"A Heartfelt Mission"
I have been blessed by a strong, supportive family who has instilled in me a great sense of integrity and responsibility, preparing me for every adventure life has brought to me. I am so humbled by their unconditional love. Their strength and resolve is unparalleled, even in the face of our nation's greatest epidemic of heart disease and stroke.  I was just a young girl when my paternal grandmother suffered her stroke, robbing her of her ability to speak and move easily for the last 7 years of her life.  It felt incredibly unfair that she had to suffer in silence. My world was further devastated when my father had to have multiple heart procedures.  Nothing shook me more than seeing my hero, my fun-loving, adored father laying on a hospital gurney in obvious pain.  My passion in life is seeking to prevent cardiovascular diseases and stroke so that no other family has to be impacted in the same way.  Unfortunately, the American Heart Association tells us that fewer than 1% of Americans have achieved ideal heart-health.  This is an incredible call-to-action, and the reason I am working hard to highlight the Life Simple 7 guide to encourage Americans on a path toward improved health.  Now, with the generous love and guidance of my husband, we are united in our goal to support everyone in their quest for healthy hearts! I'm deeply grateful for his support, and for the honor of working with the Mrs. America Organization as Mrs. New Jersey America 2012, to bring attention to this vital mission of the American Heart Association.