Built from love.
Driven by purpose.

My daughter was diagnosed with congenital heart disease as a newborn — a similar version to my condition but more severe, which led to her first open heart surgery at the age of 3. Holding her little hand as the nurses prepared her for surgery was the most terrifying experience imaginable in the moment. The uncertainty weighed on my shoulders like the weight of the world. That weight caused many laps around the halls of the Cleveland Clinic trying to process the events of our short journey to date.

While processing these thoughts I walked past portraits of past donors to the clinic. An overwhelming sense of gratitude is what resulted. Without selfless people who came before us we would not have the opportunity to continue our journey. Just when I thought the weight of uncertainty was ultimate, gratitude stepped in. I felt as though we owed everything to them. All the memories, opportunities and life to come is a direct result of their efforts.

As our journey continued we had many years of highs, making joyous memories with our family. All the while uncertainty still weighed. That uncertainty became real once again in 2010 when we were told another surgery was required.

This time we traveled out of state to Mott’s Children Hospital. This required a short stay in housing affiliated with the hospital while she received her treatment. Again here I was in a situation that was possible through donors. Selfless people before me allowing our journey to continue. Suddenly gratitude was again on top.

What followed were many more years of joyful memories. As our path twisted through life we found ourselves talking about the future. A future shaped by the past. “Change the world” became our motto.

My daughter graduated high school and chose to go into nursing school. As her journey progressed through nursing she decided on pediatric oncology. Changing the world every day with her resilience and gentle care for her patients. All formed by her prior journey.

As her nursing journey was beginning my mother’s journey through life came to an end. She also had congenital heart disease which directly impacted her battle with cancer. As our family processed these events my father’s journey came to a sudden end from a cardiac event. Again uncertainty weighed heavily. What came next were several years of grief.

As we began to process the events that had occurred prior in our journey another turn came. My father-in-law was diagnosed with cancer for the second time. His journey came to an end after a fierce battle with this disease. That familiar weight of uncertainty pressing down — only to take a backseat to grief. Grief had become heavier than uncertainty and certainly more than gratitude.

As this new weight pressed down upon us our journey through life slowly started to turn direction. The memories of our prior journey guiding the way. It’s in those memories that gratitude rose to the top once again.

This feeling of gratitude was different from before. As before I held strangers’ selfless acts in reverence. This time I knew and loved the people who came before me to give us the opportunities in the future. This became the heaviest weight to bear — how do you show gratitude to those who aren’t in this world? It took some time to figure this out but the answer is simple: “Change the World” in their honor.

The Susan Ann Foundation was created to do just that — change the world through fundraising for medical advancement to combat the diseases that have impacted our journey. What began as a journey filled with uncertainty, fear, loss, and grief also blossomed with love, joy, and gratitude. All of which shaped us into who we are today. Join us in our journey to honor all the selfless people who came before us.

What began as a way to honor my grandmother's legacy, has grown into a mission to support crucial medical research which helps families facing the same battles that so many others have endured. Being part of this foundation means carrying forward her compassion, strength, and spirit while working toward a healthier future for others.

As someone whose life has depended on medical advancements, funding for research is non-negotiable. Since birth, I have lived with congenital heart disease. While my life has been forever shaped by it, continued research, treatment, and education have made living with CHD more manageable and given me opportunities that might not have existed otherwise.

From a young age, these experiences inspired me to pursue a career in medicine so I could help children like me. After years of studying and a deep passion for making a difference, I became a pediatric oncology nurse.

Working as a pediatric oncology nurse has changed my life in ways I never could have imagined. Every day I care for children who show incredible courage in the face of cancer, and I witness the strength and resilience of their families during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.

These experiences have given me a powerful perspective on how urgent the need is for childhood cancer research. Behind every statistic is a child with dreams, a family holding onto hope, and a community that wants to see them grow up healthy and strong. Being part of their journey has strengthened my commitment to supporting research and advocacy that can lead to better treatments and, ultimately, cures.

It is truly an honor to be involved in a foundation that both honors my grandmother's legacy and supports causes that are so close to my heart.