I’m thrilled to be participating in 2026 New York City Marathon, a fundraiser supporting Still I Run! I’m extremely passionate about this cause and need your help!

We all remember certain dates - the ones that divide our lives into before and after. A date on a calendar can mark the moment everything changed. In an instant, the path we thought we were walking can shift dramatically. This page begins with one of those dates. 

June 17, 2007 - Father's Day

Breakfast ended. It was clear something was off. The tremors, the stuttering, the sunglasses worn inside. My father wasn't well. He had just been released from the hospital 3 days prior.

3 hours later and my world came crashing down. Chaos ensued - police, ambulance, fire. To this day, I can hear the screams from the ambulance. My father was an idol of mine and he did the unthinkable. For months after, I didn't eat or sleep.

From twelve to my twenties, I held myself together with overachievement. I was praised for being so driven, but it was driven by fear. From the outside, I looked like a success story; inside I was in crisis. High achievement was my coping mechanism, I wasn't thriving, I was coping. Achievement was the language I learned to speak when I couldn't even begin to examine or talk about the trauma.

March 17, 2022 

The trauma I refused to look at caught up to me. Childhood trauma has a way of finding its voice, even when it has been silenced for years. Postpartum Depression, fueled by unresolved trauma, took me to depths I didn't know existed. I chose treatment over pretending. I faced what 12 year old me never could. What should have been a joyful time was overshadowed by a weight that wasn't visible to the outside. Many couldn't understand it. I worked relentlessly to become whole again. Multiple therapists, hospitalizations, specialists, doctors, programs. I did the work, I faced myself fully, and very slowly I became someone healthier.

Childhood trauma does not simply stay in the past — it often follows people into adulthood, shaping mental health, relationships, and a person’s sense of self. When trauma goes unresolved, it can resurface in ways we don’t always expect. 

I was fortunate to have my husband and access to care that helped me begin healing. But another powerful part of that healing came through running and movement. Running became more than physical movement — it became a space to process emotions, rebuild strength, quiet my mind, and reconnect with myself. Step by step, mile by mile, it reminded me that healing is not linear, but it is possible.

Not everyone has access to the mental health support or healthy outlets that can make such a difference. That’s why I’m running the NYC Marathon for a charity that promotes running as a tool for mental well-being — helping individuals discover movement as a pathway toward resilience, connection, and hope. Because healing can begin with support, community, and sometimes, simply putting one foot in front of the other.