Why I Finally Chose to Tell My Story

For a long time, I lived my life without ever thinking I would one day write about it.

Not because there was nothing to say, but because I was too busy surviving it.

Raising four girls. Navigating my own transformation. Learning how to rebuild myself physically, emotionally, and mentally. Advocating for a child who experiences the world differently. It all felt like something you just get through, not something you stop and document.

But over time, I realized something.

Stories are not just meant to be lived. They are meant to be shared.

The Moment It Shifted

My journey has been filled with transformation.

From being over 400 pounds, to making the decision to have weight loss surgery and losing 225 pounds.

From feeling invisible, to standing on a stage and winning a pageant.

From never imagining myself in front of a camera, to stepping into a modeling career.

But those moments, as big as they are, are only part of the story.

The deeper transformation happened within me.

And I started to realize that if I kept it all to myself, I was missing an opportunity to help someone else feel less alone.

Writing the Memoir I Never Thought I Would

The idea of writing a memoir did not come from a place of wanting to tell my story for recognition.

It came from reflection.

From looking back and seeing how much I had overcome.

From recognizing the strength it took to keep going.

From understanding that there are people out there who might be standing in the exact place I once was.

Writing became a way to process my journey.

But more importantly, it became a way to give it purpose.

Because storytelling is powerful.

It creates connection.

It allows people to see themselves in someone else’s experience.

And sometimes, that is exactly what someone needs to take their next step forward.

Where Advocacy Became Part of my Story

While my personal transformation shaped who I became, my daughter Emery shaped why I do what I do.

As a child with Down syndrome and autism, she has opened my eyes to a completely different perspective on inclusion.

Through her, I saw the gaps.

The misunderstandings.

The moments where children like her are present, but not truly included.

And I knew I could not stay silent.

Turning Experience Into Resources

That is when my writing expanded beyond my own story.

I created guidebooks:

• One for parents navigating inclusion in schools

• One for elementary teachers working to create more inclusive classrooms

These books were not written from theory.

They were written from lived experience.

From conversations, challenges, advocacy meetings, and real-life moments that parents and educators face every day.

Because I realized something important.

Awareness is powerful, but guidance creates change.

Speaking, Sharing, and Showing Up

Writing opened the door for something even bigger.

I began speaking in schools.

Sharing Emery’s story.

Helping children understand inclusion in a way that feels real and relatable.

Encouraging kindness, empathy, and awareness at a young age.

Because when children learn inclusion early, they carry it with them for life.

Why I Continue to Write

I did not set out to become an author.

But I became one because I had something to say.

Because my journey, my struggles, my growth, and my advocacy all carry meaning beyond my own life.

Writing my memoir is about honesty.

Writing my guidebooks is about impact.

And together, they tell a fuller story.

A story of transformation, yes.

But also a story of purpose.

What I Hope People Take From This

If there is one thing I hope people take from my writing, it is this:

Your story matters.

Even the parts that feel messy.

Even the parts you are still figuring out.

Even the parts you are not sure anyone will understand.

Because those are often the parts that connect the deepest.

Conclusion

I am still writing my story.

Through my life.

Through my advocacy.

Through my books.

And if my journey shows anything, it is that transformation is not just about changing your life.

It is about using your life to create change for others.