I was born and raised in the Bay Area of California, and from a young age, I knew I wanted to do something that allowed me to help people. After graduating from San Diego State University, I went on to earn my Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from Cal State Dominguez Hills.

I spent the first eight years of my career working in skilled nursing facilities throughout Southern California, caring for older adults with a wide variety of medical and functional needs. Those years taught me so much about rehabilitation, aging, and—perhaps most importantly—about seeing the person behind the diagnosis.

I learned how to help people adapt when life changes, find ways to keep doing the things that matter to them, and make the most of the abilities they have. That experience has been incredibly valuable in my home health career because when I walk into someone’s home, I can look beyond the immediate challenge and see the bigger picture of how that person is living, what is getting in their way, and what we can do to help them remain independent.

After getting married in 2014 and starting our family, my husband and I began dreaming about a different kind of life. In 2019, we made the big move from Southern California to rural Washington to pursue our dream of raising our family on a small homestead. Around that same time, I began working as a home health occupational therapist with PeaceHealth — and I quickly realized that home health was where I wanted to be.

There is something incredibly meaningful about helping someone in the place they actually live, surrounded by the routines, belongings, challenges, and people that make their life their own. After more than six years in home health, I truly believe this is where I can make the greatest difference. I currently work full-time with PeaceHealth Home Health while also serving a growing number of private-pay clients throughout Clark County.

I started Thrive Northwest because I wanted to offer that same level of personal, thoughtful care to people and families who want extra support as they navigate aging at home. When I’m not working, you’ll find me at home with my photographer husband, our three children, and our ever-growing menagerie of animals on our three-acre homestead. We grow and raise much of our own food, practice sustainable living, and try to keep life centered around the things that matter most—family, community, and home.