When I was 18 years old I joined the Coast Guard with the intention of serving for over 20 years. After 2 years of enlistment, I decided to become a flight mechanic. Before I could go to flight school, I had to take a series of intense physical in order to ensure the Military that I would not be an asset in this life saving service. After the enlisted members found complications with taking my EKG, which had never happened to me prior, the flight officer on base gave my heart a quick exam and recommended I see a Cardiologist. 4 months, 3 heart specialists, and one heart surgeon later, I found myself in an operating room. When I was 20 years old, I got diagnosed with a bicuspid aortic valve that required immediate surgery. I had my surgery shortly after my 21st birthday. After my valve replacement, I found a passion for running. The journey of going from not being able to run a quarter of a mile, to where I am now with running a Marathon is what truly brought me to falling in love with the running. Running the NYC Marathon for the Children's Heart Foundation is a dream of mine!