If you’d asked me a few years ago whether I thought I’d ever write a book, I probably would have laughed.

I’ve never really considered myself a writer.

After I was diagnosed, so many of my friends and family encouraged me to share my journey. My old high school even invited me back to speak to students about encouragement and resilience, but I never quite felt ready. I knew I had stories to share, but I always felt the time needed to be right. That time came in 2025.

Some close friends gave me a journal and suggested I use it to document what we hoped would become our surrogacy journey. Their thought was that one day, if we were blessed with our own precious little bundle of joy, we could share those pages with them. They would know exactly where they came from and understand that, even though they hadn’t grown in mommy’s tummy, their journey into the world was just as extraordinary. They would know how many people had loved them, prayed for them and helped bring them into our lives long before we ever got to hold them.

So, I started writing.

Before I knew it, I’d written several chapters. Eventually, I handed them to my husband, Jacques, to read. He became quite emotional and simply said, “I really think this is something worth sharing.” It was such a simple moment, but it changed everything. What had started as a journal for one future child slowly became something much bigger. I realised that if sharing my story could encourage even one person navigating a difficult season, then perhaps it was meant for more than just our family.

Still, I wouldn’t describe myself as a writer. This is simply my story. My heart on these pages.

Outside of writing, I work as the Head of Operations at Spark Tutoring, where I have the privilege of working alongside an incredible international team to build something that makes a real difference in in the online education sector.

Jacques and I live in Cape Town, where we’re continuing our own journey towards growing our family through surrogacy while embracing every unexpected chapter that comes our way.

I’m also incredibly proud to serve as an Ambassador for the South African Bone Marrow Registry (SABMR), helping raise awareness of stem cell donation and the life-changing difference a single donor can make.

If there’s one thing I hope people take away from both this website and BEYOND, it’s that information matters, asking questions matters, and finding the right people to walk alongside you can make all the difference.

Thank you for being here. I hope this becomes a place you’ll return to whenever you need it.