Quinton Aaron of "The Blind Side" aims to be an inspirational story of his own

Photo courtesy of Quinton Aaron

Quinton Aaron of "The Blind Side" aims to be an inspirational story of his own

By Michael Merschel

Quinton Aaron knows the power of a success story featuring a talented young man and a mother figure who helps him beat the odds. Those elements helped make the 2009 film "The Blind Side," which he starred in alongside Sandra Bullock, a blockbuster.

That film was about football star Michael Oher, but Quinton's life has its own Hollywood-worthy arc: A sudden rise to fame. The loss of the mother who guided him. A descent into despair. A diagnosis of the same heart condition she'd had.

And then – guided by other strong women in his family – a determination to not become a tragic figure.

"'The Blind Side' was based on someone else's story," said his cousin, Monique McGoogan-Sabage. "But Quinton has an incredible story of his own."

Read the full story at American Heart Association

Learn more about cardiology at Westchester Medical Center