Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice & In-Home Euthanasia

I grew up in Peoria, a small city in the central Illinois region that houses a diverse population of people dedicated to the health and well-being of their pets. As a young child, I was always fascinated with animals and their health, and after my first time riding a horse at the age of 5, my decision of becoming a veterinarian was solidified. My passion for the field was further fueled in my teenage years while working at Whitney Veterinary Hospital. There, I advanced from a kennel attendant up to the veterinary assistant role. One of the veterinarians took me under her wing and mentored me through medical cases to further expand my knowledge and pique my interest in the career field. 

After high school, I fast tracked my trajectory toward becoming a veterinarian. I completed my undergraduate studies at Illinois Central College then transferred to University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana College of Veterinary Medicine to obtain my veterinary degree. In veterinary school, I stumbled upon a unique interest in grief counseling through a bereavement class I attended, run by a therapist working for the university. The latter opened my eyes to a focus in my career that I was unaware of at the time. Through this class, I volunteered as a pet loss advocate on the school's hotline. 

Since veterinary school, I have led a diverse life in this career field, having practiced in small animal exclusive hospitals, managed a relief company in the Chicagoland area, performed in home euthanasia (prior to joining Lap of Love), and even led a team as Chief of Staff. I’ve always tailored my focus as a veterinarian toward quality of life and the human-animal bond, while supporting families in making decisions regarding the health and well-being of their pet(s). Though, I’ve worn many hats throughout my career, I’ve always gravitated toward end-of-life care and value the unique privilege of assisting families in the comfort of their own home with this valuable service. By providing in home care, pets can feel most at ease during this critical time in their lives. Helping these families also provides me with the ability to make myself available to ease some of their pain through my passion of grief counseling. 

Outside of work, you can usually find me working out, hiking, painting, spending time with my son, William, and devoting lots of cuddle time to my cat, Rack, and dog, Paco. My past interests include competing as a professional, natural bodybuilder, while now, I continue to incorporate exercise as a healthy coping mechanism in my daily life.