Jacob Guerrero (seen here with his mother Felicia and Celebrity Apprentice's Starr Jones) was born with a condition that caused his heart to beat abnormally. According to Felicia, who works for a cardiology group in Toledo and volunteers for her local American Heart Association division, he was relatively “normal” for his first 4 years of life. “After that, he started to have episodes and his heart would start beating faster than it should,” said Felicia.


At the age of 7, Jacob had surgery to undergo a procedure called “pathway ablation” that would correct his rapid heart rate and hopefully permanently “cure” his heart problem. He is now a completely healthy 12 year old with a passion for the work of the American Heart Association, participating in his school’s Jump Rope and Hoops for Heart programs every year. His most recent accomplishment, however, was joining over 300 other You’re the Cure advocates April 11th and 12th in Washington, D.C. for AHA’s Congressional Lobby Day.

Jacob was chosen to be a youth advocate and spokesperson at this year’s Congressional Lobby Day because of his devotion to the American Heart Association and his passion for the cause. He has become so passionate, in fact, that the quiet middle school student even participated in an interview with a local television station prior to his trip and then joined other youth advocates for radio interviews while in D.C.

Jacob and Felicia were outstanding advocates at Congressional Lobby Day, speaking to Ohio lawmakers on many heart-health issues, including improved school nutrition and the FIT Kids Act. “Watching Jacob go through the AHA Youth Training and then to see him quickly apply that information was great,” said Ohio Government Relations Director, Cresha Auck Foley. “It was even more inspiring to watch him truly learn to use his voice in meetings. After a great first time experience, I know he is a future advocate of the year!”

We thank Felicia and Jacob for taking time away from work and school to join us in Washington, D.C., and we look forward to working with them for years to come!