Brandy Harp

A Mother’s Mission to Save Lives and Strengthen Communities

Brandy Harp knows how suddenly heart disease can change a family’s life. She was in college when her grandfather passed away from a heart attack, an unexpected loss that made her realize the importance of being proactive about heart health. Years later, that understanding became even more pivotal when her newborn son was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect.

That moment—sitting in a doctor’s office, hearing the diagnosis—was one of the scariest of her life. But thanks to early detection and advancements in treatment, her son is now a thriving 16-year-old. Brandy’s experience, both as a granddaughter and a mother, has fueled her passion for ensuring that every family facing heart disease has access to the knowledge, resources and care they need.

“When my son was born with a leaky heart valve, it became even more important to be proactive about heart health,” Brandy says. “That fear of the unknown — it’s something no parent should have to go through alone.”

As a local American Heart Association board member in Little Rock and the 2023 chair of the Little Rock Heart Ball, Brandy has dedicated herself to raising awareness and funding for lifesaving research. She’s also a passionate advocate for CPR training, recognizing its power to save lives in critical moments. Today, more than 23,000 children experience cardiac arrest outside of the hospital each year, and nearly 20% are infants. As a mother to a child with a heart condition, she wanted to be sure she knew CPR before she was in a situation where it was needed and became CPR certified. Brandy has also worked with the AHA to provide CPR kits to local schools, ensuring students and teachers have the training they need to respond in an emergency.

“When you learn CPR, you aren’t just championing heart health, you are making a difference in your community,” she said.

Her advocacy has also helped drive change at the state level. Thanks to efforts like hers, Arkansas now requires CPR certification as a high school graduation requirement—something Brandy considers a major milestone in the fight against heart disease. But for her, this is just the beginning.

“We still have a ways to go, but I’m incredibly proud and thankful for the progress we’ve achieved,” she said. “It makes me want to keep going and do even more.”

Through her giving, leadership and advocacy, Brandy is making sure more families have hope, more students have the skills to save lives, and more communities are prepared to fight heart disease.

“We’re blessed, and we want to give back and make a positive difference,” she said.

And thanks to her generosity, that difference is being felt every day.