05/19/2026
I want to share something personal.
On December 9, 2025, I underwent open-heart surgery at the age of 31.
Since birth, I’ve had a heart murmur. This led to the discovery of a bicuspid aortic valve. I never had symptoms, restrictions, or any reason to think much about it beyond yearly checkups to monitor my valve. But when COVID happened, those routine appointments were canceled because they weren’t considered emergency-based and life got busy.
Fast forward to starting my career with Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance. As I began truly learning the importance of life insurance and evaluating my own protection for my family, I realized I was underinsured and applied for additional coverage.
During the underwriting process, they noticed I hadn’t had a cardiac follow-up since before COVID and required an updated evaluation before approving the policy.
That follow-up changed everything.
After seeing the doctor, we learned I had a 3–4 month window to replace my aortic valve with open-heart surgery. The scariest part? I had absolutely no symptoms. No warning signs. Nothing that made me think something serious was wrong. I had just returned from a hunting trip to South Dakota where I hiked for four days. No issues.
In a matter of weeks, my family went from everyday life to preparing for major surgery. Thankfully, everything went well, and I’m incredibly grateful to now be on the road to recovery. The surgeon was in disbelief that I had no symptoms based on the condition of my valve. Let that sink in. At any moment, my heart could have given up.
This experience completely changed my perspective on life insurance and planning for the unexpected. Sometimes life insurance isn’t just about what happens after a loss. It can uncover issues before it’s too late and force conversations we often put off.
My biggest takeaway from all of this is don’t assume you’re fully protected, and don’t wait to review your coverage. Take the time to evaluate what your family truly needs. You never know how important that conversation could become.
Let’s discuss how we can protect what matters most. 765-652-0287.
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