Thank You Friends: Go Coogs!

Months before life happened, Jaiya and I had planned to travel to the University of Houston over October Fall Break for her “official” campus visit before committing the next 4 years of her academic and track career to the home of the Coogs.

But on August 2, 2024, after losing my job, EVERYTHING changed for us, impacting everything about our plans and lives.

This has been a ROUGH road for sure, with MANY dark days that left me doubting if we’d make it at all.

There have also been moments where sisterly love and human kindness showed up without warning to offer us hope, support, shelter, and safety.

We will never be able to thank Danne Smith Mathis and Michele Simon enough for rallying the LinkedIn community to help us make our way to Houston while also preventing our household and personal belongings in storage from being sold at auction.

Even when those closest to us didn’t believe it possible–given our circumstances–virtual strangers stepped up to show what is possible when we take a moment to simply care for one another.

The conversations I had with Danne and Michele the week we left saved my life. And their and your acts of kindness saved Jaiya Devi’s hope and helped to secure her path forward to LA2028.

The UH trip was so MAGICAL! Jaiya was even celebrated with cheers and applause by the United crew, pilot, and passengers on our outbound flight!

As of November 13th, National D1 Signing Day, Jaiya is officially committed to the University of Houston with a full-ride scholarship and endless opportunities awaiting her.

Had the UH trip not happened in October, I’m not sure where our paths would have led. She/we NEEDED that trip! And though we returned to life as it has been since August, your act of kindness keeps us pushing forward daily and believing that this season will pass.

In 4 years, you will watch my baby shine on the World Olympic Stage, and for those who stepped up when I could not, you’ll know you were part of getting her to Los Angeles.

PLEASE enjoy all the celebratory pictures from both her UH visit and D1 Signing Day.