Staff

Katrina Moline was named Hand to Hold’s Executive Director in 2024 after joining the team as the Operations Director in 2018. She holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Communications from Texas State University. 

Katrina has been a part of the Hand to Hold family since 2009, receiving peer-to-peer mentoring after the birth of her son at 24 weeks and later serving as a peer mentor herself. Prior to Hand to Hold, she spent 14 years as an Account Manager at Screen Solutions, Inc. and is grateful for the opportunity to focus her time and talents on a mission so near and dear to her heart.

Katrina lives in Austin, TX, and enjoys reading, spending time with family and friends and being outdoors.

Christine started as a Hand to Hold peer mentor in 2015 and then Family Support Specialist at St David’s Medical Center, Austin a year later. In 2018, she became a certified Mental Health Peer Specialist, and has completed additional training with Postpartum Support International and Seleni on maternal mental health, perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, and perinatal loss. As Program Manager since 2020, her responsibilities include overseeing the team of Family Support Specialists in hospitals across Texas and Hand to Hold’s activities in our partner hospitals. 

Christine and her husband had two very different but challenging experiences in the NICU.Their first baby, a preemie daughter was born at 28 weeks with severe IUGR. After six weeks in the NICU, she passed away due to complications following two diagnoses of NEC. In spite of carefully managed subsequent pregnancies, these did not go to plan either.Their second child was born at 37 weeks, and their third pregnancy also ended with a delivery just before term. Diagnosed with a heart defect the day after birth, their son required lifesaving, corrective surgery a few days later. Fortunately, the outcome was very different to their first NICU stay and they were able to take their son home after two weeks. 

Christine understands the challenges parents may face when they arrive in the NICU and are overwhelmed by their new environment and learning how to bond with and care for their baby. She also helps them understand that even a short term NICU stay can have a huge impact on a person’s emotional and mental wellbeing. She encourages parents to advocate for themselves and their baby, especially when there are language and cultural challenges, as well as to take the time to care for themselves throughout their stay and beyond.

Christine is proud of her cross-cultural identity and extensive travel experiences, and loves parents to share the individual or family traditions and beliefs that they want to share with their baby.  She speaks English, Spanish and some French.

Andrea joined Hand to Hold in 2023, bringing more than 15 years of experience supporting Austin-area nonprofits through both her professional work and volunteer service. A graduate of The University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Finance, she is passionate about using her expertise to strengthen mission-driven organizations and serve her community.

Andrea lives in Cedar Park with her husband, son, and two spoiled Cocker Spaniels. A dedicated community volunteer, she spends much of her free time giving back. When she’s not working, volunteering, or cheering at her son’s football games, Andrea can often be found by the pool, at Texas Longhorns football games, outdoors with her dogs, or enjoying her favorite Mexican food restaurant.

Nicole leads fundraising and donor engagement at Hand to Hold, where she focuses on building meaningful relationships, growing support for the mission, and helping ensure families have access to the care and connection they need. Her work includes development strategy, donor stewardship, and budget management, all grounded in a people-first approach. She is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) and is currently pursuing her Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) credential.

Originally from Waco, Texas, Nicole met her husband, Justin, in 2015 and quickly made her way to the Austin area, where they now live with their son, Hunter. Her background spans event planning and hospitality, public relations, and strategic growth. She also co-founded and operated a commercial concrete company with her husband, giving her a unique blend of entrepreneurial and operational experience. Most recently, she led revenue growth through memberships and sponsorships at a local Chamber of Commerce.

While Nicole did not have a NICU experience herself, her connection to Hand to Hold’s mission is deeply personal. Her son, Hunter, experienced a rare and complex medical condition early in life that took time, persistence, and the right care team to diagnose. That season gave her a deep appreciation for how overwhelming and uncertain a child’s medical journey can feel for families.

Nicole is passionate about expanding resources, strengthening partnerships, and ensuring more families have access to the support they need during some of life’s most challenging moments.

Liz serves as a Family Support Specialist, responsible for supporting NICU families virtually or in person either one-on-one or in group settings, all with a goal to reduce the negative impact of a NICU stay and ensure the best outcome for the entire family. 

