Childhood
I grew up in Naperville, Illinois in a large family (seven kids altogether, including 4 brothers and 2 sisters). My mom had boundless energy and a razor-sharp wit that filled our house with laughter – and it shows, because my brothers eventually made a living out of being funny. In the early years, I was constantly involved in sports, including swim, track, and soccer, holding my own against my brothers.
Career
I threw myself into my career as much as I had with sports during my formative years. I quickly learned the ropes of becoming a buyer and successfully navigated several market changes, all while traveling, keeping up with national and international customers, and being on call even in the middle of the night. When we go to bed, China wakes up – and we had Chinese manufacturers. (Pictured: my patented product at Bed Bath & Beyond)
A Month Before the Event
The month prior to my event was filled with many new experiences. Top of the list was getting my first dog, Bella Boo, at the humane society. Along with that, I broke off an engagement, a long-time client canceled a third of our business, and before the event, I was finishing up a long birthday celebration for a friend during a warm weekend. I didn’t realize how stressed I was.
Recovery
“Collegiate soccer has nothing on this!” Stroke recovery was an exhausting, brutal, and painful process – but I did what I always do, and worked hard. Only 5% of the population who suffers a stroke like this are still able to walk… but 65 days after being at Marionjoy, I was fortunate to walk out with a cane.
The Mobility Queen
Even as I was working hard on my recovery, I began to wonder what I should do with this next chapter of my life. I found out I was in the top 5% of people who retained full cognitive abilities. This realization made me feel a strong responsibility to help those who can’t talk, walk, or engage with others. It wasn’t until six months after my mom passed, in 2022, that I would discover the next step of my journey and The Mobility Queen was born. I believe it’s up to me to use my voice and experience, both from my stroke and my career in product development, to make a positive impact. I aim to pay it forward and improve the lives of those less fortunate.
