I am so honored to serve as IFCR’s Executive Director and contribute my knowledge and skills to help CDKL5 families thrive and work to advance much needed research.  

My nonprofit journey began when my five-year-old son, Keaton, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of childhood cancer. Keaton battled for a brief nine months and passed away due to complications of his treatment.  This life-altering event thrust me into my life’s purpose, and I founded Keaton’s Child Cancer Alliance in 1998. I built the organization from the ground up with a group of dedicated volunteers and led it to become a regionally recognized nonprofit with local and national alliances. 

Keaton’s mission continues to serve childhood cancer families in Northern California with resources and safety net services and funds life-saving childhood cancer research at the local and national level. 

As a passionate advocate for childhood cancer, I was part of a grassroots movement of parents and led delegates from California to our nation’s capital for more than sixteen years. Our unified voices resulted in legislation that increased childhood cancer research funding for less toxic treatments and cures.   

I’m a graduate from California State University, Long Beach with a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and a Master’s degree in Public Policy Administration. I reside in northern California with my husband Kent, and I have two adult children, Kyle and Kiana.