Liz has two children, a boy and a girl. Her first pregnancy with her son was normal until delivery, when she developed postpartum preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome. She spent nearly two weeks recovering in the hospital, which made bonding with her son challenging. Halfway through her second pregnancy, her daughter was diagnosed with IUGR and required additional growth scans to monitor the baby. During an appointment with Maternal Fetal Medicine, her daughter went into distress and was born a few hours later at 35 weeks. Her baby went straight to the NICU. Having had a challenging first birth, it was eye opening and humbling for Liz to learn to navigate the NICU with her second baby. She remembers how overwhelming the NICU was, especially when her daughter’s journey was not as straightforward as the medical team initially presumed based on her gestational age. Her daughter spent a month in the NICU before being welcomed home. It was an experience that changed their families’ entire lives. 

Liz has never had a traditional postpartum, and is passionate about connecting with parents during that vulnerable time. She aims to bring empathy to all families, ensuring they feel seen during their own NICU journey.

Cynthia serves our families as a Bilingual Licensed Mental Health Counselor. She is responsible for supporting NICU families virtually either in one-on-one counseling or in group settings, all with a goal to reduce the negative impact of a NICU stay and ensure the best outcome for the entire family. She has a love of psychology and is passionate about helping families find balance and self-awareness.

Cynthia is a mother to three boys and an 11-year-old Schnauzer. Her NICU experience was after the birth of her second son, Raphael. Cynthia was induced at 38 weeks due to fetal macrosomia. Her son had a four-day NICU stay due to thermal issues and gastrointestinal issues that lasted for the first 14 months of his life. Her two youngest sons also have developmental disorders that have shaped Cynthia’s career path and her love for helping parents living with full hands and full hearts! Cynthia is also a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and works with families affected by a developmental diagnosis. Cynthia strives to provide excellent service and support, a sense of community, and a safe space for NICU families.

Cynthia es nuestra Consejera Bilingüe de Salud Mental. Es responsable de brindarles apoyo a las familias que tienen un bebé en la NICU, sea en forma individual o en grupo, con el objetivo de reducir el impacto negativo de la estadía en la NICU y asegurar el mejor resultado posible para toda la familia. Siente un gran amor por la psicología y por ayudar a padres y familias a encontrar un equilibrio y ser conscientes de sus vidas únicas.

 Cynthia es la madre de tres niños y un Schnauzer de 11 años. Su experiencia en la NICU sucedió despues del nacimiento de su segundo hijo, Raphael. A Cynthia le indujeron el parto a las 38 semanas debido a una macrosomía fetal. Su hijo estuvo en la NICU cuatro días por problemas de temperatura y gastrostomía que continuaron durante los primeros 14 meses de vida. Sus dos hijos menores también enfrentan trastornos del desarrollo, lo cual encaminó la carrera de Cynthia y su amor por ayudar a que otros padres vivan con sus manos y sus corazón llenos. Cynthia también es analista de comportamiento certificada y trabaja con familias afectadas por el diagnóstico de problemas de desarrollo. Cynthia se esfuerza por ofrecerles a las familias de la NICU una asistencia y un servicio excelentes, espíritu comunitario y un espacio seguro.

Taneisha Stamps has worked as Hand to Hold’s Virtual Support Program Manager since 2023. She has a Bachelor’s of Science in Global Public Health from the University of Virginia as well as a Master’s of Science in Population Health from Duke University. As the Virtual Support Program Manager, her responsibilities include day to day operations and growth of the virtual support programs.

Prior to joining Hand to Hold, Taneisha worked as the Operations Manager for Nuance Communications overseeing daily operations and managing a large team while delivering high quality, consistent services. She brings a combination of both right brain and a left brain to Hand to Hold. While she is experienced at drilling into the numbers to get to the
right decisions, she also knows how to help bring the team together to achieve it.

Taneisha has firsthand experience with the NICU after her son was born unexpectedly at 28 weeks. After spending 3 months in the NICU, coming home on home oxygen, and spending countless months with different specialists and therapies, her son is now thriving and she is
ready to give back to NICU families after healing from her own PPD/PTSD experience. As a military family, she understands the challenges of living far away from family, especially when coupled with the difficult journey of a NICU experience. Taneisha strives to make a lasting impact in the lives of NICU families by providing them with the virtual support they need during their challenging journey.

She lives in Colorado Springs, CO with her husband, and son, Rocket, and enjoys cooking, traveling, and watching rocket launches with her family.

