When Kennedy was only six years old, she was diagnosed with a heart defect that required open-heart surgery. Her mom brought her to AdventHealth for Children, where doctors guided Kennedy and her family through every step of the surgery. Kennedy was a superstar during the entire procedure and recovered in just a few days. Soon after Kennedy underwent surgery, she connected with an unlikely friend who was going through a similar experience. Her Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Honor, had a heart attack and was taken to AdventHealth for cardiac bypass surgery. When Kennedy returned to school, she ran up to Mrs. Honor with a huge hug. With matching heart scars, Kennedy and Mrs. Honor bonded over their journeys, calling each other their heart-twins. As Kennedy learns more about her heart defect and advocates for others with congenital heart disease, she has a strong role model in Mrs. Honor, who understands what she’s been through.