The Story Behind the Stories
From scared new mom to published author helping thousands of families
When Teighan was born, I couldn't find the books I needed.
I was 21 years old, staring at a diagnosis I didn't understand: Down syndrome. The doctors handed me pamphlets. Well-meaning people sent me educational resources. But what I really needed was something simple.
I needed a book that would help my daughter see herself as whole. As enough. As exactly who she was meant to be.
I couldn't find that book. So eventually, I wrote it.
My Journey
I became a mom at 16. Not the typical start to an author's story, but then again, nothing about my life has been typical.
My oldest son, Zack, is now 16 himself. Five years after Zack, I had Teighan—my daughter who was born with Down syndrome and later diagnosed with ADHD and likely autism. Then came Taylinn, who has ADHD. I'm also a stepmom to my husband Paul's two children, Ethan (29) and Reed (18).
Somewhere in the chaos of raising five kids, working as an LPN, and navigating a world that doesn't always understand neurodiversity, I discovered something:
The books I needed for my kids didn't exist.
So I had to create them.
From Midnight Writing to Published Author
I started writing T-Teighan Says We're Different and That's Ok at 2am, after the kids were asleep, when the house was finally quiet. I didn't know if anyone would read it. I just knew my daughter needed to see herself in a story.
That book is now in the hands of over 500 families. Parents write to me saying they finally found the words they were searching for. Teachers use it in their classrooms. Therapists recommend it to families navigating similar journeys.
And I'm just getting started.
My second book, Bear the Ginkgo Tree, launches November 18, 2025. It's a story about a tree who feels different because of his "stinky" berries—until he discovers that what makes him different is actually his greatest gift.
Why You Can Trust Me
Real-Life Experience
I'm not writing theory. I'm writing from the trenches of raising kids with Down syndrome, ADHD, and autism.
Medical Background
As an LPN, I understand the medical side of neurodiversity—but I write from the heart, not the textbook.
Published & Trusted
Over 500 families have chosen my books. Rated 4.7★ on Amazon because these stories resonate.
My Mission
I write books for kids who need to hear:
"You are not too much.
You are not too little.
You are exactly who you're meant to be."
These aren't just books about Down syndrome or ADHD. They're books about being human. About seeing yourself clearly and loving what you see. About knowing that different doesn't mean less.
When I'm Not Writing
You'll find me living the beautiful chaos of a blended family in Rhode Island. I'm usually:
📖 Reading bedtime stories (testing material, obviously)
🏥 Working my shifts as an LPN
🎨 Making crafts with the kids (which usually ends in glitter everywhere)
☕ Drinking way too much coffee
💬 Connecting with other parents who "get it"
Life is messy, loud, and full. And I wouldn't have it any other way.
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