Heather serves our families as a Virtual Family Support Specialist. She is responsible for supporting NICU families virtually either in one-on-one or in group settings, all with a goal to reduce the negative impact of a NICU stay and ensure the best outcome for the entire family.

Heather lives in Illinois with her husband, Matt, and her two children, Henry and Eve. She became a preemie mom when her son was born unexpectedly early at 34 weeks and spent 21 days in the NICU. While she was lucky to have the support of her family, she had no one who could relate to her NICU experience on a personal level. In her second pregnancy she was put on strict bed rest and remembers being so scared at the idea of returning to the NICU. The night she told her husband she thought she’d be “okay” if their baby came, her water broke and her daughter was born at 36 weeks. No NICU stay was necessary.

Both pregnancies, births, and postpartum were difficult in their own ways. She hopes that in providing peer support she can help other NICU parents feel grounded, validated, and cared for. Supporting each other and sharing our experiences is one of the greatest gifts we can give. You are not alone.

Shawna is a Family Support Specialist, responsible for supporting NICU families virtually or in person either one-on-one or in group settings, all with a goal to reduce the negative impact of a NICU stay and ensure the best outcome for the entire family.

Shawna’s passion for supporting NICU families is deeply personal. Her son, Asher, was born at just 26 weeks and spent three months in the NICU. During his stay, Asher faced significant challenges with weight gain and feeding, but he grew stronger each day. When Shawna was finally able to bring him home, she quickly realized that the NICU experience doesn’t end at discharge.

Now, Shawna is honored to accompany other families on their NICU journeys. She has written a children’s book about Asher’s story and continually seeks meaningful ways to connect with others. With warmth and empathy, she hopes to create a safe space for families to feel acknowledged and supported, constantly reminding them to celebrate the small joys and that they are never alone—even on the most complex paths, there is always sunshine.

Diana serves our families as a Virtual Family Support Specialist. She is responsible for supporting NICU families virtually either in one-on-one or in group settings, all with a goal to reduce the negative impact of a NICU stay and ensure the best outcome for the entire family.

Diana and her husband have experienced three NICU experiences. Their eldest was born with the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck, which affected her breathing at birth. She remained in NICU for a week and a half. Their two youngest children were born during the pandemic. Diana and her husband felt extremely isolated and in fear of what was happening around them. Their middle child experienced a short NICU stay due to low glucose levels. Lastly, their youngest child was born with a cyst, and required surgery after her short NICU stay.

Diana understands how isolating and fearful having a baby in the NICU is. She wishes that a program like Hand to Hold would have supported her during her NICU experiences. She wants to be able to hold space for NICU parents (in English & Spanish) and help them navigate through this experience. Diana has more than eight years of experience assisting parents in need of support and encouragement through different non-profit organizations. She is a certified children’s yoga instructor, in which she taught toddlers self regulating tools through play. Diana is a mindfulness researcher and enthusiast, helping parents, and herself, find healthy ways to cope with the challenges this journey can bring.

Diana y su esposo han tenido 3 experiencias en la UCIN (NICU). La mayor nació con el cordón umbilical enrollado alrededor de su cuello y afectó su respiración al nacer. Permaneció en la NICU  durante una semana y media. Sus dos hijos menores nacieron durante la pandemia, Diana y su esposo se sentían sumamente aislados y con miedo de lo que sucedía a su alrededor. Su hijo mediano tuvo una estancia corta en la NICU debido a niveles bajos de glucosa. Por último, su hija menor nació con un quiste y requirió cirugía después de su breve estadía en la NICU.

Diana comprende lo aislante y aterrador que es tener un bebé en la NICU. Desearía que un programa como Hand to Hold la hubiera apoyado durante sus experiencias en la NICU. Quiere poder ofrecer espacio a los padres de la NICU (en inglés y español) y ayudarlos a atravesar esta experiencia. Diana tiene más de 8 años de experiencia ayudando a padres que necesitan apoyo y aliento a través de diferentes organizaciones sin fines de lucro. Es instructora certificada de yoga para niños, en el que enseñó a los niños pequeños herramientas de autorregulación a través del juego. Diana es una investigadora y entusiasta de la atención plena que busca ayudar a los padres y a ella misma a encontrar formas saludables de afrontar los desafíos que este viaje puede traer.

