My sister Lisa passed away from heart failure in 2001. I felt called to get this Chinese character (see photo) tattooed over my heart to honor her. I sought out elders in Chinatown, who spent weeks in consultation over which characters would best serve her memory.

The three characters together mean “Oldest sister’s spirit lives on within me.” I believe Lisa lives in my heart, protecting me as a guardian angel. That’s why I chose this location for the tattoo.

Twenty-five years later, it still serves as the miracle I am a witness to today, which I will share later in this story.

Earlier this year, in January, my niece Angelique underwent a second open-heart surgery. Tragically, she never recovered and passed away a month later at the age of forty-two. I always referred to her as “Angel.” As Lisa’s daughter, she was one of my strongest connections to my sister’s memory.

While spending time with Angel in the Cardiac ICU, I couldn’t help but think about my own family’s history with heart disease. I lost Lisa when she was only forty-one. Two of my cousins faced serious heart emergencies in their forties. Two uncles suffered multiple heart conditions before eventually passing. My half-brother Brian died of a heart attack at just thirty-four while serving as a federal marshal. And now, my niece. Being in this ward, seeing patients my age fighting similar conditions really hit home.

Personally, I have never had any symptoms or reason to believe my heart health was in question. I have always maintained a pretty healthy lifestyle through my lifelong commitment to the martial arts.

But it really made me think. Could genetics be impacting my heart without my knowing? I know these things can be hereditary. I believe God had put this in front of me at this time of my life for a reason. I decided to walk by faith and see if something was going on.

I spoke with my doctor about my family’s heart history. She suggested a physical and bloodwork. Everything was good except my cholesterol, LDL, and triglycerides were slightly elevated. A genetic cholesterol test, Lipoprotein A, was also above normal.

I tightened up my diet and workouts, and within six weeks dropped fifteen pounds and dialed all my numbers back in. A second round of bloodwork came back better than normal, and my doctor was impressed. I strategically shared that, as a business owner, I live by data because it provides a true picture of a business’s health. In this case, it was my own that defined the numbers.

However, my genetic cholesterol test had only dropped by two points. My doctor indicated that this was hereditary. At first, I felt defeated because I had done the work to get my numbers in order. That gave way to acceptance, and I bravely moved forward.

The next step was to do a CT Heart Scan to determine if I had any plaque buildup. The results showed potential blockages.

After this finding, a battery of tests was administered, culminating in cardiac catheterization, during which they injected dye into my heart to take pictures and videos.

After the procedure, while in recovery, I received the definitive diagnosis; I have multiple blockages, which will require open-heart surgery, also known as a quadruple bypass. I am grateful to my firstborn, Brannon, for being there to help me carry the weight of this unexpected news.

I would have never gone down this path because I have zero symptoms. I feel that, from the moment I was in the ICU with Angel, God has been guiding me. Some might call it “Divine intervention.”

I don’t even want to imagine what might have happened if this had gone unchecked. The thought of a heart attack, a stroke, or not being here for my family and the people I care about is a humble reminder that health is wealth and that life is so precious.

Now, the miracle. Despite the plaque buildup, an ultrasound showed I have strong heart function and stable blood flow. I thank God for this hopeful prognosis. Maybe Lisa truly does live inside me, and all her love has kept my heart intact for this moment.

I have had consultations with multiple doctors, including the surgeon who will perform the procedure on August 4th, and I am at peace. They all concur that this is the best plan of action. The doctor says, “I will have new plumbing,” and can preserve my healthy heart for many years to come. The idea of living “Well” into my old age is very inspiring.

I know recovery will not be easy, but as I always say, “Hard is not always a bad thing.” I will be patient and kind with myself during the healing process. I will be grateful this was discovered early and corrected.

As I share what I am going through with my friends and family, the most common response I get is, “If there is anything you need, just let me know.” I have had some time to reflect on this, and here are my heartfelt asks:

Love more.
Forgive faster.
Be grateful.
Stay connected.
Live your purpose.
Have faith.

Lastly, I humbly ask for your prayers for the best possible outcome and recovery. With God’s love and mercy, I will soon be back to living my best life, for myself, for my family, my friends, and the community I am humbled to serve.

I love and appreciate each and every one of you.