Bio
In 2014, at the age of 26, I was diagnosed with viral cardiomyopathy and implanted with a left ventricular assist device (LVAD). After several months and no improvement to my heart function, I was placed on the transplant waiting list. A year and a half after my diagnosis, on October 16, 2015, I received my life-saving heart transplant at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh!
Advocacy Experience
Six months after my transplant, knowing I wanted to give back to the cause that saved my life, I started a nonprofit called Second Chance Fundraising and also began volunteering with my local OPO, the Center for Organ Recovery and Education (CORE). Since that time Second Chance Fundraising has raised over $100,000 through various fundraising channels to support such initiatives as transplant support groups, awareness video campaigns, college campus advocacy challenges, public awareness events, medical support, and college scholarships. In 2020 I was honored to receive the Donate Life America Volunteer Service Award for this work, a true honor to my donor!
Advocacy Interests
Throughout my advocacy I’ve always tried to make it fun and interactive to catch people’s attention. Hence our nonprofit’s mascot, Pumper the Heart! Our core mission is and always will be to influence more people to make the pledge for life and register as organ and tissue donors!
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