ABOUT
I aim to amplify the voices of families with kids facing illness or special needs by sharing their stories to build awareness, foster connection, and inspire hope within and beyond the medical community.
What began in 2016 as a personal effort to uplift children through bravery videos (short, confidence-boosting music videos for kids undergoing treatment) soon expanded into creating awareness videos and music videos for parents that were meant to offer moments of reflection and to inspire them to celebrate their journeys and find the beauty in them.
Over time, the project has evolved to include a podcast, song creations, a parent blog, and most recently, an upcoming documentary + music video series. In this latest chapter, I will be traveling to meet families, film their stories, and share them with a broader and more diverse audience so the world can better understand the resilience, love, and humanity behind every battle.
ORIGIN STORY
Growing up with undiagnosed autism and mental illness, the world often felt overwhelming, chaotic, and isolating. I struggled socially, but with stories, I found healing and connection. For as long as I can remember, stories were more than entertainment- they were how I learned to navigate the world and connect with others.
After a breakdown in 2015, I began regressing in skills, frequently went nonverbal, and experienced a severe decline in my mental health. It wasn't until I found the stories of families with children battling illness that I found hope and began to heal. Their pain resonated with me, and their resilience, love, and ability to experience joy inspired me to keep fighting. They led me to God and taught me how to cope and embrace life even in the face of adversity.
Wanting to express to these families what I saw in them but struggling to speak, I found a new voice through music and began creating music videos to share what I saw in them. Because of my struggles, I've always felt a certain amount of disconnection to people, but through music, I feel more connected to humanity than ever. This journey has helped me realize the power of our stories, especially when told through the universal language of music.
These experiences inspired the Here's Hope Project. Although all of our stories are different, we are connected through the emotions and struggles that underlie them. When we connect with that, we can see ourselves in others. By recognizing the strength and beauty in these families, we can find that same resilience and beauty within ourselves and feel the power of human connection.
