Heart surgery was the beginning. Getting back to living was the next step.
When my father underwent heart surgery, our family was fortunate to have an exceptional cardiac surgeon and a medical team we trusted. We knew he was receiving outstanding care for his heart.
But the experience helped me see something more clearly: how much support a person—and their family—needs before and after the procedure.
As a physical therapist, I understood the importance of recovery. As a daughter, I understood how uncertain it could feel.
My father was also managing a chronic health condition. There were medications to keep track of, the surgeon’s instructions to follow, and questions about how much physical activity was appropriate. Everyday decisions suddenly carried more weight. How much walking was enough? What was safe to attempt? How could we encourage movement without pushing too far?
We wanted more than a successful surgery. We wanted him to feel confident moving through his home, returning to his routines, and doing the things that made him feel like himself.
That experience became the inspiration for Nurtura.
It showed me the importance of preparing families for recovery before surgery—and providing practical, personalized guidance afterward. Clear medical instructions are essential. So is helping someone understand what those instructions mean for their everyday life.
For me, that is where physical therapy has a deeply meaningful role: helping people rebuild strength, mobility, and trust in their bodies, so that fear does not become the reason they stop doing the things they love.
I founded Nurtura to bring that focus to cardiac recovery. Our approach starts with the person: their health history, their medical team’s guidance, their home environment, and the activities they want to return to. We work alongside their physicians and rehabilitation team, with physical therapy focused on everyday function and growing confidence.
The goal is not simply to do more exercises. It is to walk to the mailbox with greater confidence. To navigate the stairs at home. To join a family outing. To feel more capable and independent in daily life.
My father’s experience made this mission personal. Nurtura is built around the kind of support I wanted for him: clinically thoughtful, reassuring, and connected to the life he wanted to get back to.
Because caring for the heart is essential. Helping the person get back to living matters, too.