Sometimes a chance encounter can shift the course of your life — not by accident, but because it was meant to. Meeting Nathan at the dog show was one of those moments. From the outside, I may seem like just an everyday person, but my story is anything but ordinary.
I left an abusive marriage with nothing but the clothes on our backs. Our free fall began during COVID, after my husband’s suicide attempt and an eventual schizophrenia diagnosis — one I never knew about until 2024, but which explained so much. I stayed as long as I could, so I could one day tell our children, “I did everything I could to save your daddy.” But the toll it took on me — emotionally, physically, spiritually — was nearly too much to bear.
And yet, I survived. Many don’t.
Today, I have a protective order. I’m approved by the Texas Crime Victims Compensation Program. My divorce was finalized under Texas cruelty laws. And now, for the first time, our home is quiet. Safe. Beautiful in its stillness.
Five years ago, I stumbled into dog fostering — and those dogs saved me. From silly costumes to cozy dog apparel, they made me laugh again. They gave me purpose. They gave birth to my business: an in-home dog daycare and boarding service that has brought joy not just to others, but to me. I love videoing dogs and sharing their magic on social media. But even with all that love, my confidence took a hit.
I’d always been thin — until trauma and survival became my routine. Food became my comfort, and I climbed to 218 pounds. But a few years ago, I made a promise: My daughter will never hear me be called “fat” again. I’ve since lost over 80 pounds. And to my 15-year-old son, I want to show that no woman should be judged as “wrinkled” or “old” — only as resilient and radiant.
Then came CbGardnB and Nathan — and my world shifted again. Not because of how I looked (not yet — it’s only been 24 hours!), but because of how I felt: hopeful. My $10,000+ investment into the red light wasn’t just a financial choice — it was a declaration. As a survivor of domestic violence, I CAN do this.
I’ve been invited to share my story on a larger stage — but the face I see in the mirror each night often held me back. Still, I know this: if I don’t speak up about mental health, about trauma, about surviving what tried to break me, then I risk passing down silence to my children. And silence is where the cycle grows.
They lost their father in many ways — to untreated mental illness, to a system that failed us. He is now in long-term treatment. And they, the littlest victims, deserve to see what survival and healing really look like.
This isn’t just a testimonial. It’s the beginning of the next chapter — and I’m finally ready to be seen.
Thank you, CbGardnB and Nathan, for the kindness you showed me at the trade show and for making these incredible products available. Even after just 24 hours, I already feel a difference — not just in my skin, but in my spirit. Hope has a glow all its own. Excited to feel beautiful again!!!
