Find an advocate to
fit your family

Emily & Morgan

Diagnosis & Healthcare Advocate

Grace in the Unexpected is hosted by two moms, that are friends, who live the realities of pediatric brain injury every day. Our perspective is not just informed—it is lived. Between us, we represent both sides of the brain injury journey: one of us parenting a child with an acquired traumatic brain injury (TBI), and the other raising a child with a congenital brain injury. This dual lens allows us to speak with depth and nuance about the wide spectrum of challenges, adaptations, and victories families experience. Emily brings insight into adoption, as well as firsthand experience navigating epilepsy and its complexities within the context of brain injury. Morgan offers extensive knowledge in tube feeding, adaptive equipment, and AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) devices. Both moms are sharing practical guidance for families managing daily medical and communication needs. Together, we explore the full spectrum of cerebral palsy, recognizing that no two children—or journeys—are the same. From higher support needs to more independent mobility, we speak candidly about what it looks like to meet our children where they are and advocate for what they need. Our goal is to create a space where real-life experience meets honest conversation—offering support, education, and connection for families walking similar paths.

Jennifer Trevino

Special Education Advocate

Kathleen Skeins

Diagnosis & Healthcare Advocate

TBI navigation and caregiving isn't explained in the hospital. I do that here. I'm Kathleen Skeins, Board Certified Patient Advocate (BCPA) and wife of a severe traumatic brain injury survivor. I teach TBI caregivers what no one has time to explain: the medical terms, the decisions, the logistics, the parts nobody prepares you for. No recovery promises. No timelines. Just what you need to know, explained plainly, by someone who's lived it. I know it may feel like it, but you are not alone.

Jennie Dopp

Special Education Advocate

I am a mother of a 25 year old sone with autism and a rare chromosome duplication. I am also a ChSNC (Charted Special Needs Consultant). I specialize in helping families plan for the future, who will care for their child when they are gone, and I help them find the next right step in the planning process.

Nicole Fox

Diagnosis & Healthcare Advocate

Hi! I’m Nicole, a pediatric physical therapist who provides in home PT for children in Chicagoland. I primarily specialize in doing DMI intensives, but also work on breathing, breath support, electrical stimulation, and pediatric bowel and bladder. I created my company, Kidvincible, because I wanted to offer a place where children feel invincible and families are given the hope, support, and confidence they deserve. Through tailored, intensive therapy programs, I work closely with families to create an environment where progress isn’t just possible — it’s celebrated every step of the way.

Emily O'Sullivan

Early Intervention Specialist

I am a pediatric occupational therapist for 16+ years, trauma-informed grief/parent coach, infant mental health specialist, and certified lactation counselor. I have lived experience as a NICU/medical parent x2, rare diagnosis parent, and bereaved parent. I am passionate about helping families navigate their early experiences with their babies, build bonds and attachment, and manage their own mental health through the hardships of medical parenting, diagnoses, or traumas. I meet families, primarily mothers, virtually or in-person locally.

Tina Ayhan

Diagnosis & Healthcare Advocate

I had no experience with speacial needs and had to learn the hard way. My daughter has CP, epilepsy, global development delay. Had surgeries, had status epilepticus, stayed in hospitals for months. Learned to advocate for a non-verbal child while caring for two other kids one younger one older. Later went back to school and got my LMSW degree and now working for LCSW. Working in a psychiatric hospital while raising kids and managing being a full time assistant to my daughter with disabilities.

Kathlyn Roffina

Special Education Advocate

I have a physical disability and have lived this life for 31 years. My son and husband have different medical complexities and have been thrown into navigating everything as a parent. I would love to help you feel less alone and help you thrive again.

Ashley Traylor

Special Education Advocate

I am a non-attorney special education advocate with a master’s degree in special education and nearly two decades of experience supporting students with disabilities and their families. My background includes work as a special education teacher, education consultant, and parent advocate, which gives me a strong understanding of both the school and family sides of the IEP process. I support families with IEPs, 504 plans, evaluations, eligibility, behavior plans, discipline concerns, transition planning, and parent participation in meetings. My goal is to help families feel prepared, informed, and confident while working collaboratively with school teams to address the student’s individual needs. I am also a parent of a child with disabilities, so I understand how emotional and overwhelming the process can feel. I believe families deserve clear information, practical support, and someone beside them who can help translate the paperwork, organize the concerns, and keep the focus on the child. My advocacy style is calm, collaborative, and solution-focused. I help families understand their rights, ask meaningful questions, review documents, prepare for meetings, and communicate concerns clearly and productively.

Shayna Abraham

Diagnosis & Healthcare Advocate

Beyond the NICU supports families transitioning home after the NICU through parent coaching, care coordination, developmental guidance, and advocacy. Combining professional expertise with lived experience, Shayna Abraham helps families build confidence during one of life's most challenging transitions.