Who is Abel’s mom? It’s just me.
Mom. Adoptive Mom. Foster Mom. Step Mom. Embryo Adoption Mom.
About Abel's Mom
Thank you
It’s been one year since the first Born Abel book was released. Abel was still in the NICU last year, and I never would have imagined that I would be writing this a year later without our precious boy.
We were planning his homecoming, and after a very scary day in the hospital, our little boy decided to go home to heaven on August 26, 2023.
Through his amazing legacy we have 33 books published, thousands of children throughout the world illustrated, homeschool programs, medical adoption and foster resources, an extensive product donation program, NICU outreach, hospital advocacy, 10 diagnosis clubs, in person classes, annual parent event and 16 Facebook Groups.
The early years
No Running Water or Electricity to Orphanage
Many people have asked what my story is, and although my story is not important, and we truly feel that Born Abel is a collective mission of parents throughout the world, I would still like to share my background and history.
I grew up a relatively normal childhood, until my parents joined a cult when I was 10 years old. They told us the world was ending, pulled us from school for indoctrination, and we waited on a very specific date and time. The day came and went, and with embarrassment my parents moved our family from Minnesota to a trailer in the northern woods of Wisconsin with no running water or electricity. We lived there for 4 years and then they decided to move to an orphanage in Monterrey, Mexico.
The Apprentice and over 3000 Speaking Events
I worked hard and started my first business, and at 21 years old I applied for a show called, “The Apprentice”.
After many interviews, I was chosen from 215,000 to be one of the 16 contestants on the show with Donald Trump. I still am the youngest person ever selected for that show.
On the 6th episode, I was “fired” for being “too nice” to Omarosa, and I appeared on 8 episodes.
After the show, I started public speaking on real estate investing and entrepreneurship. What was meant to be “a couple events” turned into a 14-year career, over 3000 events and speaking around the world. I was also buying and selling real estate, I started many businesses and a clothing line. I was on the Today Show multiple times, on Oprah, on CNN, on Fox News, and pretty much every radio and TV station.
Many people would ask me what my “goal” was, and I would always tell them the same thing. My goal was never to be famous or successful. My goal was to be a mom. A great mom. Because I did not feel like I had that as a child.
I became a single mother in 2013, and I decided to sell one of my businesses and clothing line but continued speaking. In 2015 I met my husband, who had two boys, and we were married.
Adoption
We were called a year later about a little baby girl who had some medical needs needed a forever home, and we said, “YES!”, and with her foster placement, we decided it was time for me to stay home with the girls. We started a business managing over 900 Amazon stores, and almost 200 employees. It grew quickly to over 20 million in sales in our first year.
At our daughter’s adoption date, we were pregnant with a little boy. My heart was so full. We also started fostering two little girls.
A few short months after Levi’s birth, our world was turned upside down.
Turning Point
While my husband was at court for our foster daughters' case, and I was at swimming lessons with all the kids, our employees called and told us that the FTC was at our warehouse. The FTC (Federal Trades Commission) told us they were shutting down our business via an ex-parte restraining order. We were not even given a hearing before they showed up at our place of business. On top of that, they had press releases ready to go to make us guilty in the court of public opinion before we could even respond to their claims. With an absurd amount of negative press and hate, my husband attempted suicide in our basement, and this was also used in the media, including his full name. At this point, we had a choice, we could either fight this for millions of dollars and years of heartache or just settle with the FTC.
A change in perspective
Fearing for my husband’s life, we settled. The FTC walked away with millions of dollars and properties, and we admitted to no wrongdoing in our civil settlement. This event put life into perspective and although it was horrible, I am grateful now that it made me realize, again, what is most important in life. It’s not money. It’s not fame. It’s not success.
It's people. People matter most.
Little Miracles
Oren and Abel
We retreated to our little house with our family to live a very simple life. In 2022 my husband and I decided to adopt embryos that were not easily adoptable.
Abel was a mosaic embryo and Oren was a complex abnormal embryo. We had been told that there was a slim chance of either “sticking”, but BOTH embryos grew.
Abel's Story
The twins were born in January 2023.
Abel and Oren’s story can be seen on our social media pages. They are both little miracles.
Our intention was never to start a “movement”. We never intended for Born Abel to become so big so fast, but we give all credit to God.
After all we have been through in life, money will never have any meaning to us. Every single dollar goes back into our mission and that mission is to help people. Specifically, medically complex children and angel families.
We are truly humbled by this mission and honored that our little boy, Abel has made such an incredible impact.
