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I had a birth deformity when I was born that resulted in me becoming an amputee at the age of 2.  It's a title that I have both struggled with and felt extreme pride in throughout the years.  It certainly hasn't stopped me from having a full life.  I met my husband in college at the University of Toledo, and we have two little girls named Gabriella (11) and Eliza (7).  My family means so much to me.  We love spending time exercising together, vacationing, reading, and being outdoors.

 

I have been a high school English teacher for 18 years now and get a lot of pleasure from seeing my students grow and develop throughout the year.  I still keep in contact with many of my former students and am extremely proud of the people they've become. 

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About 4 years ago I decided to write a book.  Being an author has always been a dream of mine, and I wasn't getting any younger or less busy, so I thought why not :)  WHOLE: A Leg Up On Life was a labor of love.  I wrote it in about 7 months.  The words flowed effortlessly because the story was already written.  There was no plot to create; my life was the plot.  All I had to do was sit down and write my history.  It was an enlightening process because I wasn't privy to much of my early years.  Thankfully, my family helped fill in the gaps.  What I love most about being an author is networking and meeting new people. I have learned so much from others sharing their own stories and journeys with me!

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As I have gotten more comfortable in my own skin over the years, I discovered a new dream- modeling.  I recently signed with NV Models and Talent and became their first disabled model.  I hope to empower others with physical limitations to see their inner and outer beauty.  

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In June of 2021, I started my journey in Paratriathlon. It was the first time that I ever competed against other people with physical challenges. I quickly developed a passion for the sport and adaptive athlete community. In the three years I competed, I was on the podium 10 out of 12 races, was named the 2023 National Champion, became an elite athlete, was ranked as high as #6 in the world, and reached the pinnacle of my career by making the 2024 Paralympic alternate for the PTS4 category.  It was a hard fought journey, but unfortunately I came short of officially making it to Paris. However, I'm proud of my physical, mental, and spiritual growth.  No one can take that away from me.  

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I'm going to use those lessons to propel me into a new athletic endeavor: Para Standing Tennis.  Shortly after retiring from paratriathlon in 2024, I got a coach and started training.  It's been a BLAST!  I'm having more fun than ever, and I can't wait to represent my country again by playing in the National Championships in Dallas, TX in December. 

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