The Beginning - A Story of Resilience

My story started before I could even take my first breath- at IWK hospital in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Born with gastroschisis, a condition where the intestines develop outside the body, I entered the world facing challenges that most newborns never encounter. After an emergency C-section, the doctors moved with practiced urgency, their years of training focused on those critical first moments.

My parents, though terrified, stayed strong—asking questions, seeking information, refusing to be passive observers in their daughter's fight for survival. Extended family rallied around us, providing crucial support through those uncertain early days. And somehow, against the odds, I made it through with nothing more than a few physical scars. Not just surviving, but beginning a journey that would define my entire perspective on medicine, resilience, and the precious gift of life itself.

I don't remember those early days in the NICU, of course. But growing up, I learned that my first fight for life shaped who I would become. It taught me—before I could even understand it—that obstacles aren't endpoints. They're just the starting line.

This beginning gave me an unexpected gift: a deep appreciation for the power of healthcare. I grew up knowing that I was alive because of skilled doctors, advanced medical procedures, and access to quality care. That awareness shaped everything—my gratitude for health, my admiration for medical professionals, and my understanding that not everyone has the same access to life-saving knowledge or treatment that I did.

That early experience with medicine also planted a seed. I became fascinated by the healthcare professionals who helped me survive, the innovation that made my survival possible, and the gap between medical care in different parts of the world. Without realizing it, those first weeks of my life set me on a path toward MedBridge and my mission to improve healthcare access globally.