If I can help get the word out
Ten years ago my maternal grandmother had surgery to replace two of her heart valves. They told her then that she would live only another 10 years before she started to experience more problems. The doctor's prediction was right. Facing another surgery, she was told her age and health would complicate the risks of recovery after surgery, but her heart will be certain to fail within the next few years if she opted against it. This year on Valentine's Day (the one day of the year where we see more images of hearts than any other day), she underwent surgery and is recovering excellently. Doctors now say she has at least another 10 good years.

My mother has type 2 diabetes and was recently diagnosed with osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia. There is no cure for any of her diseases, only meds to ease the pain and slow the devastating effects. Sometimes the pain is so terrible, my mom can't even get out of bed. Her whole life she has always used meds modestly, even over the counter, because she was always worried about overuse and her body building a tolerance. Now, she's been working with her rheumatologist to concoct the perfect cocktail of narcotics and antidepressants to alleviate some of the pain while keeping the meds from raising her blood sugar too high. These days, instead of thinking about her retirement and what she wants to do to fulfill the rest of her life, she spends her days thinking about my future and hoping that she will have a few good years to enjoy with her future grandchildren.

I've seen firsthand how heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis have erased smiles from the faces of my family. Since coming to work here, I've had the opportunity to work on accounts that allow me to really research these diseases and understand them—understand what causes them and how to lower the risks of getting them. Every day I think about my risks of developing these diseases and I try to make the best decisions I can about my diet and exercise to avoid the same fate of my mother and grandmother. If I can help to get the word out and educate other families on prevention and treatment so that they can avoid the same pain I've seen, then maybe my family's experiences will at least have served a purpose.