What The Climb taught me about my own journey to parenthood
Monday, December 29th, 2025
Pictured Above: The Climb Cake by kas confectionery
I decided earlier this year to take a step back from my decade-long corporate career to focus on maternal health advocacy. And this year, I had the privilege to host The Climb, a small yet impactful event, bringing together individuals passionate about maternal health. I put on a brave face but I felt like I was battling one thing after another, from balancing the demands of my chronic disease, the emotional weight of a miscarriage, and the pressure of lead-hosting an event for the very community I was grieving within.
If 2025 has taught me anything, the “village” isn’t just for celebratory moments - it’s the safety net that catches you when your own strength fails.
I thought the journey to motherhood would be a straight path, you meet your person, get married, buy a house, and have a baby. However, navigating the maternal healthcare space with a chronic condition adds another dimension of stress that we as a society don’t talk about. You aren’t just thinking about nursery colors; you are thinking about labs, flare-ups, and the fine line between “normal pregnancy symptoms” and "something is wrong.”'
I entered 2025 with my eyes wide open, ready to advocate for myself and my future child, never realizing that my personal health journey and my advocacy work were about to collide in a way I never expected.
While I was coordinating with mental health providers, confirming resources with the Preeclampsia Foundation, and making sure every detail for this event was perfect, I was also saying goodbye to a pregnancy. Managing a chronic disease already requires a certain level of hyper-vigilance over my body, but adding the toll of a miscarriage while planning a community event, looking back, impacted my emotional and mental health. Despite what I was dealing with, the day of The Climb arrived as a powerful reminder that this event was a lifeline for those in the thick of it.
Pictured Above: Nadine Ferguson (Left) and Jodi Drake (Right) speaking at The Climb Team Apopka Event
In the heart of Apopka, we gathered experts and survivors to bring testament to the power of the perinatal health community. We had mental health counselors Jodi Drake and Nadine Ferguson, whose expertise provided a bridge for those struggling in silence. Also, partnering with the Preeclampsia Foundation, bringing vital awareness to the physical complications that so often intertwine with mental health challenges. At the time of the event, I did not share my story but this journey has made me realize, the mountain of motherhood is too steep to trek solo.
We put so much pressure on ourselves to have this perfectly curated life, especially for social media.
But this year has taught me that a village can be small. Thank you to The Climb Leadership and Postpartum Support International for giving me the opportunity to host this event in my backyard. I sincerely thank Jodi Drake and Nadine Ferguson for taking time out of their day to speak to the community and thank you to the community that showed up.
This event would not have happened without you.
Lastly, I couldn’t have stood strong during this event without my husband. His support wasn’t just in the big moments, he was my anchor when the tide felt like it was pulling me under.
For me, the rest of this year is dedicated to recovery and reflection. I am learning to give myself the same grace I advocate for every other mother to receive. To those who are currently reading this, whether you are managing a chronic illness, grieving a loss that no one else knows about, or simply trying to keep your head above water - please know this: you do not have to climb alone.
I may not know what 2026 has in store for me, but I know I’ll be entering it with a deeper understanding of my own strength and profound gratitude for the community that caught me when I fell.
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