About Me

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I find it difficult to articulate who I am without starting from the beginning....

• Appalachia; the Hills of Eastern Kentucky will always be “My ole Kentucky Home,”unashamedly
• I grew up with loving parents and a younger brother-22 months  my  junior. My Brother and I were inseparable as children and majority of   adulthood, until I became ill; further explanation will unfold as I share intimate details of my life.
• My parents were “Blue Collar” workers. My Father was employed at a factory, and Mother performed secretarial duties of all sorts.
• I attended Barbourville City School from kindergarten through my  high school graduation. I was the stereotypical, Appalachia, female, or I thought. I’ve lived the, unfortunate, cultural norms of a misunderstood, underserved, lost and forgotten society. I became pregnant and married My Senior year of high school. I gave birth to my daughter inJune; only a few weeks after graduation 
• My Mother has stated, “Richi was never a child; she was born an adult“. Retrospectively, this has been proven over and over again. I always wanted more out of life than my parents could provide; nothing negative against them. I wanted to be liberated and free from a culture where I didn’t belong. Fall of 1999, I started college. I was, extremely, motivated, persistent and determined to become accomplished (whatever that  meant), despite  the insurmountable, obvious and hidden barriers to come my way. I can remember being a little girl, and learning the importance of an education; especially, as a FEMALE. Obtaining an education was the key to endless possibilities, security, safety, liberty, and freedom. It  could never be taken away.... so, “they” said?!?!?!  

The Degrees of Education

2002 - Associate of Science in Nursing (Cum Laude)

            Lincoln Memorial University 

            Harrogate, TN 37752

2004 - Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Magna  Cum  Laude)

            Lincoln Memorial University 

            Harrogate, TN 37752

2008-  Masters  of Science, with a focus in Nurse Anesthesia  (GPA demanded)  

           Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia 

           Madison, TN 37115

                 — Vanderbilt University Medical Center

                      including other large training facilities throughout Nashville and TN

Yes, I’m the Girl Living in the Dark Shadows of Perpetual Mourning. September, 2012 changed life as I knew if forevermore.  I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder. Labor Day weekend I suffered symptoms of a “Rip roaring“ UTI; or so I thought. 

I‘m feel obligation/compelled to tell My Story. It will educate patients, families, healthcare providers and all others interested in understanding the ramifications of chronic illnesses. My life is a “roller coaster“ of uncertainty from all imaginable directions. I studied, countless, classes combined with years of pharmacology, human anatomy, and advanced pathophysiological.  All in the pursuit of My American  Dream.

I loved becoming the Certified Register Nurse Anesthetist! I would described my  profession as having the ability to provide comfort and safety to an awake or “asleep”  patient; I was their advocate at any cost! The experience humbled me; people placed their lives in my hands! I never imagined that one day, I too would suffer from those vicious diseases/illnesses. I know “too much” about being the provider and the patient. I describe myself as a Girl, even though I’m turning 40 years old in October. On the inside, I feel as if I’ve yet to live  😔  ...  Where is My Advocate? I’m  so  tired