For those who know me, music and teaching have always been at the center of my life. I am a middle school orchestra director, private lessons teacher, professional violinist and violist, arts administrator, and performer throughout the Houston and Galveston area. Beyond teaching more than 50 hours a week, I have spent the past three years serving as Executive Director of the Galveston Symphony Orchestra while also performing regularly with orchestras, church ensembles, theater productions, weddings, chamber groups, and community performances. For our family, music has never just been a passion — it has been a major part of how we survive financially.
My health problems began in November with severe vertigo that was initially dismissed as stress or exhaustion. But I knew something was wrong. What followed were months of testing: multiple MRIs of my brain and spine, vestibular testing, specialist appointments, and countless attempts to manage worsening symptoms and pain. Doctors eventually discovered four herniated discs in my cervical spine. During my evaluation with a spine surgeon, they became concerned about severe nerve damage in my left arm and suspected what is called “double crush syndrome,” where nerves are compressed both in the neck and farther down the arm. An EMG later confirmed severe carpal tunnel and cubital tunnel syndrome, likely present for far longer than we realized. This past week, I underwent open carpal tunnel and cubital tunnel release surgery. Because the nerves had likely been compressed and damaged for such a long time, recovery is expected to be slow and uncertain. As a violinist, this is devastating. At minimum, I will be unable to perform for 3–6 months, and possibly longer. I have already had to step away from my role with the symphony, and I am unable to perform at church, weddings, local orchestras, or theater productions during recovery. These performances and arts administration roles account for more than one-third of our household income.
At the same time, our family has already been struggling under the weight of major financial setbacks over the past two years: replacing both of our cars after they failed, installing a new HVAC system for our home, repairing damage from the May 2024 tornado, and managing a homeowners insurance increase that nearly tripled afterward. Those emergencies depleted the savings we once had to fall back on. Now, with mounting medical bills and the sudden loss of a substantial portion of my income, we are facing the terrifying reality that our monthly expenses will soon exceed what we bring in. As parents of two boys entering middle school, even ordinary costs — school expenses, instruments, summer programs, groceries, and transportation — are becoming overwhelming. It is incredibly difficult for me to ask for help. I have spent my life being the person who works harder, teaches more lessons, takes more gigs, and finds a way to make things work. But right now, I need time to heal properly so that I can regain the ability to perform, teach, and support my family long-term. Your support would mean more than I can express. It would help us keep our home, stay afloat on essential bills, and allow me to recover without the constant fear of losing everything we have worked so hard to build for our children. Any amount, whether through donations, sharing this fundraiser, or simply keeping our family in your thoughts, would mean the world to us. Thank you for reading, for supporting the arts, and for supporting our family during one of the hardest seasons of our lives.
My health problems began in November with severe vertigo that was initially dismissed as stress or exhaustion. But I knew something was wrong. What followed were months of testing: multiple MRIs of my brain and spine, vestibular testing, specialist appointments, and countless attempts to manage worsening symptoms and pain. Doctors eventually discovered four herniated discs in my cervical spine. During my evaluation with a spine surgeon, they became concerned about severe nerve damage in my left arm and suspected what is called “double crush syndrome,” where nerves are compressed both in the neck and farther down the arm. An EMG later confirmed severe carpal tunnel and cubital tunnel syndrome, likely present for far longer than we realized. This past week, I underwent open carpal tunnel and cubital tunnel release surgery. Because the nerves had likely been compressed and damaged for such a long time, recovery is expected to be slow and uncertain. As a violinist, this is devastating. At minimum, I will be unable to perform for 3–6 months, and possibly longer. I have already had to step away from my role with the symphony, and I am unable to perform at church, weddings, local orchestras, or theater productions during recovery. These performances and arts administration roles account for more than one-third of our household income.
At the same time, our family has already been struggling under the weight of major financial setbacks over the past two years: replacing both of our cars after they failed, installing a new HVAC system for our home, repairing damage from the May 2024 tornado, and managing a homeowners insurance increase that nearly tripled afterward. Those emergencies depleted the savings we once had to fall back on. Now, with mounting medical bills and the sudden loss of a substantial portion of my income, we are facing the terrifying reality that our monthly expenses will soon exceed what we bring in. As parents of two boys entering middle school, even ordinary costs — school expenses, instruments, summer programs, groceries, and transportation — are becoming overwhelming. It is incredibly difficult for me to ask for help. I have spent my life being the person who works harder, teaches more lessons, takes more gigs, and finds a way to make things work. But right now, I need time to heal properly so that I can regain the ability to perform, teach, and support my family long-term. Your support would mean more than I can express. It would help us keep our home, stay afloat on essential bills, and allow me to recover without the constant fear of losing everything we have worked so hard to build for our children. Any amount, whether through donations, sharing this fundraiser, or simply keeping our family in your thoughts, would mean the world to us. Thank you for reading, for supporting the arts, and for supporting our family during one of the hardest seasons of our lives.