06/16/2026
As Annalise Castro sat in the hospital waiting room during her fiancé’s heart transplant, she felt a spark of motivation to turn their circumstances into something that could help others.
“I felt moved to do something more,” she shared. “People across the country were following his journey, and some told us it pushed them to finally prioritize their health.”
Just days before landing in the emergency room, Austin had been out on the golf course. His elevated resting heart rate was the only noticeable symptom, and at 23 years old, heart failure was the last thing he expected. Trusting his instincts, he went to the hospital and received a heart failure diagnosis.
“Watching him face each procedure, spend countless nights in the hospital, and adjust to a new normal inspired me to advocate for heart health,” she said. “Every year on his heart anniversary, I’m reminded of how far he’s come and why our work at the Association matters.”
Now, three years later, Annalise uses their experience to motivate her work as our Development Director in Las Vegas, and Austin is back on the golf course, thriving. By connecting with survivors and supporting lifesaving research across the country, Annalise has built a career helping others, just as she hoped that day in the waiting room.
