Eating Disorder Recovery Coin

After leaving my abusive marriage in 2000, with our infant son in tow, I encountered a few unexpected bumps in the road we traveled.

With my young son, Nick, in my custody, I was faced with deciding what was more important: getting divorced from my abusive husband with the help of legal aid, which meant quitting my job, giving my car back to the bank, filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, getting on welfare and government assistance or staying the course and facing years of an uncertain future filled with undue hardship and strain. Little did I know then the magnitude and impact of the decision I made that fateful day.

I made one of the most difficult choices of my life and chose to “play the game” so I could rebuild life for my young son and me. Looking back, I would tell you, “It was the best decision I ever made, next to leaving my son’s father and our unhealthy relationship.”

In the years to come, I discovered a hidden, niche industry within real estate that turned my life around and led to the creation of multi-million dollar software products, a much-needed answer to my prayers for a better life for us both.

Against all odds, I beat the system and climbed my way out of what seemed like a bottomless pit of existence as a “welfare mom,” into a life filled with stability, financial security, and unlimited opportunities.

In April 2022, I chose my health over money and decided to sell both my real estate automation software and coaching business, as well as my vacation rental condo near the beach in Florida. I was able to take time off work, focus on my health, and live off the proceeds.

One of my current passion projects is the Eating Disorder Recovery Coin, which I turned into a real coin in February 2024. Today, I’m using it to help others in their own recovery. I also created branded merch, decor, and accessory collections that incorporate AI, my own art, and images of the coin.

Another project close to my heart is Eating Disorder Recovery Path, a supportive, trauma-informed, peer-led membership site for those navigating eating disorder recovery. It includes a self-paced course, workbook, vetted tools, trusted resources, and a supportive community.

After spending two years in treatment programs in the Seattle area that saved my life, I have come a long way and remain committed to working hard on my own recovery. I also fought and graciously won, my battle with breast cancer a few years ago. I’ve been called a fighter and a survivor. These experiences have shaped me into who I am today and helped me prioritize what really matters in my life. Life is short and Y.O.L.O.

Today, I live in Washington state, close to the family and hometown that shaped me.

Recovery and advocacy remain a daily commitment that I humbly embrace as I work to restore my health, mobility, and overall quality of life, while helping others along the way through my work.

My greatest pride and accomplishment, however, is my son, Nick Surfer Ocean. Now 25, he’s living his dream, spending most of the year in Thailand, traveling the world, riding his bicycle, and carving out his own path. Watching him thrive is a constant reminder of how far we’ve both come.

Looking back, I see not just the struggles but the victories: the moments of courage, resilience, and reinvention. Life has tested me in ways I never imagined, but I am still here, still fighting, and still finding new ways to create, heal, and inspire. And for that, I am endlessly proud and grateful, not just of my son, but of myself.