Melissa serves as a Family Support Specialist, responsible for supporting NICU families virtually or in person either one-on-one or in group settings, all with a goal to reduce the negative impact of a NICU stay and ensure the best outcome for the entire family.

Melissa’s NICU experience started in Antepartum due to PPROM. After 17 days at the hospital, her son was born at 27 weeks. He survived NEC, open heart surgery, and many complications through his six months in the NICU.

Navigating life after the NICU, medical complexities and her son’s autism diagnosis led Melissa to seek maternal mental health therapy and peer support.

Melissa also holds certifications as a Bilingual Trauma Informed Yoga Therapy Teacher and an ‘Overcome Anxiety’ program Facilitator.

Melissa, her husband and son live in Austin, Texas. They often travel to Mexico to visit family and friends.

Melissa se desempeña como Especialista en Apoyo Familiar, responsable de brindar apoyo a las familias de la NICU (por sus siglas en inglés) de manera virtual o presencial, ya sea de forma individual o en grupos, todo con el objetivo de reducir el impacto negativo de una estancia en la NICU y garantizar el mejor resultado para toda la familia.

La experiencia de Melissa en la NICU comenzó en la unidad de antepartum debido a PPROM (ruptura prematura de membranas). Después de 17 días en el hospital, su hijo nació a las 27 semanas. Sobrevivió a la infección gastrointestinal conocida como NEC, una cirugía a corazón abierto y muchas complicaciones durante sus 6 meses en la NICU.

Al afrontar la vida después de la estancia en el hospital, las complejidades médicas y el diagnóstico de autismo de su hijo, llevaron a Melissa a buscar terapia de salud mental materna
y grupos de apoyo.

Melissa también cuenta con certificaciones como Profesora Bilingüe de Yoga Informado en Trauma y Facilitadora del programa “Overcome Anxiety” (programa para aliviar la ansiedad).

Melissa, su esposo y su hijo viven en Austin, Texas. Con frecuencia viajan a México para visitar a familiares y amigos.

Sonia joined Hand to Hold as a Bilingual Mental Health Therapist, where she provides compassionate, trauma-informed counseling to NICU parents and families. As the older sister of a premature baby who spent a month and a half in the NICU, Sonia has a deeply personal understanding of how a NICU hospitalization affects the entire family. She recognizes that while much of the focus is rightly placed on the baby’s medical care, siblings often experience confusion, anxiety, disrupted routines, and prolonged separation from both their new sibling and parents as families navigate an uncertain and emotionally overwhelming time. Drawing from both her personal experience and her professional background as a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified EMDR Therapist, Sonia is honored to support families with empathy, hope, and evidence-based care as they navigate the NICU journey and its lasting emotional impact.

Monica Rivera joins Hand to Hold as a Family Support Specialist, responsible for supporting NICU families virtually or in person either one-on-one or in group settings, all with a goal to reduce the negative impact of a NICU stay and ensure the best outcome for the entire family.

Monica’s son Omar was prenatally diagnosed with Trisomy 13. Due to the grim statistics of this diagnosis, she and her husband were encouraged to pursue comfort care. However, they advocated for their son to be born in a hospital with a Level IV NICU, where they would provide the necessary care and support for Omar’s needs. Omar reached full term and was a healthy birth weight. However, he needed respiratory support at birth and throughout his NICU stay. He also had feeding difficulties and cutis aplasia, which required wound care. After a 2 week NICU stay, their son was discharged home, only to return 5 weeks later for a 3 week PICU stay for breathing difficulties.

With experience as a social worker and a peer volunteer to families who receive a prenatal diagnosis, Monica hopes to help NICU families find their voice and advocate for their babies, as well as providing support and encouragement during their NICU stay.

Monica es una de nuestras especialistas en apoyo familiar. Es responsable de brindarles apoyo a las familias que tienen un bebé en el NICU, sea en forma individual o en grupo, con el objetivo de reducir el impacto negativo de la estadía en el NICU y asegurar el mejor resultado posible para toda la familia.

