Life, Birth, Death and Rising

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been drawn to life’s bookends—birth and death. My exploration of these entry and exit points and their impact on everyone involved has unfolded both formally and informally over time.

With degrees in biology and philosophy, I developed a deep fascination with medical ethics. However, I quickly learned that building a career in the field often requires being a physician, attorney, or clergy member. Practicality—and the need for a paycheck—led me to a fulfilling 30-year career on the business side of healthcare.

Over the years, I’ve held roles in Product Management, Sales, Marketing, and Client Service, gaining a broad perspective on the industry. Today, my work focuses on using data to protect patient safety by assessing the clinical competency of healthcare providers, including physicians and other caregivers.

Working motherhood has been a wild, unpredictable ride. I wish I had documented the highs and lows more carefully along the way. It’s hard to remember the details of those frenzied days when I constantly felt like I wasn’t excelling in any one area of my life—let alone balancing it all.

Anxiety, rooted in guilt, shame, and comparison, had to be shoved aside in order to keep everything moving and to ensure everyone had what they needed. Somehow, I managed. We managed.

There were days when all the puzzle pieces fell perfectly into place. Then there were days when the snow globe shattered, leaving chaos in its wake. My heart felt torn in every direction by those depending on me—my boys, coworkers, customers, and sometimes Doug, or even extended family.

By the end of the day, everyone got a piece of me. And there wasn’t much left for me.

Until there was.