Welcome to Wellness Pediatrics KC

My Experience & Education

I have been a pediatric nurse practitioner since 2003. We were an Air Force family and moved a lot, every couple years until my husband retired in 2018. Most of my years have been in Pediatric Primary Care, but I also have years of experiences in wound and ostomy, pediatric neurosurgery & gastroenterology.

My Education:

1997 Registered Nurse, BSN Baker University

2003 Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, MSN Saint Louis University

2015 Emory University Wound and Ostomy Certification

2022 opened Wellness Pediatrics KC and completed Gillespie Approach Craniosacral Fascial Therapy Training

2023 Institute of Functional Medicine (IFM) Certified Practitioner

2024 Certified GAPS (Gut and Physiology Syndrome) Practitioner

These more recent courses have provided me with a thorough understanding of how food, lifestyle choices, stress, toxins and lack of nature & sun impact our health, as well as how true gut healing can occur through proper nutrition, stress management, nature & sun and gentle detox methods. I am eager to share this knowledge with those the Lord brings into my life. Healing the gut and our immune system is not a quick fix and it can’t be achieved with medications or supplements alone and cannot be hacked. However, healing is possible when we focus on getting quality sleep, incorporating calming and nature-based practices for stress management, eliminating toxins, and fueling our bodies with healing foods. We were divinely designed to heal.

My goal is to provide personalized and holistic care to those I serve. I'm eager to guide families who are ready for a change and committed to doing the work necessary to achieve it.

Your "family medical history" doesn’t have to be your personal medical history. While our genes lay the foundation, it’s our lifestyle choices/habits that often trigger many chronic health conditions. These include skin disorders, obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, dementia, mental health issues, mood disorders, autoimmune conditions, and even some cancers. Our overall health and vitality—or lack thereof—are deeply influenced by the balance of beneficial or harmful microbes in our gut, as well as our lifestyle habits. Harmful microbes release toxins that can damage the gut lining, leading to a range of symptoms, while beneficial microbes carry out crucial functions for our well-being.

Another significant factor in our health is the environment our genes are exposed to. Are your genes nurtured by high-quality nutrients, stress management, the positive effects of exercise and movement, sunlight, nature, and restorative sleep? Or are they immersed in toxic chemicals from what you eat and drink, the products you apply to your body, physical reactions from stress, poor sleep, and lack of exercise? Have you felt the healing benefits of sunlight on your skin, walking in nature, or grounding yourself outdoors?

My Why…My Life & My Loves

I believe in maintaining a healthy body terrain, where lifestyle medicine and food serve as powerful tools for healing. My goal is to get most of my nutrients I need (for immunity, overall health, vitality, and positive mental well-being) from my food, rather than relying heavily on supplements. The healthier my “terrain,” the better I feel. When I feel my best, I’m a better wife and mom.

Other things that matter to me include getting proper sleep and relaxation, staying active through exercise and movement, soaking up sunlight, hands & feet on on the earth and in the dirt, being in nature (God’s amazing creation!), minimizing exposure to toxins, managing stress in healthy ways, and nurturing positive relationships. It all works together! I’m not perfect at it yet… I’m still learning.

My husband and I have been married since 2001 and have 3 children. After my husband retired from the Air Force, we wanted to live somewhere we could learn to grow our food. In 2016, we purchased our property south of Kansas City and have been learning all about growing our food (well…growing soil, so we can have healthy food) and living as healthy as possible. So much to learn!!! We have pasture raised cows for grass fed beef and milk, poultry for eggs and meat, an ever changing garden and a growing food forest. I am also a member of Weston A. Price and involved with the local KC chapter. We love this life and feel very blessed to have this opportunity! Jesus Christ leads our life!!  

I see so much physical and emotional pain from situations that can be turned around, if people just could choose differently. I can’t make the choice for people, but I can give guidance and knowledge. Our health and wellbeing is a choice we have to choose. Much love!!!