Omar, el hijo de Mónica, fue diagnosticado prenatalmente con trisomía 13. Debido a las severas estadísticas de este diagnóstico, a ella y a su esposo se les sugirió buscar cuidados paliativos. Sin embargo, abogaron para que su hijo naciera en un hospital con un NICU Nivel IV, donde brindarían la atención y el apoyo necesarios para las necesidades de Omar. Omar llegó a término y tenía un peso saludable al nacer. Sin embargo, necesitó asistencia respiratoria al nacer y durante su estancia en el NICU. También tenía dificultades para alimentarse y aplasia cutis, que requirió cuidado de las heridas. Después de una estadía de 2 semanas en el NICU, su hijo fue dado de alta, solo para regresar 5 semanas después para una estadía de 3 semanas en el PICU por dificultades respiratorias.

Con experiencia como trabajadora social y voluntaria para familias que reciben un diagnóstico prenatal, Monica espera ayudar a las familias de la NICU a encontrar su voz y abogar por sus bebés, además de brindarles apoyo y aliento durante su estadía en la NICU.

Karina is a Family Support Specialist responsible for supporting NICU families virtually or in person either one-on-one or in group settings, all with a goal to reduce the negative impact of a NICU stay and ensure the best outcome for the entire family.

Karina’s NICU journey began when her daughter was born at 26 weeks due to severe preeclampsia. After several days in the NICU, her daughter passed away. Her second child was born at term following another high risk pregnancy. Years later, Karina experienced preeclampsia again, and her youngest son spent six weeks in the NICU before coming home due to hypoglycemia. Having experienced both loss and bringing a baby home from the NICU, Karina understands the fear, uncertainty, hope, and many emotions families may carry throughout pregnancy and the NICU journey.

Karina hopes to bring NICU families compassion, encouragement, and a sense of connection during what can be an overwhelming and uncertain time. Drawing from her own lived experience and passion for patient and family advocacy, she wants to create a space where families feel comfortable sharing their fears, asking questions, celebrating victories, and using their voice throughout their baby’s care. She understands that every family’s journey is different and hopes to listen without judgment while providing support that meets each family where they are. As a bilingual English and Spanish Family Support Specialist, Karina hopes to help families feel heard, supported, and empowered and, most importantly, remind them that they do not have to navigate the NICU journey alone.

La experiencia de Karina con la NICU comenzó cuando su hija nació a las 26 semanas debido a preeclampsia severa. Después de varios días en la NICU, su hija falleció. Su segundo hijo nació a término después de otro embarazo de alto riesgo. Años después, Karina volvió a tener preeclampsia y su hijo menor pasó seis semanas en la NICU debido a hipoglucemia antes de poder ir a casa.  Al haber vivido tanto la pérdida de un bebé como la experiencia de llevar a un bebé a casa después de la NICU, Karina comprende el miedo, la incertidumbre, la esperanza y las muchas emociones que las familias pueden experimentar durante el embarazo y su paso por la NICU.

Karina espera brindar a las familias de la NICU compasión, ánimo y un sentido de conexión durante un momento que puede ser abrumador y lleno de incertidumbre. Basándose en su propia experiencia y su pasión por apoyar a pacientes y familias, quiere crear un espacio donde las familias se sientan cómodas compartiendo sus miedos, haciendo preguntas, celebrando sus logros y usando su voz durante el cuidado de su bebé. Karina entiende que la experiencia de cada familia es diferente y espera escuchar sin juzgar, ofreciendo apoyo según las necesidades de cada familia. Como Especialista de Apoyo Familiar bilingüe en inglés y español, espera ayudar a que las familias se sientan escuchadas, apoyadas y seguras al expresar sus necesidades y, sobre todo, recordarles que no tienen que pasar por la experiencia de la NICU solos.

Kirstie joins Hand to Hold as a Family Support Specialist. As a Family Support Specialist she is responsible for supporting NICU families virtually or in person either one-on-one or in group settings, all with a goal to reduce the negative impact of a NICU stay and ensure the best outcome for the entire family.

Kirstie experienced premature rupture of membranes (PROM) early on in her pregnancy with her son. Considered a high-risk pregnancy, she remained on bedrest for 18 weeks until her son was delivered at 33 weeks. He spent 47 days in the NICU.

Kirstie understands how overwhelming a NICU stay can feel for families. She wants families to know they are not alone. She hopes to provide empathy, compassion, and a listening ear.

