MY JOURNEY

I am a native New Yorker and the seventh of eight children, raised in a busy home shaped by care, generosity, and presence.

My parents immigrated to the United States from the West Indies, and growing up in a house with one bathroom and nine other family members—plus the occasional guest—taught me patience early on. It wasn’t until I was older that I understood my parents were natural-born caregivers. There was always someone sleeping on the family couch because they never turned anyone away, believing it was healing to welcome an ill or down-on-their-luck relative or friend into our home.

Over time, I found myself drawn to caring for others—visiting neighbors, supporting friends, and sitting with those who felt alone. That pull became clear when I trained as a death doula, transforming my own grief into service.

In 2012, I watched my best friend, Cathy, take her last breath. She was the glue of our circle, and her loss left me questioning everything—my faith, my feelings, and myself. The deaths of my parents had already shaped my understanding of grief, but losing Cathy ignited something deeper. This work has made me acutely aware of the value of time, and the importance of choosing how we spend it.

My approach is also shaped by more than 30 years of meditation and yoga practice, grounding how I show up and remain present with others.

Since then, I have supported individuals and families through their own losses, carrying forward the care, presence, and compassion that shaped me.