Our Story
Heart racing. Weak knees. My mind spinning in every direction.
I still remember the moment we first heard our son’s diagnosis - Hemimegalencephaly.
A word we had never heard before. A word that would change the trajectory of our lives forever.
This extremely rare brain condition caused uncontrollable seizures that sent us to the emergency room weekly during his first two years. Eventually, an incredible neurosurgeon at Pittsburgh Children’s Hospital recommended an intense brain surgery. Thankfully, the surgery was successful and significantly reduced his seizures.
But our journey didn’t stop there.
Aidan was later diagnosed with Autism and cognitive delays. Suddenly, we were navigating Medicaid applications, IEP meetings, care coordinators, and systems we never imagined we would need to understand.
We were learning to advocate medically, educationally - and financially.
At the same time, I was facing another realization. I had always been drawn to entrepreneurship and investing, but I followed the traditional path - go to college, get a stable job, work hard for decades, and hope it all works out.
When Aidan’s diagnosis reshaped our world, it also clarified something for me:
Our financial life couldn’t be average.
We wanted the flexibility to spend more time with our son - now and in the future. And we knew we would likely need to support him financially for the rest of his life.
That responsibility felt heavy.
But it also became my motivation. My WHY!
I immersed myself in financial education. I read relentlessly. I sought mentors. I studied how money truly works - how to earn intentionally, save wisely, invest strategically, and protect what matters most.
Over the next 15+ years, I built and managed businesses and real estate investments while continuing to deepen my financial expertise - always with one goal in mind: long-term security for my family.
Not for status. Not for ambition.
For security. For flexibility. For my family.
Over time, something became clear: Traditional, cookie-cutter financial advice doesn’t account for families like ours.
Parents raising children with special needs face different timelines, trade-offs, and risks. The decisions we make affect government benefits, retirement planning, assets, and lifelong care. And most families are navigating it alone.
That’s why I created Ignite My Money.
Ignite My Money exists to replace financial overwhelm with clarity for parents raising children with special needs.
We provide practical, step-by-step financial education designed for real-life scenarios - helping you build long-term security for your child while gaining confidence and peace of mind today.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the financial decisions ahead, you’re not alone.
You deserve a clear path forward.
You deserve a plan that fits your family’s reality.
And you deserve to move ahead with confidence.
When you’re ready, take your first step.