
About me
I’m so very happy to meet you. When people meet me, I like to address the elephant in the room, my physical challenge. My physical challenge is quite obvious, it’s not hidden in my head, or the trunk of my body, or any other place under my skin. My disability is loud and clear,
I was born with Arthrogryposis Multiple Congenita, a muscle and joint condition. or as many people call it AMC for short. It’s pretty simple! I was born with this condition due to lack of movement during my mother’s pregnancy, we think it was due to a lack of blood getting to the fetus during development, but that can only be theorized. My AMC affects my arms, primarily, but I do struggle now that I’m getting older with the AMC in my knees. My parents had to learn very quickly, not only how to care for a newborn baby, but also how to tend to a child with physical challenges. After several surgeries as an infant, I began navigating my world the best I could. One morning while my father was getting ready for work, he looked down as he heard a clicking sound. There I was on the floor, one foot was popping open one of the pink sponge curlers covering my head and the other foot was twisting the curler out of my hair. It was that morning that my father realized, “She's going to be just fine!”
And I was!
Doctors were not sure of the trajectory of my future, whether I would be able to drive a car, hold a pencil, have a family of my own. Little did they know that I am one of the most determined individuals that will ever walk this Earth. I did hold that and made it through Elementary School, Junior high School, and finally high School. This girl did not stop there, on the other hand! I ended up going to college and received two degrees and have been working as a teacher for close to 30 years now. I met the most amazing man at the tail end of my college years whom I married and have celebrated over 30 years of marriage together. Together, we are and inter-abled, power couple! We have two very successful children who are now adults and our hearts have grown even more as we look into the eyes of our four precious grandchildren.
Yes! I look back at my life and I’m quite proud of my achievements. It’s not always easy. I literally wake up every day and put on my superhero cape and mindset as the smallest tasks of an able-bodied human can be lengthy and frustrating for me. I have a very strong can-do attitude but I’m also not afraid to ask for help when needed. This has been the key to my success!
My travels with a physical challenge in tote-
Welcome to the world of travel through my eyes!
Although I have been successful in my career and family, I wanted even more! I have always been curious about history along with art, architecture, and fairy tale lands. The first time I ever rode in an airplane was when I was 14 years old. I remember wanting the window seat and stared out that window the entire time. I was in awe over the many lands that left Minnesota behind. My husband and I would take the children on a few trips early in our marriage to visit family in Minnesota, Wisconsin, New York and Hawaii, but when our children finished college, I put a bug in my husband’s ear. I wanted to go International! And I did! Here are my ups and downs, what works and doesn’t work for a physically challenged person in a foreign country or even here in the United states. Here are my tips so you too can enjoy what this bad- ass world has to offer. Enjoy!
I am also an author/ illustrator-
I am the author and illustrator of Ruby’s Red Shoes, Troy's Boots, and Grant and the ABC's of Friendship. I call my series, Unique and Strong.
My life has been full of try, try again, fail, fail again to SUCCESS with the most minimal of tasks! If I could not find a way to do something, I made a way! Creativity became my middle name as I was managing a physical challenge which I refused to hold me back.
Supported by my family and friends, I figured things out in my early years of elementary school followed by middle school and then high school. I wanted something big for my life, a voice for every person who struggled with any type of obstacle.
My three books are reflective and include small elements of how I overcame challenges throughout my life.
Unique and Strong began with a simple belief: words have the power to connect, inspire, and drive action. Founded in the heart of Temecula, California, my journey started when I, a passionate writer with a love for storytelling, decided to turn my craft into a business. Over the years, I've had the pleasure of communicating a message that is very important and personal to me. What sets me apart is my commitment to expressing and translating the power of overcoming adversity to children. I believe that every piece of content in my books should not just inform, but also engage, entertain, and captivate. With a keen eye for understanding diversity, my hope Is to ensure that I not only reach my target audience, but also leave a lasting impression.