Personal Bio

I do not come from a wealthy family of lawyers or other professionals. I was born and raised in Syracuse, New York. Most (if not all) of the kids from the catholic school I attended were from a wealthy suburban neighborhood. My family was from the other side of the tracks. We lived in a small house in an area of the city called "skunk city". This was a low-to-middle income neighborhood consisting mainly of first, second, and third generation immigrants. My father, like his father, drove a ten wheel dump truck and was self-employed. His work was seasonal which caused financial strain on our family.

My parents divorced when I was a teenager. My mother did not have a college education or any vocational training, but through hard work and perseverance became a successful real estate agent. She was the main source of financial support for me and my two sisters. Her example and endless encouragement is a big reason why I'm an attorney; my older sister, a chiropractor; and my younger sister, a veterinarian.

Nothing in life has been easy for me. I borrowed a lot of money and worked very hard to make it through college and law school. In May of 1994, things took an unexpected turn for the worse. Upon returning from Texas, I became very ill and remained so for several years. I had no strength or energy and was in great pain. I had a very difficult time digesting food and would often go days without eating much of anything. My weight dropped to under 120 lbs. With my shirt off, I looked like a concentration camp victim. I remember a day in the summertime when my sister burst into tears upon seeing me take my shirt off. It was very difficult to sleep. Many nights I did not sleep at all. Compounding the sleep problem, was the fact that I would have to get up to urinate 25-50 times throughout the night. This was maddening. I know what it's like to long for the day to end hoping you will get some sleep at night so the next day won't be filled with exhaustion, only to be up all night and repeat the same brutal cycle the following day. I saw multiple doctors in Syracuse and New York City, and even traveled to Georgia for medical help. I remember being so weak, I could not lift a fork to my mouth. I recall another occasion when I literally rolled off my bed and fell face-first onto the floor (I was too weak to get off the bed normally), and cried out to God to preserve my life because I was afraid I was going to die.

Because of this experience, I can personally relate to what my clients are going through. I know firsthand what it's like to suffer physically for a prolonged period of time - how discouraging and helpless you feel. Although I played lacrosse in high school and college, a sport called the fastest sport on two feet, and had amazing endurance and was very fast, I can recall looking out my window at people walking around the park (I lived across from a park) and wondering if I would ever have the strength again to walk like them.

I can also identify with what my debt clients are going through. As a result of the illness, I experienced major financial hardship. I know what it's like not to have money to pay the mortgage and other important bills; to constantly face shut off notices for the heat, lights, phone; to have to put food back in the checkout line because you do not have enough money to pay; etc.

I don't know what I would have done had it not been for God's faithfulness during these times. I'm not saying things weren't difficult - they were extremely difficult. However, when you know beyond a shadow of doubt God is there and is working in your life, it makes a huge difference. And when things got real bad and I didn't think I would make it, He showed me in some remarkable ways that He had a plan for my life and would restore me - which is just what He did!

What I went through has given me a greater sensitivity and compassion for others going through similar things (I've found in life that most can't relate to difficult things others are experiencing unless they've walked down the same  road themselves). It has also birthed a passion in me to help others suffering physically and caught in the stranglehold of debt.