I have been married for 32 years and I am a mother of three grown daughters. I worked in healthcare for over 20 years before I went back to school at the age of 43 to pursue my dream of becoming a physical therapist.
Prior to PT school, I did not know that physical therapists could help with urinary incontinence. While in school, I discovered how rewarding it could be to help people in this manner when I shadowed a Pelvic Floor PT. That experience made me realize that I wanted to specialize in this field. I took many courses on the subject and pursued a job at UPMC which allowed me to work on Pelvic Floor issues.
These experiences have advanced my skills and I now love the challenge of helping other people with these diverse and complex issues, such as bowel and bladder incontinence, pelvic pain, painful intercourse, urgency, and frequency of going to the bathroom. I possess first hand experience dealing with some of the very issues I address on a daily basis.
When I had foot/ankle surgery, I had to be non-weight bearing for 4 weeks and had to wear a boot for an additional 3 weeks. This caused my pelvis to become out of alignment which led to a cascade of symptoms that had me feeling very similar to how my patients feel. I took myself through all the stretches and exercises that I give to my patients. This experience made me a better therapist as I can relate to my clients at a higher level now.
I am so glad I had the opportunity to pursue my passion and go back to school because I absolutely love what I do now. My mission is to come alongside every single person who entrusts their care to me and be a part of their journey to help them thrive and have a better quality of life!