So much of my story right now has to do with motherhood. Motherhood and grief. But it’s a beautiful story — a redemption story.

My oldest daughter Isla introduced me to Motherhood. My second child, Oakes introduced me to congenital heart defects. After a short and intense life of 15 months, Oakes also introduced me to deep grief, but also an inner strength that I had no idea I possessed. Later, our third child Esme was born — and her energy is pure joy and naughty coming at you like a tornado. In 10 years of parenting we have seen such highs and have felt such lows.

During Oakes’ life, my husband Greg and I were inspired to start Mighty Oakes Heart Foundation (MOHF), which I have been leading for 8 years now. At MOHF we help families who have children with congenital heart defects. We know first-hand how hard it is to have a critically ill child, especially one with a heart defect and our greatest wish is that we can keep families together during this time.

We help families across the country every year in really profound ways — paying their mortgages, rent, utility bills, helping buy medical devices, paying for travel and lodging expenses — whatever we can do to keep a family together during their stressful time, that is what we strive to do. Because we know through Oakes’ life, that the best medicine a sick kid will ever receive is the love from their parents. So that is our goal — keep families together, and help distribute lots of love.

My background is in design. I studied Furniture Design at SCAD. I could not be any further from where I planned to be in life, but I know in my heart that this is EXACTLY where I need to be. Of course, I’d trade anything to have Oakes living under my roof with his two crazy sisters, but at the end of the day my heart is full. Oakes is still with us. He is in our hearts and has been the catalyst for helping thousands of families across the country.