I had the pleasure of meeting Beth through Dr. Joanne Cacciatore, and I was deeply honored when she recently reached out to me to discuss a piece she was working on. Although I haven’t spoken publicly about one of the darkest periods of my life, it is a weighty chapter in my book. I shared…

What would I do with a sixteen-year-old you?  A tall, copper-colored skin sixteen-year-old you. With eyes tinted such a spectacular shade of blue that they stopped strangers dead in their tracks. You would have grown into your youthful beauty as I watched you bloom into the most spectacular teenager, following in the footsteps of your…

To celebrate Ronan’s 16th Birthday, we have decided to make a generous donation to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) in conjunction with Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour stop in Philadelphia. Our contribution will establish the Ronan Thompson Nurse Navigator Fund at the CHOP Cancer Center. The Cancer Center at CHOP is renowned for its team…

This year, on Ronan’s birthday, I’ll be in Philadelphia attending the Era’s tour thanks to Taylor Swift. This day is usually difficult for me, but I’ve found that giving back in some way brings me comfort. As a part of this effort, we’ll be making a donation to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and I’ll…

I’ve been trying to write this for weeks, but so much has happened that it’s taken me a bit to get this post out into the world. I’ve been busy with some health stuff I don’t want to get into. And horrified by another mass shooting because, in this country, we prioritize guns over innocent…

On May 12th of this year, Ronan would have turned sixteen. In honor of his birthday, we celebrate ‘Ronan’s Day of Love’ every year. This year, his birthday coincides with The Era’s Tour in Philadelphia. I am currently undecided about attending the event, but I would appreciate it if you could join us in celebrating…

One of my proudest parenting moments happened over Christmas break. I was driving back to my parent’s house from Portland, Oregon, with Quinn. We had just spent the evening there with a girlfriend of mine, her daughter, and her daughter’s best friend. I coaxed Quinn into going to Portland with me, and we had the…

Happy 🔟th Birthday to my dream come true, PoPpY RuE!! My tiny fashionista from the beginning. Your heart is made of pure GOLD. Kindness radiates from your soul. Your sassiness balances it out to keep me on my toes—your creative ability in all things; writing, singing, acting, painting, drawing, and storytelling. Your laughter is infectious.…

It’s one of those writing days where I would give anything to call up my dad and run some things past him. My dad died in 2014, and because of Ronan, I couldn’t properly grieve for him because Ro consumed my grief. It’s only now that I am finally starting to process the loss of…

“How are you holding up, sweetheart?” I felt the touch of _________hand on my shoulder as the breeze of the California coast sent shivers down my spine. Her words feel safe, like I was six years old and ready to climb into my mother’s lap for a gentle bedtime story. I answered ________’s question in…