To the parents standing at the beginning of a journey you never expected —this is for you.
More than twenty-five years ago, I stood where you are now. I held my children in my arms, perfect in every way. I looked toward the future with hope, never imagining how quickly everything could change.
It began simply — just a couple of shots, routine and unquestioned. And then, slowly at first and then all at once, our world shifted.
Some changes came like whispers, easy to ignore. Others struck like thunder, shaking everything I thought I knew.
What once seemed like a straight road became a winding, uphill path that tested every part of me.
My new book, Ashes to Armor, is my way of handing you a lantern for the road ahead. Not to frighten you — but to prepare you. To remind you that you’re not alone.
The journey will bring moments of doubt, heartbreak, and questions without easy answers. I remember those early nights — the silence, the uncertainty, and the fierce love that kept me moving forward even when I didn’t know what tomorrow would hold. When I began, there were only a few parents connected online — maybe a couple dozen on early Facebook.
Today, there are hundreds of thousands, and that number grows every day as more families face what we did.
It’s a tragedy still unfolding, but also a reminder that you’re part of a growing community of parents who understand. Your life and your child’s life matter deeply.
There will be times when the weight feels unbearable. But from one parent to another, hear me clearly:
Never give up. Never give in.
Hold your head high. Stand firm. Keep hope alive, even when it flickers.
Your child needs your strength — and you have more of it than you realize.
This is the beginning of your story.
May these pages be a companion, a guide, and a steady hand on your shoulder as you walk forward with courage and love.
Ashes to Armor – Coming Fall 2025
