About Me continued...

My Mom was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was in her mid-thirties. I was in third grade at the time and knew she was sick but I did not fully understand the magnitude of her illness...and neither did she. Thankfully she beat cancer and remained cancer-free for seven years. Unfortunately, the dreaded "C" word returned shortly after I graduated high school.

We were not aware that living a healthy lifestyle may have reduced the risk of cancer recurrence; her doctors did not discuss this with her and, in all honesty, we never considered changing our diet. Nutrition and cancer were never a topic of conversation but when she had a recurrence of cancer, our lives forever changed. It certainly changed my life and the choices I make today.

The second time around my Mom was really, really sick. We became aware that nutrition could support her immune system and help her beat cancer so we immediately changed our eating habits. We no longer ate processed foods, instead, we nourished our bodies with fruits and vegetables. Not only was Mom feeling better but she was kicking cancer's ass!! I saw first-hand how nutrition was helping my Mom and at that moment I decided I wanted to be a Nutritionist. 

My Mom was a quintessential badass! She fought hard and defied the doctors when they told her she had only months to live. She stood only five feet tall but had a huge presence and was one of the toughest and bravest women I have ever known. How lucky was I to be raised by such a strong woman! But, God had other plans for her and, in March 2000, my Mom lost her battle with breast cancer. She was only 47 years old.

I was lost without her. It was always me and my Mom against the world. Thankfully, she raised me to be strong and to always stand on my own two feet so soon after she passed I immediately returned to school and completed my Bachelor's degree in Dietetics and Nutrition from Florida International University (FIU). After graduation, I decided to enroll in the Master's program. Heck, I made it this far and I still had so much to learn. I had a mission. I was going to help people battling cancer and I was determined to make this goal a reality.

And I did just that! I became a Licensed Nutritionist/Registered Dietitian. I got my Master's degree in 2005 and shortly after I decided to try something new and began my career in academia. I loved teaching college students. Life was good and I was getting ready to marry my fiancé, Neil.  But cancer struck again.

Six weeks before our destination wedding in Napa Valley, Neil started experiencing severe abdominal pains and was diagnosed with metastatic pancreatic cancer. The doctors initially gave him weeks, possibly a few months, to live. He fought a good fight and lived 10 months before losing this battle. He was only 38 years old.

I hate cancer. I have lost too many people I love to cancer. At 34 years old, I lost my Mom and was a widow. Life sure had thrown me some nasty curve balls and I was determined, more than ever, to do something in honor of those who fought so hard to live. I saw how nutrition impacted both my Mom and Neil. Though it didn't save them it did improve their quality of life. I often wonder if their outcome would have been different if nutrition had been a significant factor in their lives.

I was no longer fulfilled at my job, and I wanted to learn more about the correlation between diet and cancer. Therefore, I made the decision to step down from my position and return to FIU to earn my PhD in Nutrition. I am doing what I set forth to do...I am making a difference.

In 2011 I met and married my amazing husband, Rob.  We live a beautiful life in Deerfield Beach, Florida with our two dogs. I have two awesome stepkids and our family includes the sweetest grandchildren.

I am a nutritionist, a researcher, a business owner, a college professor, and a yoga instructor. I love it all so much I can't just do one thing. I am so grateful that I love what I do...and do what I love. Each day I get to make the world a healthier place by educating my students, offering my nutrition expertise to my clients, and connecting with readers through social media and my book.

Life has not been easy but life has blessed me with the most amazing people. Every day is a journey and I try to live this journey as healthfully as I can so that I can continue to share my knowledge and experience with all of you.