My Journey

When I look back on my life, I don’t see a straight path. I see a journey filled with challenges, unexpected blessings, incredible opportunities, and people who helped shape the person I am today.

My nursing journey began as a single mother with a dream. I earned my associate degree in nursing while working the night shift and attending classes during the day. There were many long days, little sleep, and moments when giving up would have been easier. But I knew I was building a better future for my daughter, my son, and for myself.

During my final semester of nursing school, my father underwent a heart transplant more than 1,000 miles away. Being so far from him during one of the most difficult times in our family’s life was heartbreaking. Yet just a few months after his surgery, he made the long trip to watch me walk across the stage and receive my nursing degree. That day remains one of my most treasured memories.

Eighteen months later, we lost him.

Although our time with him was far too short, we will forever be grateful to the family whose incredible act of generosity made his transplant possible. Amid their unimaginable loss, they chose to give others the gift of life. Because of their selfless decision, we were blessed with eighteen more months of memories, conversations, and love. That experience forever changed the way I view compassion, hope, and the profound impact one person’s kindness can have on another’s life.

Just three years later, our family experienced another heartbreaking loss when my brother passed away from coccidioidomycosis (Valley Fever), complicated by HIV. Watching someone you love face such a difficult journey changes you forever.

Whenever life asked more of me than I thought I could give, I found myself remembering his incredible courage. Even while facing a terminal illness, he lived with remarkable strength, resilience, and grace. He taught me that true courage isn’t the absence of fear, it’s choosing to keep living, loving, and caring for others in the face of uncertainty.

My father and my brother are my heroes.

Their lives, their courage, and the love they showed our family continue to shape who I am today. They are at the very heart of the nurse I became and the nurse coach I am today. Every time I sit with someone who is navigating uncertainty, grief, change, or a new beginning, I carry the lessons they taught me: to listen deeply, to love generously, to never lose hope, and to recognize the extraordinary strength that exists within every person.

After my son graduated from high school, I returned to school myself, earning my Bachelor of Science in Nursing and later my Master of Science in Nursing. I learned that it’s never too late to continue growing, and that investing in yourself is one of the greatest gifts you can give to those you serve.

Over the course of more than thirty years in nursing, I had the privilege of serving in many different roles. I began in a large cardiac intensive care unit before moving to a community hospital where I cared for patients in the emergency department, operating room, post-anesthesia care unit, and eventually served as the night shift hospital supervisor.

My passion for learning eventually led me into education, where I accepted a position overseeing an Emergency Medical Services program at a technical college. Later, I returned to the intensive care unit, where I experienced some of the most meaningful years of my career.

During that time, I partnered with a local university to expand clinical opportunities for nursing students at our hospital. Watching those students grow into confident, compassionate nurses has been one of the greatest honors of my professional life. Knowing they are now making a difference in healthcare is incredibly rewarding.

I also had the unique opportunity to help design and build a nursing skills laboratory and simulation center for the university’s new satellite campus. Creating a place where future nurses could safely learn, practice, and build confidence was more than a project—it was an opportunity to leave a lasting legacy for generations of healthcare professionals.

My passion for education continued as I completed a post-master’s certificate in Healthcare Simulation, combining my love of teaching with innovative ways to prepare future nurses for real-world practice.

Along the way, life blessed me with another role that has become one of my greatest joys—being a grandmother.

Although I am incredibly proud of all my grandchildren, what fills my heart most when I watch my two younger granddaughters excel—one in swimming, track, and cross country, and the other in swimming and gymnastics—is not the medals or victories.

It’s the time we spend together.

Some of my favorite moments are the simple ones: sitting side by side sewing a new project, baking something delicious in the kitchen, sharing stories, or curling up together to watch a fun movie. Those ordinary moments have become some of life’s greatest treasures.

They remind me that life isn’t about constantly chasing the next achievement. It’s about being present, creating memories, and cherishing the people we love. Those are the moments that shape us, strengthen us, and become the stories we carry with us.

The fabric art you see on my homepage was created by my granddaughter. She took scrapes from my fabric bin and created something beautiful. Piece by piece, she carefully glued them together into a beautiful picture. When I found it, it reminded me that our lives are much the same. We all experience moments of joy, heartbreak, success, disappointment, hope, and change. Individually they may seem like scattered pieces, but together they create a life that is uniquely ours.

That simple moment has become a beautiful picture of what I believe coaching is all about.

I don’t believe people need to become someone different to live a meaningful life. I believe they already possess the strength, wisdom, resilience, and courage they need. Sometimes they simply need someone to help them step back, see how all the pieces fit together, and begin creating the next chapter with intention.

Looking back, I realize my career has never been about titles or achievements. It has always been about people.

The patients who trusted me.

The students who inspired me.

The colleagues who became lifelong friends.

The family who supported me through every chapter.

And now, the clients who invite me into their lives as they discover what is possible.

Every experience has taught me something about resilience, compassion, grace, and the incredible strength people possess—even when they don’t yet see it in themselves.

Today, those lessons have led me to my next chapter.

What a privilege it has been to coach individuals across the country, helping them navigate life’s transitions, rediscover their strengths, and create lives that reflect who they truly are.

While my nursing career has been full beyond anything I could have imagined, I know my purpose isn’t finished.

I believe there are still lives to encourage.

Stories to hear.

Dreams to rediscover.

And people to empower.

Because no matter what season of life we’re in, there is always another chapter waiting to be written.

I’d be honored to walk beside you as you begin yours.

**Welcome to Life By Design Coaching. **
Stop waiting for the right time. Design the right life.