I’ve always loved running. I started long-distance running in 2006, and by 2007, I had completed my first marathon. Over the years, I ran seven marathons. But in 2013, my world changed when I was diagnosed with genetic cardiomyopathy. My doctors told me I had to stop running immediately and that I may never run again. It was heartbreaking, but I adjusted and found new ways to live fully.
Then, in 2023, after months of feeling constantly exhausted and undergoing several tests, I received devastating news: my heart was failing, and I needed a heart transplant. I was fortunate. My wait for a donor's heart was shorter than expected, and today, I am alive and recovering thanks to the generosity of a donor. Every day, I think of them with deep gratitude.
Organ donation saves lives, and I am living proof of its power. That’s why I’m running this 5K and have also registered for the Miami Half Marathon—both as a way to honor my donor and raise awareness for organ donation.
Please consider becoming an organ donor. Your decision could save a life, just as it saved mine.
