I believe that other than your love, your labor is the greatest gift you can give. I've twice been the recipient of Ellen's labor, and my family and I are eternally in her debt. Last year, I lost my best friend to an unexpected heart condition. It set in motion my current heart-healthy journey. Following my loss, I received the news that I had 90-99% blockage in four areas of my LAD artery. As a 52-year-old father of a 10-year-old, this terrified me.

While processing my new life with four stents, I was prescribed cardiac rehab. It is impossible to describe the darkness and decision paralysis that comes with changing your life in your 50s following a health scare. What I can tell you is that Ellen was, and remains, a beacon of light through that darkness. With her help, I've learned to trust my body again, enjoy eating better, and remain active. Her motivation and belief in me when I was unable to believe in myself have been pivotal in my recovery. She has created a community of cardiac rehab patients who are now thriving post-diagnosis. A community of which I am a proud member.

While I will never celebrate having Coronary Artery Disease, I am grateful to Ellen's compassion, experience, pragmatism, and empathy in helping me find the courage to navigate this diagnosis. On behalf of my family, I cannot recommend this award, or any other, more wholeheartedly.