Heather's Story: A Life of Performance and Perseverance

Born into a lively show business family, Heather’s passion for the stage was sparked early. Her mother, a theatre actress, and her father, an aspiring writer, nurtured her creative spirit. At seven, she captured hearts as a baby spider in her school’s production of Charlotte’s Web. This marked the beginning of a thriving career, from starring in Kentucky Fried Chicken commercials to lending her distinctive, throaty voice to Mattel’s Tomboy doll and Dino DeLaurentis’ The Shark Boy of Bora Bora. Her voice became a regular feature in radio and TV ads, captivating the advertising world.

At 18, Heather moved to New York City to train under the renowned acting coach Anthony Abeson. Her talent soon earned her the role of “Cat,” Sela Ward’s rebellious daughter, in the Emmy-winning NBC series Sisters. A year later, she joined Beverly Hills 90210 as the lively “Surfer Betty,” sharing the screen with Shannen Doherty, Luke Perry, and Jason Priestley.

After six successful years on Sisters, Heather sought further growth, enrolling in the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts summer program in England while celebrating the birth of her daughter, Dani. But life took a somber turn when her beloved father, whose grit and determination shaped her own, was diagnosed with Lewy Body dementia—a progressive, fatal disease. His passing deepened her appreciation for family, leading her to spend extended time in Europe with her husband and young daughters.

In early 2011, during the Aids Ride from San Francisco to L.A., Heather’s life took an enigmatic turn. She noticed an unsettling weakness in her limbs and a subtle loss of balance, forcing her to abandon the ride. Concerned, she sought answers, but the initial medical tests were inconclusive, wrapped in ambiguity. Specialists hinted at rare neurological conditions, yet no clear diagnosis emerged. After weeks of sleepless nights and a series of tests, a neurologist delivered a cryptic verdict: Spinocerebellar Degeneration, a rare, slowly progressing disorder affecting speech, balance, and gait, with no known cure. But the diagnosis carried an unsettling mystery—some symptoms didn’t fit perfectly, and a few doctors suggested an unknown factor, perhaps a unique variant or an undiscovered trigger, leaving Heather with more questions than answers.

Undeterred, Heather turned this mystery into a mission. She vowed to uncover the truths of her condition, raise awareness, and advocate for acceptance of Spinocerebellar Degeneration and all disabilities. Her journey, now tinged with the intrigue of an unresolved medical puzzle, reflects her father’s resilient spirit and her own determination to shed light on the unknown.

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