Well, it WAS given to me but not at birth. When I was 18 years old I worked as a hotel front desk associate. Part of the job included diffusing issues with guests who had unsolvable problems. Things like refusing a guest requesting keys to the room of the hot stranger he met at the bar to "surprise her". Or being upset I could not allow a different drunk guest to cook a meal in our (closed) commerical kitchen. You know, liability issues, mainly. On one such occasion a guest demanded my name so he could complain to my manager all about how I would not allow him to check in without a method of payment. I followed hotol protocol by calmly giving my name, and repeating in my head he was mad at the situation, not at me. Sure enough, the next day my manager brought a comment card out for me to read. It was that very comment card that gave me my new name. A name that would bring me endless joy and one day, become the name of my website. My name was given from anger, but I offer it back to the world in love.

I remember the early days of searching for a medical diagnosis and the feeling of isolation. I knew I shouldn't be internet sleuthing on websites that told me I had cancer, but I wanted to know what to expect and how I could prepare. I wanted a friend who had been there before. Now, armed with an abundance of medical experiences to share, I'd like to be that friend to others. I must clearly disclaim, this website is NOT INTENDED FOR THE USE OF PROVIDING MEDICAL ADVICE. All information, content, and material of this website are purely my own anecdotal experiences. It is for entertainment and informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a substitute for consultation, diagnosis, and/or medical treatment of a qualified physician.

Well I'm not dying! But I am pretty sick and always hoping for a "lower pain" day. My multiple medical conditions are fickle. For example, one condition is heavily impacted by any change in barometric pressure. Maryland weather isn't exactly known for it's consistency. Luckily, I am under the care of expert physicians and have a wonderful support team. Yes, I'm sick. Yes, I'm going to have to cancel plans often, if I was brave enough to make them. But I am working on not letting chronic illness become my entire identity.

My literary debut (written, illustrated, and binded entirely on my own) won the third place prize among all elementary school entries in Prince Georges County circa 1995. Although the award winning book was a favorite among esteemed critics and the family members it drew inspiration from, it remains a cult classic as the general public remains widely unaware of it's existence. Having learned from my first publishing experience, I will be testing including a "marketing plan" with my next book launch. I know I have set the bar high for myself, achieving such accolades by third grade, but I am up for the task.

I have tried many coping techniques and the one that works best for me is crochet. By counting stitches I can turn off intrusive thoughts. My urge to fiddle with something is satisfied each time a loop clears the hook. I take pride in completed, tangible creations. My nieces and nephews can only own so many hats and so began my etsy page. Want to know more about my crochet journey? You can check out this 2017 ELK Studio article in which my story was featured. https://www.elkstudiohandcraftedcrochetdesigns.com/reason-keep-going/