I’m a mom, Just your typical, hair braiding, book reading, dinner cooking mom. I have 4 children (Emmersyn, Ian, John and Cecilia)whom I love fiercely. But there’s something about me that might make me different (or not so different) from other mothers. I have lost a child. And I’ve had to handle that all while being diagnosed with mental illness. When considering my genetics and life experience, it would be virtually impossible not to. I’ve been through a lot of trauma, most recently (and most impactfully) I have lost my middle son, Ian, in November 2020, of a seizure. Ian suffered a non-fatal drowning at 2 years old in 2017, which left him with a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) and he was unable to walk, talk, eat and aquired epilepsy and cerebal palsy. I’ve basically done everything there is to do revolving around disabilities. First and foremost, I’m a special needs parent, but I’ve also worked in direct care, as a case manager, and as a special education teacher. And I’ve done all this successfully (with struggles, mind you) all while dealing with mental illness since I’ve been 20 years old. Are you ready for my laudry list of diagnosis ?(mind you, I’m in recovery from some) Major depressive disorder, PTSD, Generalized anxiety disorder, bulimia, alcoholism, and post-partum depression. Fell better about yourself yet? My definitive trauma results from living through 5 (yikes) concrete traumatic experiences, which also results in complex trauma. I use these experiences to make me a better person. To have empathy for those around me, to understand life and how to treat others with kindness and grace. I do a lot ( I mean everything under the sun) to keep my mental illness in check.

I have a BS in Human Services/Child and Family Studies from SUNY Empire State University; a teaching certification (FL) for ESE (Exceptional Student Education) K-12 & General Education PK-3; and am a QMRP (Qualified Mental Retardation Professional) /QIDP (Qualified Intellectual Disorder Professional)

I have a wonderful husband, Brett, and we have been together (and through a lot!) since 2005. I’m orginally from Rochester and New York, NY and currently reside in Sarasota, FL