Desalyn joined Hand to Hold in 2023 as a Marketing Associate. She is a 2023 University of Texas graduate. While at the University of Texas, she majored in Marketing with a minor in Management. As part of the Marketing and Development Team, Desalyn aims to help inform others about Hand to Hold’s mission, let NICU parents know they are not alone, and help Hand to Hold reach more families in need. She is excited to be a part of Hand to Hold as she has always wanted to make a positive impact in the community. Her family and friends are extremely important to her. Outside of work, Desalyn likes to spend her time with family and friends, reading, drawing, crocheting, listening to music, and watching movies and TV shows.

Sofia joins Hand to Hold as the Development Manager. Sofia holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration focused on Sustainable Social Impact, and brings 5 years of experience working with local nonprofits to the team.

After a complicated and challenging pregnancy, Sofia had a semi emergent C-Section at 28 weeks. Her tiny but mighty fighter was born weighing 1 lb. 10 oz. Sofia and her husband celebrated Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years in the NICU. After 137 days Zenith was finally able to come home. Hand to Hold’s support during her son’s NICU stay was so impactful that she later found herself drawn to joining the organization. 

Sofia wholeheartedly believes in the mission of providing support and resources to parents during their arduous NICU journeys. She is passionate about raising funds to continue and expand Hand to Hold’s impact on communities across the nation. In her free time Sofia enjoys crafting, reading books to her son, and exploring with her family.

Jenny Landry is Hand to Hold’s Peer Mentor Program Coordinator, connecting parents just starting out on their NICU journey with NICU graduate parents who are trained as peer mentors and provide one-on-one support.

Jenny truly loves being able to provide support for families who have a NICU stay or experience the loss of a baby. No one knows what it is like except for someone who has been through it, and that kind of support is so meaningful. She carefully selects the best mentors possible for each parent, so that the relationship can be as impactful as possible.

Sharron joins Hand to Hold as a Sr. Marketing Associate.  As a Kansas City Native while performing as her school mascot, she met and married her high school sweetheart, Domonic.  Years later they relocated to Fort Worth, Texas, with their 3 children. With a creative spirit, she has explored various unique avenues in the business world. She began by crafting custom gift boxes and centerpieces for clients and event planning. Following that, she worked as a brand ambassador and content creator in the travel industry, as well as a food critic for Fort Worth Foodies. Additionally, she played a key role in launching her own BBQ restaurant alongside her husband.

Now, as a resident of Austin, Texas, Sharron is eager to support the Hand to Hold team by championing its mission and advocating for the families it serves. With her diverse background in marketing and creativity, she looks forward to contributing innovative ideas and expanding the reach of Hand to Hold to assist even more families.

In her free time, Sharron embraces her southern roots by enjoying rodeos, spending quality time with family, songwriting, staying updated with the latest technology, and engaging in water activities.  A true optimist, she sees the beauty in everyone and is always on the lookout for fresh experiences.  Passionate about learning and exploring unconventional ideas, she is dedicated to sharing her knowledge to support those around her. Sharron is thrilled to be part of Hand to Hold and to contribute to such an inspiring mission. 

Leigh Ann Torres is a writer, creator and mother of three living in Austin, TX. As a Marketing Specialist, she is responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing Hand to Hold’s marketing activities to drive awareness, conversion and equity to help grow Hand to Hold’s mission impact.   

After a short and sudden bout with severe preeclampsia, Leigh Ann’s identical twin girls were delivered at 31 weeks, spending 38 mostly uneventful days in the NICU. Two years later the Torres family welcomed another baby, this time at term, with only a mild case of preeclampsia. Leigh Ann lives in Austin, TX, with her husband and three teens who keep her busy at volleyball tournaments, marching band competitions, and theatre productions.

Jessica has been with Hand to Hold since 2014, where she leads grant strategy, and supports corporate partnership and stewardship efforts to advance Hand to Hold’s mission. She brings nearly 20 years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, communications, and strategic relationship-building to the team. Jessica is a graduate of Kansas State University and a Kansas City native. Outside of work, she enjoys staying active, baking, reading, supporting the arts, and spending time with family and friends.

Renli recently joined Hand to Hold as the Online Store Coordinator.  She is a small-town girl originally from Merkel, TX.  After earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Angelo State University, she spent her first four years teaching in McCamey, TX, and the next 10 years in Leander ISD, until her own children were of school-age and she became a stay-at-home mom.

