Meet Jamie: A Young Heart Warrior With a Big Mission

Jamie loves soccer, science, family time, good food, and playing with friends. Favorite color? Blue. The youngest of three, Jamie has two older sisters and a cat named Bailey, who loves curling up with the family at night.

But there is something else that makes Jamie’s story especially meaningful.

Jamie is one of the American Heart Association’s National Youth Heart Ambassadors for the 2026–2027 school year, sharing a personal journey to inspire other kids and families to learn about heart health.

An Unexpected Discovery

When Jamie was 6, a free EKG at a local public screening revealed something unexpected. Although Jamie felt perfectly fine, doctors discovered an atrial septal defect (ASD)—a hole in the heart that required surgery.

An ASD is a type of congenital heart defect (CHD). CHDs are the most common type of birth defect in the United States, affecting about 40,000 babies each year.

A year later, Jamie was also diagnosed with supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), a condition that can cause the heart to beat very quickly, and underwent a procedure called an ablation.

“At first, I felt scared because I didn’t understand what was happening. But my family and doctors helped me feel safe and brave.”

Back to Being a Kid

Today, Jamie is doing great. After a recent cardiology checkup, there are no activity restrictions—which means plenty of soccer, running, outdoor play, and time with friends.

“I can run, play, and do all the things I love,” Jamie says. “I feel strong and happy to be healthy.”

Turning a Journey Into a Mission

The American Heart Association works to improve heart and brain health through research, education, and programs that encourage healthy habits and teach lifesaving skills.

Through programs such as the Kids Heart Challenge, students can get active, learn about heart health, and help others. Youth Heart Ambassadors bring that mission to life by sharing their experiences and encouraging other kids to make healthy choices.

For Jamie, that mission has become personal.

The experience has inspired a big dream: becoming a cardiologist and helping other children with heart conditions.

“I hope my story can help other families learn about heart problems and maybe even help save someone’s life,” Jamie says.

And if Jamie could choose any superpower? Teleportation—so it would be possible to visit kids who need heart care.

For this young heart warrior, helping others may already be the greatest superpower of all.