Finding Purpose After Heart Surgery: Our Rock from the Heart Story

When my husband Pete was diagnosed with a life-threatening aortic aneurysm, our world shifted in an instant. We were blindsided, terrified, and left searching for answers in a sea of medical terms we didn’t yet understand. His successful open-heart surgery saved his life, but it also changed ours forever.

What we realized along the way was that heart disease—especially aortic and heart valve disease—is more common than most people think, and yet so many families feel isolated when facing it. We didn’t want anyone else to feel that way.

That’s why we founded Rock from the Heart—to educate, raise awareness, and build a supportive community for patients and families navigating these diagnoses. Through concerts, symposiums, heart health screenings, and sharing survivor stories, we’ve created something that not only honors Pete’s journey but offers hope and connection to others.

I’m proud to be part of this growing movement where music, education, and community come together to save lives.

If you or someone you love is living with aortic or heart valve disease, you’re not alone. You’re part of the Rock from the Heart family now.