She quickly realized the need for a creative outlet and opened an Etsy shop offering home decor and gifts from 2011-2016.  The opportunity to join the world of direct sales/social retail was presented to her in 2015 and she has been involved with 4 different businesses over the past six years.  This allows her to live the dream she’s always had of owning a boutique. For a brief period, Renli designed closets and worked in insurance, but always returned to social retail.

Renli is blessed to be the mom of two teenagers. When she isn’t working, she enjoys spending time with her family, attending the kids’ activities, serving as their personal taxi service, and enjoying a glass of wine.

Ayssa joined Hand to Hold in 2026 as a Development Associate and now supports the organization through executive, board, and office operations. Ayssa is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin, she was involved in the university’s fundraising office and actively participated in the campus chapter of Habitat for Humanity. After spending the last eight years supporting corporate operations, Ayssa is grateful to return to her nonprofit roots and feels called back to serving the community through mission-driven work.

In her role, she helps coordinate executive and board operations while supporting staff, events, and organizational initiatives across teams. She is passionate about creating efficient, organized systems that help Hand to Hold provide the highest level of support, resources, and care to the families it serves throughout their NICU journey.

Outside of work, Ayssa enjoys listening to audiobooks, attending concerts and Texas Longhorns women’s basketball games, and spending time with her rescue dog.

Leah joined the team in 2023. Being an Enneagram 2, she loves helping people. With a degree in Psychology and background in Child Development, Leah enjoys being a part of a team that offers specialized support to families going through circumstances that are often emotionally traumatic. Leah’s NICU experience is directly connected to the life of her nephew, baby Samuel, who was born at 29 weeks, weighing only 1 lb 12 oz. Unfortunately Samuel never left the NICU and passed away on day 99. Seeing the trauma and loneliness her sister went through while staying by his side for 99 days and the heavy grief that soon followed, she felt drawn to the mission of Hand to Hold and wanted to be a part of what they do in offering support to other families who may be experiencing similar emotional trauma to that of her sisters.

Leah is new to Texas. Her husband David, and their three kids and mini Schnauzer moved to the Austin area in winter of 2022, all the way from Seattle. In her spare time, she loves planning parties, drinking coffee, serving with her church, and spending time with her family exploring new areas of the South.

Kathryn Whitaker is the host of Hand to Hold’s NICU Babies, Parent Support podcast. She is also the author of Live Big, Love Bigger, an award-winning book about living an intentional life and how her NICU baby helped her get there. She’s a sixth-generation Texan who loves queso, cowboy boots and southern hospitality. On social media and her website, Kathryn shares her honest take on family life and living in the chaos, all while drinking Dr Pepper and cheering on the Texas A&M Aggies. She has appeared in USA Today, radio and TV stations around the country and co-hosts “Strong Voices,” a weekly show on SiriusXM Radio. Kathryn and her husband, Scott, live with their children in Austin, Texas.

Amber serves our families as a Virtual Family Support Specialist. She is responsible for supporting NICU families virtually either in one-on-one or in group settings, all with a goal to reduce the negative impact of a NICU stay and ensure the best outcome for the entire family.

Amber feels passionate about joining Hand to Hold to have the chance to support and engage with families with shared experiences. Having two full term babies in the NICU, born at 42 wks with GBS and born at 38 wks with HIE, Amber understands the toll an unexpected NICU journey can have on parents. After her six week old daughter passed away from HIE complications, Amber joined the Love and Loss support group which taught her that we can find ourselves in other peoples’ stories and find healing in the sharing of these stories.

Both NICU stays and the tragic loss of her daughter have impacted Amber in countless ways. She has gained hope and strength through Hand to Hold’s support group and podcast as she has navigated, and continues to navigate grief, parenting a living child and honoring her daughter’s life. She is currently a Hand to Hold peer mentor and is currently working toward becoming a certified peer specialist in the state of New York.

Amber hopes to use her family’s NICU experiences to support other parents in their journeys—offering tools that have been helpful to her, and connecting with others in the seasons of grief by standing closely beside others, because no one should walk through these challenges alone. She is honored to be part of this virtual support team and to give back to
Hand to Hold, an organization that has been crucial to her healing.