A Pilgrimage is a journey of spiritual significance.

I have always been a spiritual traveler...

With faith central to my life. It was only fitting that I make that the theme of my writing space.

In 2012, I would not have called myself a writer or storyteller. No, my first piece was written out of necessity and at the urging of my dear friend Jessica and my husband Jeffrey.  My health was in free fall. I was living with an undiagnosed rare life threating disease. I was worried that I would not live to see my two young children make it to adulthood.

Pilgrimage Gal became the real time record of our life through my eyes. As adults, my children would meet their mother as a wife, daughter, and friend. Most importantly, my children would know me —my voice, thoughts, and impressions of our life. The words found here, would illustrate that I had fought with everything I had to stay alive and tell them these stories in person.

To successfully diagnose, manage and treat rare diseases you need access to world class health care. My proximity to both John Hopkins and NIH provided me such care and the ability to stabilize my health. In 2014, we moved from the DC metro area to California where the more consistent climate has supported my health.

As my health continued to improve, I have became a published writer, public speaker, and rare disease advocate.  Motherhood expanded my platform when both of my children faced unique challenges. My son was diagnosed with autism and in 2017 my eleven-year-old daughter was diagnosed with an eating disorder. Their unique experiences made me a parent advocate to support those with Eating Disorders, Anxiety, Depression, OCD and Autism.

As a writer and storyteller, I use my families lived experience to highlight the positive results of the evidence-based medical and behavioral health interventions we received. While I had access to experts, I meet countless families who did not. I soon realized that my real time stories- our battle tested real-life experiences, not only offered comfort, but empowered parents to get their children well. Through these story-based narratives, parents were able to modify my examples and use their own tools and skills to achieve long term wellness for their children.

As a parent who also manages a life threating chronic rare disease, I can also provide a unique perspective of the need for parental self-care and the need for ongoing caregiver supports. I physically cannot do it all, nor should you. Leaning to ask for help is critical.  I will remain an advocate for Family Based Eating disorder Treatment (FBT) which I credit for saving my daughter’s life. My writing will continue to advocate to eliminate the stigma surrounding behavioral and mental health, and complete inclusiveness for individuals that identify as autistic and neurodivergent.

As a practicing Catholic, I believe my faith is a constant and unwavering source of strength.

When I’m not writing, chatting with parents or binge-watching Jane Austen movies. You will likely find me walking or meditating on the beach with my three great loves—my husband of thirty years and my two teen aged children, I call my Beauties.