Before Kimzie Paige ever learned the difference, she learned what it meant to fight.
Born with a congenital heart defect and diagnosed with premature atrial contractions (PACs) at birth, her journey began with doctors, monitors, and uncertainty. Just two weeks later, that journey became even more challenging when she was diagnosed with infant apnea.
Most people would expect a child with those beginnings to grow up afraid.
Instead… She became fearless. While her congenital heart defect became part of her story… The ocean became part of her soul. From the time she was a little girl, Kimzie found herself drawn to the ocean. She searched for shark teeth, played in the waves for hours, and became fascinated by the incredible animals most people feared.
Where others saw danger… She saw beauty. Where others saw predators… She saw misunderstood protectors of our oceans. That fascination became a lifelong passion.
Today, Kimzie is an Advanced Open Water scuba diver with certifications in Deep Diving, Night Diving, Altitude Diving, Enriched Air (Nitrox), and Search and Recovery.
She is pursuing a degree in Marine Biology at Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi, dedicating her future to shark conservation and ocean education.
Yet what makes her story extraordinary isn’t simply where she dives.
It’s how she feels when she’s there. For Kimzie, the ocean is more than water.
It is peace. It is freedom. It is the place where the diagnosis fades into the background. She often describes diving as the one place where she feels completely at home—as though the water gently quiets the noise of the world.
While we cannot explain every feeling scientifically, Kimzie uses less air than other divers Her heart rate is so slow she goes undetected by shark, and feels as if they accept her presence without fear—and in those moments, she is reminded that her heart defect is not a limitation but a beautiful gift. That feeling changed her life.
She saw something no one else saw. She realized the same animal the world fears…
could become a symbol of hope. Not because sharks are fearless. But because they are resilient. They keep moving forward. They adapt. They survive.
From those questions… Making Waves Foundation was born.
Our mission is to inspire children living with congenital heart defects by connecting their healing journey with the resilience of sharks while advancing shark conservation, scientific research, and public awareness. Through our Shark Warrior Program, every child will receive a plush shark companion, access to follow a real satellite-tagged shark, and a Shark Warrior Journal filled with encouragement, education, and activities designed to help them navigate their healing journey. Each species of shark represents a unique quality—strength, resilience, adaptability, courage, awareness, or perseverance—reminding every child that they, too, possess extraordinary qualities within themselves. At the same time, every tagged shark helps advance scientific research, conservation efforts, public education, and a greater understanding of these remarkable animals that are so essential to the health of our oceans. One journey protects a shark. One journey encourages a child. Together, they create something far greater than either could alone. Today, we invite you to become part of that story. Your partnership is more than a donation. It is an investment in a vision that transforms fear into fascination, uncertainty into hope, and challenges into purpose. Together, we can protect our oceans. Together, we can encourage children living with congenital heart defects. Together, we can inspire future marine biologists, conservationists, and Shark Warriors. Most importantly… Together, we can prove that even the smallest ripple has the power to become a wave. Thank you for believing in our mission and for considering becoming one of the founding partners of Making Waves Foundation.
With gratitude,
Making Waves Foundation
Join Us
Help Our Cause
Your support and contributions will enable us to meet our goals and fund our mission.