When Stories Collide: The Unexpected Impact of Sharing My Heart Journey

There’s something surreal about hearing from people who found hope in my story. It’s humbling, validating, and—if I’m honest—a little overwhelming at times. Every message I receive reminds me why I started sharing my journey in the first place: so that no one else would feel as alone as I once did. But each of these women—Brooke, Tori, and Dee—found me in different ways, at different points in their own heart journeys, and their reactions to my story each struck me in a unique way.

Brooke reached out when she was at a crossroads, waiting for approval for her EVOQUE procedure. She was scared—not just of the unknown, but of the pain. She wanted to know if she’d be okay. I remember that fear so well, the way it settles into your bones when you’re about to put your life in the hands of something new, something barely tested. Connecting with Brooke was deeply personal because I saw myself in her—the same fears, the same questions. I could give her something I never had: someone who had been through it, who could say, Yes, it’s scary, but you can do this. And you won’t be alone.

Then came Tori, another tricuspid valve patient, but this time, our bond came with an added layer of familiarity: the same doctor, the same hospital. When she searched Facebook for tricuspid valve patients, my name popped up, and suddenly, she wasn’t just reading about someone who might understand—she was reading about someone who had literally walked the same halls, had the same hands working on her heart. That hit differently. I imagined her sitting in the same waiting rooms, feeling the same nerves before a procedure, maybe even being prepped by the same nurses. It made me realize how much this journey isn’t just about me—it’s about all of us trying to navigate a world where tricuspid patients are often overlooked.

And then there’s Dee. She wasn’t a tricuspid patient, but she found me on Facebook because she was born with a Congenital Heart Defect—Bicuspid Aortic Valve. When she reached out, I felt a different kind of connection. Her story wasn’t identical to mine, but she still felt seen in my words. That’s what made her message stand out. She didn’t need to have the exact same diagnosis to understand the weight of living with heart disease. Her reaching out reminded me that this fight isn’t just about one valve or one procedure—it’s about making sure every heart patient feels like their story matters.

Some things don’t need words—just presence. ❤️‍🩹🥑 Sometimes, the most powerful thing we can do for someone is just be there—no fixing, no forcing, just holding space. Because we all need that person who says, ‘You don’t have to carry this alone.

Each of these women came to me searching for something—answers, reassurance, connection. And in turn, they gave me something: proof that my voice, my story, my pain, and my survival matter. Their responses were different, but the impact? The same. None of us are alone in this. And if my story can be the bridge that makes someone feel even a little less afraid, then every struggle, every tear, every moment I thought I wouldn’t make it—it was all worth it.

#HeartWarriors #TricuspidValveAwareness

#BicuspidAorticValve #CongenitalHeartDefect

#PatientVoice #HospiceSurvivor #StrongerTogether

#YouAreNotAlone