As a young, healthy University of Kentucky sophomore and dance team member, Regan Judd couldn’t have imagined herself becoming a heart survivor and advocate for the American Heart Association. She was just beginning her dance season, but felt as if something just wasn’t right. Of course at her age, she assumed she was just a little winded and continued to push through her strenuous practices. It wasn’t until her parents finally convinced her to see a doctor that Regan’s life was changed: she was diagnosed with a rare congenital heart condition, Ebstein’s Anomaly, that would require open heart surgery.


Just four months after surgery, Regan returned to dancing and soon after, became involved in her local Heart Walk. It wasn’t until this spring that she also began sharing her story with other You’re the Cure advocates and Kentucky lawmakers. Regan’s first experience with AHA advocacy was this past February at Kentucky Advocacy Day, where she spoke at a rally and press event in support of heart-healthy policies. Just a couple of months later, Regan and her mother, Sherri, joined 322 advocates and AHA staff in Washington, D.C. for Congressional Lobby Day. On Capitol Hill, she met with Kentucky lawmakers and their legislative staff members to explain that heart disease affects Kentuckians of all ages and that, if not for ongoing research funding, the technology and surgery that saved her life wouldn’t have existed.

In just a few short months, Regan has become a superstar Kentucky advocate, an integral part of our policy efforts, and has even helped us kick off a You’re the Cure college-age-and-beyond pilot, “Next Generation.” We thank Regan for sharing her passion and her story and we look forward to continuing to work with her to improve heart-health in the Bluegrass State and beyond.