| BIOGRAPHY |
| As a younger woman, I wanted to live life. Do everything, be everything, try everything at least once. I'm glad I can say I had those opportunites. I was born and raised in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. I was an outside kid, a "Tomboy" of sorts. I loved to ride my bike, swim and dance. As a teenager, I liked to take things apart. My boombox, the vaccuum cleaner, my Atari, etc. I wanted to see what made them function. I had my first job at 13 working at a fast food restaurant and learned early of ethics and responsibility. Then, I got a car. I became a social spirit. Everywhere I went, I knew someone. My mom used to laugh and say I knew everyone in the tri-county area. I was not much one for going to school, but achieved excellent grades. I was on the Dean's List from middle school, through high school and college. (Not to mention I was the class clown when I did go to class.) I went from being a clerk in a law firm to Hooters Girl to working testing and slinging refrigerant cylinders to The Miss Florida USA Pageant and then Police Academy Training. I loved riding motorcycles, got my first one at 19 without my Mom knowing (sorry Mom), rode in the Rodeo a few times and tried my hand at modeling. I spent a lot of time trying to figure out what I was good at. As much as I wanted to be a famous movie star, I'm a realist. Through unfortunate events in my life, I realized I was adept at researching and resolving medical and legal difficulties. I have spent years educating myself in these areas and discovered that the power was within myself. The best tool I had was knowledge. In my early 20's, I decided to have rhinoplasty. This decision was well thought, but the result was perilous. The first surgery led to a second surgery and many major complications that have left me with permanent damage. This chapter of my life is how I came to Tennessee and stayed. My thyroid condition started in my teenage years, but it went 'mis' and un-diagnosed for years. I developed Thyroid Eye Disease (TED) in my mid 20's, right on the heels of everything with my nose problems. I have had multiple eye surgeries and posted pictures on the following pages. I also passed on thyroid antibodies during two of my pregnancies which caused my children to be born with neonatal graves disease. (E-mail me if you want to know more about that diagnosis.) I persevere through life. The direction I wanted my life to lead has changed many times, but I do not quit. I keep learning from life's lessons. I am a wife and mother to three precious children. All three of my children have fought for their lives more than any child should have to. My oldest was 4 weeks early and had open heart surgery at two months old. My middle child was born two months premature, on life support and developed a blood clot. My youngest was five weeks early and had neonatal graves just like my middle child. They all have taught me more than anything I could ever read. On days when I think back on all I have been faced with, one little smile from them makes it all worth it. Yes, I do have my hands full with my kids, but love every second. I got a second chance at life and try not to take that for granted. When I can, I write just about anything. I'm in the midst of working on a screenplay and have penned lyrics, short stories, poems, opinions...I hold a degree in Police Science Administration, a technical degree in Refrigerant Transition and Recovery, do a little Private Investigating and would like to start nursing school by 2009. If I keep dreaming and reaching for the stars-it will be Med School instead. I can not close the Pandora's Box of my life. I believe that would prove ignorance. Instead I choose to fight, learn and overcome. I believe in the old cliche that we are here for a reason. I believe in Karma. I believe in the Middle Path. |
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