Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
I’ve been married for 27 years to my amazing, supportive, wonderful husband who put me through chiropractic school and stuck with me. I have two amazing, beautiful kids Nat and Syd, who are 17 and 20.

Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
I didn’t find chiropractic care, it found me. I double majored in undergrad, and I was all about mind and body and really thought I would be a child psychologist. However, volunteering as a community counselor on campus showed me that I was too sensitive. It always left me sad and exhausted. While dating my husband in Delaware I worked as a PT tech at a children’s hospital, but I realized that wasn’t the right fit for me. So, after getting married I planned to move to Atlanta so I could attend Emory to be a surgical PA. While waiting for the quarter to start, I was personal training and ran into a chiropractor. She noticed me taking Advil every day for the headaches I had been having since I was a kid. She asked if I had tried chiropractic care and I told her no because I thought chiropractors were quacks. She pretty much embarrassed me by going into the anatomy and the science the profession is based on, so I went in, got adjusted and literally two weeks later I was headache free. Once allergy season approached my husband made the connection that I wasn’t getting bloody noses, so I asked my chiropractor if this stuff had anything to do with allergies. As she explained how adjustment helped with allergies the lights started going off in my head. I could jump on people to make money! She gave me directions to Life Chiropractic, and I drove straight there from her office and applied that day. I think that’s why I’m so passionate and why I care so much is because it had such an impact on my life. My own experience with pain and chiropractic care made me a better doctor. My favorite thing about my job is that I can really see changes in people from visit to visit- life changing changes. Pain sucks. I can see and feel the changes in my patients. We get to the root of the problem and help the body make changes to get better rather than mask the pain with drugs.

Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
Dellz, Stella’s, Pane E Vino, Gnome Cafe

Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
My mom is a Holocaust survivor, so I’m very active in the Holocaust Remember program. My sister and I co-chaired it for quite some time. I have to say the most inspiring, interesting people I’ve met so far are Holocaust survivors.

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
During Covid, my husband’s been looking at the two of us taking a trip to Thailand or somewhere like that. We’ve just never been, and I’ve heard it’s beautiful. I’ve never been to Hawaii either and always wanted to go there.

Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
I’m a bit of a Trekkie. I’m all about Star Trek stuff. I love the idea of Earth being a place where everyone is equal. There’s no poverty. There’s no discrimination. We’re not only able to work with different races but different species in harmony together. Star Trek is something I strive for. I have a desire for a world where all races could work and survive together. Throw in a couple different species- how cool would that be?

Q: What advice would you give to people?
Be your wonderful, quirky self. Be who you truly are and allow others to do the same without judgement. Treat everyone with the same respect and love regardless of who they are and what your differences may be.

Q: What is something on your bucket list?
I just want my kids to grow up and have amazing, wonderful, healthy, loving lives. I have things I’d like to do but not a real bucket list. My goal for the last 20 years has just been to help these little humans be good humans.

Q: What is your go to band when you cant decide what to listen to?
Brandi Carlile

Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
I was born and raised here, so I see places that are no longer there. The Starlight Skate Center is now a car dealership. Krispy Kreme is over an old put-put spot. I just see everything different in a lot of places. My first job when I turned 16 was in Spencer Gifts in Citadel Mall, and that’s not there anymore.

Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative; with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
I just want my family here and my family in Holland to all get together. I miss them. Not one-on-one but all together it’s just so good to share a meal.

Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
As much as Charleston is growing- because it’s growing always- I feel like it’s still a small community, and it feels like home. I go somewhere and I know people that I grew up with and went to grade school and high school with. I love seeing someone I know everywhere. I still feel community and home.

Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
I see myself still working at the same building with the same people that are in it. We all get along so well, and it’s a great, loving, healing energy. I get recharged just being there. I love seeing the people that work there in the kitchen all standing there talking. I love what I do and being where I am. I never see myself retiring.

Q: What is the most beautiful place you have ever been?
I truly find beauty wherever. I live in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, yet I went to Colorado, and I was like this is the most beautiful place, but then when I go to Holland, I say this is the most beautiful place. You may have to find it, clean it, make it up, but really everywhere has beauty.

Q: Favorite month? favorite holiday? and best single day on the calendar?
I love May in Charleston because that’s really when things are in bloom. It’s hot and humid but very much bearable. I loved Purim when my kids were younger. I love dressing up and celebrating and being silly. I have two favorite dates- my children’s birthdays. There’s no greater miracle than the birth of your child.

Q: Who inspires you to be better?
My late brother. He was respectful to everyone. I watched him give the shirt off his back to a homeless man once. When I was younger and made a thoughtless judgement against a woman for her job, he grabbed me across the table and told me she was an honest woman making an honest living, working, taking care of business and I dare not disrespect her. My grandfather was the same too. He was always giving back to the community, always took care of the elderly and his community. He was also a holocaust survivor.

Q: What is one or two of your favorite smells?
Lavender and lately I’ve really been into this frankincense and myrrh soap

Q: Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
Love, safety, comfort