* Fighting Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia internationally since 1995* Registered NGO in 7 countries (US, UK, Canada, NL, Switzerland, HK, and Singapore)* CDH Research Database Administrator* Supporting 1000's of patient families in 94 countries* Research Grants* Capitol Hill & NIH Lobbying for CDH Research Funding* Representing the CDH community at Medical Conferences* CDH Non-Profit Accreditation* Patient Advocacy & Support* Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness* Hospital Accreditation of CDH ClinicsCDH International is the world's oldest, largest and leading Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia charity and the original CDH support group for patient families. Learn more at http://www.cdhi.org

I am proud to join the Advisory Board for Gurulize, an online consulting platform that allows experts to easily consult and mentor within their field.

Leading the first registered Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia charity in Canada, supporting patient families, raising awareness and promoting CDH Research.

Member of the Board of Trustees of the new CDH International NGO in the United Kingdom, expanding our work to further global care of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia patients.

Working with our new team in Switzerland to help promote and fund Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Research.We are excited to announce the expansion of our charity into Europe with “CDH International” in Switzerland!CDH International is now able to work and receive tax-deductible donations in Switzerland.

Working with our new team in Singapore to help promote and fund Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Research.We are excited to announce the expansion of our charity into Asia with “CDH International” in Singapore!CDH International is now able to work and receive tax-deductible donations in Singapore.

Working with our new team in the Netherlands to help promote and fund Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Research.We are excited to announce the expansion of our charity in Europe with “CDH International” in the Netherlands!CDH International is now able to work and receive tax-deductible donations in Holland.Werken met ons nieuwe team in Nederland om aangeboren diafragmatisch herniaonderzoek te promoten en te financieren.We zijn verheugd om de uitbreiding van ons goede doel in Europa aan te kondigen met "CDH International" in Nederland!CDH International is nu in staat om in Nederland te werken en fiscaal aftrekbare donaties te ontvangen.

Working with our new team in Hong Kong to help promote and fund Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Research.We are excited to announce the expansion of our charity into Asia with “CDH International” in Hong Kong!CDH International is now able to work and receive tax-deductible donations in Hong Kong.我們很高興地宣布，我們的慈善事業將在香港與”CDH國際”一起向亞洲擴展！CDH國際公司而家能夠喺香港工作同接受免稅捐款。

WRAP (Worldwide Rare Advocacy Partnership) is an international partnership of Rare Disease professionals. Our mission is developing greater professional talents, sharing knowledge and providing resources - across the Rare Disease Stakeholder Network. We are passionately focused on being a moral and ethical voice in the Rare Disease advocacy community.

I have been sharing my story as a mother, care giver, charity leader and patient advocate for Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia for 25 years. 5 years ago, I started to share my story on a more public platform, as well as public speaking on behalf of the charity that I run, CDH International. I have given dozens of national television, newspaper and magazine interviews over the years. Now, I also offer my speaking expertise to bring hope, humor and the determination to reach for miracles and never give up to groups, companies and I started as a very young mother of a very sick child, trying to sort through the medical world and standing up against everyone who told me to let him go. We proved the medical community wrong. With just a typewriter on my kitchen table, I set forth to help other families with the same diagnosis. 25 years later, I work with the medical community, sitting in on meetings for global pediatric surgery, speaking to doctors internationally, lobbying on Capitol Hill, creating the world's largest charity for Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia. With anecdotes about how the charity blazed our own path, including doing ridiculous publicity stunts, finding humor in grief and watching fate open doors along the way, my speech is entertaining and uplifting and encourages others to reach as high as possible for their dreams.

“The Rare Advocacy Movement (RAM) is a patient advocacy initiative focused on documenting the ever evolving complex structure and unique dynamics of the rare disease patient advocacy landscape. RAM is a cultural awakening initiated by seasoned advocacy leaders that have vowed to remain transparent, clarify misunderstandings and to ensure that the rare disease community is not overlooked, ignored or misrepresented”

**** July 2017, CHERUBS became CDH International ****CHERUBS is an international 501(c)III Non-Profit Organization for families and medical care providers of children born with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia. Created and maintain the organizations technological assets, maintaining member medical history database, as well as creating and maintaining the organization’s extensive web site. Also responsible for day-to-day operations, fundraising, marketing, accounting, publications, research and working one-on-one with affected families as well as representing the organization and birth defect awareness with the public and media.Charity Accomplishments Under My Leadership:* 8% overhead* Over 6100 families assisted* Families served in 63 countries* Largest long-term CDH research database* Publication in American Academy of Pediatrics* First charity allowed participation in the American Pediatric Surgical Association* 4 Senate Resolutions passed for CDH Awareness Month passed unanimously* 3 House Resolutions introduced for CDH Awareness Month* CDH Awareness Day lighting of Niagara Falls, CN Tower, Superdome, Wells Fargo Building and over 35 other landmarks.* Only organizer of international CDH Conference for affected families* National news and TV appearances and consulting* Granted care packages and financial assistance to 100's of affected families* Published in over 2500 magazines and newspapers* Speaking engagements on 2 continents* Raised over $1,000,000 for the cause* Funded over $100,000 in research* Presidential Point of Light Award* Closing Bell of the NYSE* Social Media reach of over 100,000 daily* The only CDH charity with 3 Boards (Directors, Medical, Parental)* Established relationships with children's hospitals around the world* Became a Combined Federal Campaign charity* Set up a precedence of a voluntary annual financial audit* Created 100's of pieces of informational material for CDH families

Part of the world's largest exclusive business networking organization, our chapter meets every Friday morning in Wake Forest. I will happily bring anyone as a guest, just message me!I finished the term for our previous President who had to leave mid-term and then presided as President for an additional term, opting not to stay on for another term so that I could focus more time on the charity. Holding this seat and working with such incredible professionals was a joy and an experience I will always treasure.

Founded a company providing web and graphic design services to a growing client base, including commercial concerns, private individuals and non-profit organizations. As of 2010, created over 100 web sites and 200 templates, including several successful, e-commerce web sites. Created 1000’s of original graphics and animations to accompany these sites as well as layout and design of printed materials and company logos. This design work has garnered over 500 honors, including the prestigious Times Pick Award from the Los Angeles Times.Retired from Web Design in October, 2010 to run CHERUBS full time.

Web Developer for GSK employee Health & Wellbeing intranet site. Also working on 3 other projects for the corporate intranet site as well as graphics, layouts, javascript coding, video installation and portlets. (Temp Job)

Assisted with E-Learning for one of the country's top 3 computer firms. Helped to design and implement layout of e-learning flash onto the site through html and CSS for their sales force. (Temp Job)

Assistant Web Designer. Assisted in redesign of Canadian E-Commerce Site, updating ACC and BCC data, product information, graphics and integrating SKUs.

Web Site Administration and Customer Database. Responsible for creation and implementation of corporate web site, including extensive work with Microsoft Access Databases for all product line information and photo assets. Provided technical support within the company. Responsible for the creation of data specification sheets for the product line. Light accounting functions involving Peachtree Accounting Software.

Duties included accounts payable and accounts receivable functions, customer service and technical support, and general office management functions. Also responsible for some web and graphic art design.