Our daughter was the perfect completion of our family. The first three and a half years of her life were filled with joy: learning how to ride her bike, starting dance lessons, and playing with her two older brothers. We were shocked when she began having seizures, especially when they could not be contained with multiple maximum-dose anti-seizure medications. She was diagnosed with Rasmussen’s encephalitis.

All of her seizures were coming from her left side, and the only cure was a hemispherectomy. That surgery saved her life and gave us our amazing daughter back. She made it almost eight years seizure-free, then began having seizures again, which are currently being controlled with medication. Today, Emilie is a happy, wonderful young lady with a bright future ahead.

Long before having children, my husband and I dedicated our lives to helping others. He holds a Bachelor’s in Music Therapy and dual Master’s degrees in Divinity and Counseling, while I hold a Bachelor’s in Education and a Master’s in Counseling. Together, we are parents to three children, two of whom have special needs. Our life has been a rollercoaster ride of challenges, triumphs, devastations, and intense joys. We know what it feels like to live in hospital rooms, have sleepless nights, and feel alone.

During our darkest times, peer support was a lifeline that kept me grounded, offered guidance when life felt bleak, and reminded me that we weren’t alone. Having walked this path, I am passionate about giving back to this community. Just as others supported us, I want to be here to listen, share what we’ve learned, and provide that same comfort to your family.

Languages spoken: English