Like my father, my native home is the South American country of Venezuela. At birth, my father was granted temporary custody of me, and he did the job well. While with him, we lived in various countries throughout Africa and South America. But wherever we lived, our home was filled with two things—music and love.

When I reached school age, a judge ruled that I should be brought back to the United States to be educated. I was placed in a foster home that was filled with horrific, daily abuse. I spent many hours listening to music on my tiny, transistor radio. The foster family did take me to church, and I found my best friend—Jesus. He gave me the strength to survive the abuse. Singing about him kept me strong.

After high school, I married way too young, just seventeen, to a man that was too old. I wanted to escape the foster home. At eighteen, I was expecting my first child. I rocked her at night and dreamed of one day getting a doctorate degree. Two more babies came. I continued to rock babies in one arm and study a college text in the other. I was determined to realize my dreams.

Seventeen years later I had earned my PhD in International Human Rights Law and began working with victims of tragic human rights abuses. I felt passion for my work at the United Nations, and was quickly promoted to diplomatic status. In every country that I lived and worked I sang their songs while knowing that I had found my purpose and calling.

While working in Ghana, I felt numbness in my left foot. Months later, my entire left side became numb. The final diagnosis was made—I had Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Heartbroken, I resigned my job and sought God’s next pathway for my life. Music once again became my rescue!

The Lord began to open avenues for my music, which became the center focus of my life. I was accepted into The Ben Speer-Stamps Baxter School of Music (commonly referred to as Stamps-Baxter School) near Nashville, Tennessee. Although still very weak and numb, God gave me strength to begin studying and working with such Christian music greats as Bill and Gloria Gaither, The Ben Speer Family, Sue C. Smith, and Reba Rambo McGuire. Each day, as I continued to write and perform, God continued to multiply my efforts.

Last year, God lead me to songwriter legend Mark Cawley of iDoCoach.com, whose songs have been recorded by artists like Tina Turner, The Spice Girls, Wynonna Judd, and more. Working with Mark’s coaching changed my songwriting into high quality work. He also arranged for my demos to be recorded by renowned guitarist Bob Britt, who has played with industry greats Bob Dylan, Wynonna Judd, and Delbert McClinton.

Each day I continue to face new challenges with my Multiple Sclerosis, and I depend on God to help move my hands across the page when I write.  He also continues to send wonderful helpers into my life.  I no longer see MS as the disease. For me now it stands for Mighty Songwriter!