last one. That’s a lot for anyone to go through, let alone a child not yet a decade old!
As the father of three boys, I can only imagine the anxiety his parents felt, having to hand their baby boy over to doctors to open his chest…five times. I’m sure every precious moment they’d spent with him flashed through their minds, giving them strength and comfort, reminding them why they had to take these extreme measures to fix Colton’s heart: they wanted more memories with him. Simply put, Colton is why.
The American Heart Association wants every family to experience more of life's precious moments too. It's why we've made better heart and brain health our mission. And until there's a world free of heart disease and stroke, we'll be there, working to make a healthier, longer life possible for everyone. Why we do what we do? Life is why.
Everyone has a reason to live longer. For me, it’s watching my sons play sports. It’s our family’s recent vacation to the Pacific Northwest. It’s the time I’ve gotten to share with my Mom after she survived heart disease. My family is why.
What is your why? Check out more Life is Why moments at http://lifeiswhy.org/. Share your photos on Facebook and Twitter with the hashtag #lifeiswhy and let’s motivate each other to keep living healthier, stronger lives.
Warm regards,
Kevin D. Harker
Executive Vice President, Midwest Affiliate
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