A little over a year ago, my life changed in a way I could never have anticipated. I was 45 minutes into one of my favorite workout classes when suddenly, my right eye went completely dark. One moment I was pushing through another set, and the next, I couldn’t see a thing out of half my vision. Panic flooded in. I remember leaving class, drinking some water, and trying to convince myself it was nothing serious. But deep down, I knew something was wrong. I called a Lyft and went straight to my eye doctor. That decision turned out to be one of the most important of my life.

Within days, I was diagnosed with something called a Central Retinal Vein Occlusion (CRVO)—essentially a blood clot in the main vein of my eye. It clouded my vision for months, and even today, I have about 95% of it back. Doctors told me that level of recovery was rare. But what really changed my life wasn’t the CRVO itself. It was what the testing around it revealed—a hole in my heart, medically known as a Patent Foramen Ovale, or PFO.

In this post (and in the YouTube video linked here and podcast episode linked here) I share how finding out I had a hole in my heart completely changed how I live my life.

Discovering I Had a Hole in My Heart

The discovery of my PFO came after months of tests and countless appointments with cardiologists, ophthalmologists, and my primary doctor. At first, I couldn’t wrap my head around it. I’d always been healthy. I was training for my first 100K ultramarathon at the time and had already completed multiple 50Ks and a 50-mile race. How could I have a hole in my heart and not know?

For those unfamiliar, a PFO is a small opening between the right and left atria of the heart—a flap that’s supposed to close after birth when we start breathing air. For about 20 to 25 percent of people, it never completely seals. Most people go their whole lives without realizing they have one. But for some, especially athletes or those with clotting issues, it can pose serious risks.

When my cardiologist first explained it to me, I was terrified. I thought my running career might be over. I imagined giving up the thing that has always given me purpose and clarity—running. I remember lying in bed that night replaying my doctor’s words over and over: “You might not be able to race again.” That hit me harder than I expected. I had been defying limitations since I was a kid with asthma, and now I was being told I might not be able to do the one thing that made me feel alive.

Understanding the PFO and What It Means for Me

After more consultations with some of the top specialists in the country, I learned that my PFO wasn’t large enough to require surgery but was still something to monitor closely. It wasn’t what caused my CRVO, but it could lead to complications in the future if ignored. That realization changed everything about how I approach my health.

I’ve always been disciplined when it comes to training and nutrition, but this diagnosis added a new layer of awareness. I started tracking my heart rate variability (HRV) daily and doing yearly ultrasounds on my heart to make sure the PFO wasn’t enlarging. These markers became as important to me as my weekly mileage or my resting heart rate.

As athletes, we love to test limits, to see how far the human body can go. But the truth is, if we don’t understand what’s happening inside our bodies, we’re running blind. My PFO taught me that performance isn’t just about grit and training volume—it’s about balance, recovery, and awareness. Every heartbeat matters.

Adapting My Lifestyle: Monitoring, Rest, and Technology

After the diagnosis, I became more intentional about how I train. I wear a smartwatch for every solo workout, not just to measure my pace or distance but to keep a close eye on my heart rate zones. My watch is set up to detect falls and even alert my fiancée or emergency services if something happens. It’s not a perfect system, but it gives me peace of mind.

I also pay close attention to my recovery metrics. Sleep, stress, and nutrition aren’t afterthoughts anymore—they’re non-negotiables. If I feel tired, I rest. If my HRV is low, I take it seriously. Stress management has become one of the most powerful tools in my health routine. Chronic stress affects the cardiovascular system in ways many people underestimate. It can raise blood pressure, thicken blood, and make recovery nearly impossible.

To lower my stress, I’ve learned to simplify my life where I can. I go to bed earlier, limit late-night screen time, and build space into my day for breathwork and yoga. These may sound like small changes, but they have a compounding effect over time.

Why I Quit Drinking Alcohol

Another major shift I made after finding out about my PFO was giving up alcohol. At first, it was a temporary experiment. I told myself I’d quit for a month to see how my body responded. That month turned into fourteen. When I finally did have a drink again, it felt… off. My energy dipped, my recovery slowed, and my sleep quality tanked.

Over the past 16 months, I’ve had alcohol only a few times, and each time reinforced my belief that it’s not worth it. I love beer, but what I love even more is feeling my best. That’s why I switched to non-alcoholic (NA) beer. It allows me to enjoy the ritual without sacrificing my health.

Cutting alcohol was like discovering a hidden cheat code for longevity. My HRV improved, my resting heart rate dropped, and my mental clarity went through the roof. I’m not here to tell anyone else what to do, but if you’re serious about your health—especially heart health—removing alcohol is one of the easiest ways to feel better fast.

Learning to Manage Stress and Rest Intentionally

Before my diagnosis, I thought stress was something you just powered through. I was wrong. Stress, especially chronic stress, is a silent killer. When you live in a constant state of pressure, your body never gets the chance to recover. That’s why rest has become just as important to me as training.

I’ve learned that “rest” doesn’t just mean taking a day off from running. It means creating space to decompress mentally and emotionally. Sometimes that’s meditation, sometimes yoga, and sometimes it’s just walking outside with my dog, Sniktau, without a goal in mind. The more I respect rest, the stronger I become.

The irony is that slowing down actually makes me faster. When I train less reactively and more consciously, I perform better, stay injury-free, and recover faster. That’s not luck—that’s physiology. The body rewards balance.

Turning Pain into Purpose

The day I was told I might never run again was one of the hardest days of my life. But looking back, it was also one of the most important. That moment forced me to reflect on what really matters. My love for running isn’t just about competition—it’s about connection. It’s about inspiring others who have been told they can’t, just like I was told as a kid with asthma.

I’m not just running for medals or records anymore. I’m running to show what’s possible when you focus on progress, not perfection. Every time I lace up my shoes, I think about the people out there living with limitations—whether physical, emotional, or medical—who need to see that those limits can be transcended.

The Bigger Picture

Finding out I had a hole in my heart changed everything. It reshaped my priorities, redefined my relationship with my body, and reminded me that health isn’t something you earn once and keep forever—it’s something you cultivate every day.

Today, I’m more grateful, more present, and more intentional than ever before. My PFO isn’t a setback; it’s a reminder. It reminds me to take care of myself so I can continue to do what I love and help others do the same.

If you take anything from my story, let it be this: don’t wait for a health scare to start paying attention to your body. Get your heart checked. Manage your stress. Prioritize rest. And above all, keep moving forward—because every step, every breath, and every heartbeat counts.

DISCLAIMER: THIS INFORMATION IS MY OPINION AND IS NOT INTENDED TO BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER. PLEASE CONSULT A HEALTHCARE PROVIDER FOR GUIDANCE SPECIFIC TO YOUR CASE.