Growing up in Detroit was far from a fairytale, but it was my reality. The city's challenges made me scrappy, resourceful, and determined to seek out joy. My creativity blossomed from making do with what we had - a skill that still serves me. Detroit had its flaws, but it shaped who I am. And for that, I wouldn't trade my Motor City upbringing.

Growing up with four brothers, I often retreated to a quiet corner, pencils, and notebook in hand. For hours, I'd bring to life the fairies, mystical creatures, and
magic lamps that filled my imagination. Music was another refuge, thanks to being down the street from Motown Records. I'd belt out Diana Ross and dance like James Brown, the soulful melodies carrying me to a place of pure emotion.

Later in life, I was blindsided by a breast cancer diagnosis. The news hit me like a ton of bricks, unleashing a whirlwind of emotions - fear, anger, and sadness. My poor husband remained patient and caring through it all, including when they almost lost me, as did the compassionate doctors and nurses who comforted me during the long, sleepless days of treatment.

After staring at mortality in the face, my priorities crystallized. Life's simple pleasures shone brighter, and I saw time as a gift to be treasured, not wasted. The darkness of my cancer brought light - the light of gratitude, connection, and presence. I emerged, transformed.

One Christmas, my husband gifted me a top-of-the-line digital camera that left me stunned and intimidated. Though he grinned excitedly, I could only stare at the complex device, overwhelmed by its many buttons and the thick instruction manual. For a year, the high-tech gadget gathered dust on my shelf before I finally mustered the courage to open the box.

I had just taken a buyout from my soul-crushing corporate job, perfect timing really. No more fluorescent lighting and monotone meetings for me! Turning the camera over in my hands, I saw this as my chance to reinvent myself. Cancer, my ugly duckling, forced me to grow, shaking up my priorities and showing me what truly mattered. My mess became my masterpiece.

From the ashes of that experience, a new passion ignited within me. Like an old piece of junk transformed into art, I found my calling: rescuing forgotten relics and reviving them through my work.

As I got the hang of my camera, my photos started telling stories and conveying emotions. I give forgotten relics new life, letting them shine at the
heart of my photo art while honoring the stories they once held. Alongside
vintage treasures, I transform ordinary objects into something extraordinary,
capturing the details, textures, and moments that make them tell their own
unique story. Some objects carry a quiet kind of magic —you might remember
them, recognize their stories, or meet them for the first time—but something in
their shape, history, or essence stirs a feeling deep inside your soul and you
don’t know why. They invite curiosity, wonder, and a gentle sense of
recognition. Even the simplest object can carry a world of stories, and through
my photo art, I translate those stories—revealing their warmth, their memories,
and the surprising depth and meaning hidden in the ordinary.

You never know how much clearer you can see and what you do with that vision, until life puts you to the test. I uncovered hidden reserves of strength and created beauty from adversity. An immensely powerful transformation to realize that anything is possible if you believe in yourself.