From the Sidelines to the Capitol: Beckett Moore’s Journey from Survivor to Advocate When 14-year-old Beckett Moore collapsed on his high school football field in Austin, no one could have predicted the incredible journey that lay ahead. What began as a terrifying cardiac arrest during football practice has transformed into a powerful story of survival,…Read More…

In 2018, Heather Baker was a healthy 28-year-old in her first year as a school district curriculum director. Despite waking up with a terrible headache, she was not going to miss work. She drove 50 minutes through winding country roads near her Illinois home to attend multiple meetings at different locations. Everything seemed fine until…Read More…

Dr. Syed Zaidi is a Stroke Neurologist for ProMedica Toledo Hospital and Associate professor of neurology at the University of Toledo, and a board member of the Greater Toledo American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. He testified in front of the Ohio Senate Health Committee on House Bill 431 on Wednesday, November 30th. House Bill 431…Read More…

As a mother of a young heart disease survivor, I am excited North Carolina lawmakers have the chance to pass the Smart Heart Act, which would help schools prepare to save lives during cardiac emergencies. My son Tyler is my personal reason for advocating for the Smart Heart Act. His journey all started with a…Read More…

This spring, I’ve been advocating with the American Heart Association in support of the Smart Heart Act to ensure every South Carolina school is equipped to save lives during cardiac emergencies. I want to share my personal reason for advocating its passage: my son, Jack Ismiel Alkhatib. Jack was born on December 6, 2003, and…Read More…

In April of 2021, while living in Washington State, my 26-year-old husband collapsed in our kitchen without warning. During his fall, he hit his head on the counter and ended up in a slouched position, wedged between our island and counters. When I dialed 911 and told the operator what had happened, she instructed me…Read More…

Tricia Schmitz (right) is pictured giving an interview at North Dakota Lobby Day 2025. One Empowered Heart Uniting Many   Interview and Written by:  Myriam Medina, Midwest From the age of eight, Tricia Schmitz faced unimaginable challenges. She experienced her first stroke on her eighth birthday, losing complete feeling on the left side of her…Read More…

Life can change in an instant. For Dawn Turnage of Columbus, Ohio, that instant came in the form of a stroke. After experiencing the terrifying reality of a stroke firsthand, she made a powerful decision: to transform their experience into a force for change. While recovering, Dawn realized the critical need for increased public awareness…Read More…

I am a stroke survivor. My life changed forever in my 40s, during what was supposed to be a joyful and exciting time. I was out of town—out of state, actually—traveling with my youngest daughter as she toured universities for the upcoming year. It was a trip full of hope and possibilities, a milestone in her life that I was so grateful to be a part of. It was our first girl trip without my husband, and we felt quite accomplished for not getting lost. That night, we went to bed feeling on top of the world, excited for the morning.Read More…

Tony Lindeman (right) is pictured with Cliff Rosenberger, who was speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives when House Bill 113 passed requiring CPR/AED training as a prerequisite for high school graduation in the state. (Courtesy of Tony Lindeman) Survivor-turned-advocate helps Ohio schools secure funding for CPR education By Tony Lindeman, Midwest In 2012, while…Read More…