“Therefore, we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” — 2 Corinthians 4:16 (NIV)
My story is not one of a single turning point, but of many moments where life asked more of me than seemed reasonable—and where faith, resilience, and grace slowly became a way of living.
I grew up navigating life with cerebral palsy and epilepsy, conditions that shaped my childhood in visible and invisible ways. From an early age, my body moved differently, responded differently, and required a level of awareness most kids never had to think about. There were physical limitations, medical appointments, and seasons of uncertainty—but even then, I believe God was quietly at work, building perseverance long before I understood what that would mean.
Despite the challenges, I learned early on that capability often lives beyond expectation. With encouragement from family, mentors, and community, I pushed myself physically in ways that surprised even me—participating in high and low ropes courses, rappelling, and whitewater rafting. These experiences weren’t about proving anything to others; they were about learning to trust what God had placed within me. Each challenge reinforced a belief that continues to guide my life: limitations do not get to write the full story—God does.
Living with disability didn’t just shape my body; it shaped my heart. As I grew older, I became deeply aware of how many people feel unseen, underestimated, or misunderstood because of circumstances they didn’t choose. That awareness stirred a compassion in me that I now recognize as God-given. It ignited a desire to walk alongside others, especially those navigating adversity, disability, and systems that weren’t built with them in mind.
That calling guided my academic path. I pursued a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and later a degree in Special Education, driven by a desire to advocate, support, and empower individuals who are often overlooked or misunderstood. These degrees were more than professional credentials—they were expressions of my faith in action, rooted in the belief that every person carries dignity, purpose, and worth.
Life, however, still held another profound chapter.
A spinal cord injury in 2009 changed my world in ways I never anticipated. The physical realities were significant, but the emotional and spiritual shifts were just as deep. Grief, frustration, and uncertainty became familiar companions for a time. Life looked different. My body changed. My plans had to be rewritten. In those moments, faith was no longer theoretical—it became essential.
Years after my spinal cord injury, and after walking through seasons of adaptation, growth, and unanswered questions, I was introduced to the Oola Mind and Body framework in 2020. By that time, God had already been shaping my character through lived experience. Oola gave language and structure to patterns that had been present in my life for years—holistic balance, intentional growth, and forward momentum that were there intuitively, but hidden and unnamed.
Oola didn’t replace my faith or my story; instead, it helped bring clarity to what God had already been cultivating beneath the surface. It allowed me to see how mind, body, and purpose could work together in healing and transformation. Through the support, encouragement, and example of others within the Oola community, I found the confidence and motivation to push myself beyond hesitation and step fully into this calling. What once felt uncertain began to feel intentional, and I came to recognize this season not as coincidence, but as God’s timing, revealing purpose while I was still learning to trust Him with what came next. Through this journey, I became a certified life coach, finally giving form to a calling that had been quietly growing for years.
Through my spinal cord injury, that calling became more focused and deeply rooted. Life changed in ways I never anticipated, and faith became an anchor rather than an abstract belief. In the midst of physical recovery and personal redefinition, I felt God gently redirecting my path—not away from who I was, but toward who I was becoming. What felt like an ending slowly revealed itself as refinement.
I stepped into roles as a coach, author, speaker, and advocate, using my lived experience to help others navigate trauma, disability, and major life transitions. Advocacy has given me the opportunity to raise my voice alongside others in the disability community, while coaching allows me the privilege of walking one-on-one with people as they reclaim purpose, identity, and hope. Everything I do is grounded in the belief that God can bring meaning, growth, and renewal even from the most unexpected places.
Today, my work sits at the intersection of faith, lived experience, professional training, and resilience. I coach, write, and speak not because I have all the answers, but because I understand the terrain of adversity and transformation—and because I trust the God who meets us there. I believe deeply that rising again isn’t about returning to who you were—it’s about trusting who God is shaping you to become now.
This is my story.
And if you’re here, chances are you’re in the middle of yours.
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