Advocate Spotlight: The Story of Tricia Schmitz
Tricia Schmitz (right) is pictured giving an interview at North Dakota Lobby Day 2025.
One Empowered Heart Uniting Many
Interview and Written by: Myriam Medina, Midwest
From the age of eight, Tricia Schmitz faced unimaginable challenges. She experienced her first stroke on her eighth birthday, losing complete feeling on the left side of her body. Even though she was taken to the hospital, doctors couldn’t pinpoint the cause. This marked the beginning of a long journey filled with uncertainty which showed Tricia’s amazing sense of resiliency.
In middle school, during an eighth-grade basketball game, she recognized the familiar signs of another stroke. Once again, she was flown to the Mayo Clinic, but the cause remained elusive. Numerous follow-up appointments ensued, each one a step in her family’s pursuit for answers.
The summer after her freshman year brought a third, milder stroke. This time, a diagnosis was finally made: a tumor, discovered ten years and one month after her first stroke. This revelation, though daunting, became a turning point in her life.
A Make-A-Wish event introduced her to a world of possibilities. Conversations with the event organizers ignited a spark within her to transform her experiences into something meaningful. She connected with Tony Burke at the American Heart Association, and he asked her to join the North Dakota State Advocacy and Engagement Committee as a youth member. This became her gateway into the world of advocacy.
Balancing her senior year of high school with work, competition speech, student council, and the National Honor Society, she’s found a calling in advocacy. A memorable moment came when she participated in the American Heart Association’s You’re the Cure day at the capitol. Speaking face-to-face with legislators, she shared her experiences and advocated for necessary changes. Despite differing opinions, her presence made an impact, and she forged close relationships with her legislators.
Her advocacy work has been empowering and encouraging, shaping her aspirations for a career in law. She has used her experience to advocate for cardiac emergency response plans in schools, sharing her story with coaches, and administrators to ensure others are better prepared.
Through her journey, she has demonstrated the profound impact of advocacy. Her story is a testament to the power of turning personal challenges into a force for the greater good. One heart, uniting many, she continues to inspire and drive change, proving that even the most daunting obstacles can be overcome with determination and a commitment to advocacy.