Staff
LEADERSHIP

Kelli Kelley
Founder and CEO
NICU Parent
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Kelli D. Kelley founded Hand to Hold in 2010 after struggling for years with difficulties surrounding the premature births of both of her children. She now invests her time and talents to raise awareness about the high incidence of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder among NICU parents and advocating for hospital and community based programs to ensure better outcomes for babies and families.
Kelli has a Bachelor’s of Journalism from The University of Texas at Austin. She serves as Vice President of the board of directors for the National Coalition for Infant Health, as a parent expert for the AAP TECaN Advocacy Campaign of NICU family mental health, and is a founding member of the NICU Parent Network.
Kelli was named a 2020 Woman to Watch from Austin Woman Magazine for her leadership in NICU parent support. She has also been named a 2015 Outstanding Austin Communicator from Woman Communicators of Austin, 2011 Local Hero through Bank of America’s Neighborhood Excellence Initiative® and a 2011 Health Care Hero through the Austin Business Journal. She is the 2010 recipient of the Austin Under 40 Award for Medical and Health Care, and an ENERGIZER Keep Going Hall of Fame Semifinalist.
Kelli lives in Austin, TX with her husband and long-hair, diva dachshund. In her free-time she enjoys reading, listening to podcasts, and keeping up with her NICU graduates, who are now in college.

Rachel Astorga-McCain
Programs Director
NICU Parent
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Rachel Astorga-McCain has worked as Hand to Hold’s Director of Programs since 2018. She has a Bachelor’s of Science in Applied Learning and Development as well as an Executive Master of Public Affairs degree from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin.
Prior to joining Hand to Hold, Rachel worked for the Prevention and Early Intervention division at the Department of Family & Protective Services (DFPS) managing strategic cross-state agency efforts. She also served as project manager for the federal Maternal Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) grant. Rachel previously served as the Director of Community Education at Any Baby Can of Austin, Inc. where she coordinated outreach efforts and managed cross-sector partnerships. She also served as the Family Education Program Manager overseeing family literacy and parenting education programs for Austin area families.
Rachel currently resides in Austin, TX with her husband, two children, and their dog. She experienced first-hand the exhausting emotional and physical toll a NICU stay can have on a parent after her daughter was born at 26 weeks gestation and spent 81 days in the NICU. She now enjoys family outings to Austin parks and swimming spots, British dramas, adult coloring books and running as weather permits in this Texas heat!

Sarah Inbau
Chief Growth Officer
NICU Parent
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Sarah served on the Hand to Hold Executive Board of Directors from 2020-2022. She brings broad experience from a multi-disciplinary career with a blend of strategic vision, digital innovation, data driven insights planning and cross-functional leadership orchestration. Prior to relocating to Austin, TX and launching GrowthCycle Consulting, she spent 15+ years with Kimberly-Clark Corporation working on iconic brands including Huggies® and Kleenex®.
Inbau is a seasoned marketer with depth of experience in brand, product and cause marketing, digital transformation, creative & media development, and strategic partnerships. She is also an experienced cross-functional leader with demonstrated results and learning agility in Operations, Research & Engineering, Procurement, and Supply Chain roles.
Inbau is a passionate leader and coach who believes in leading with a daily combination of head, heart and humor. She lives in Austin, TX with her husband Christian, two sons, Dawson and Parker, and Dempsey the Goldendoodle.

Katrina Moline
Chief Operations Officer and Chief Financial Officer
NICU Parent
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Katrina Moline joined Hand to Hold 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.

Kelly Perkins
Development Director
NICU Parent
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Kelly Perkins joined the Hand to Hold team as the Development Director in 2019. She holds a Master’s of Arts in Organizational Management from Tusculum University and a Bachelor’s of Science in Business from Davenport University.
Kelly brings more than 15 years of development director experience to Hand to Hold. She previously worked as Development Director for The Salvation Army and for CASA of Travis County. Kelly’s NICU experience is different in that her son, Cooper, was born full-term and was later admitted to the NICU after feeding complications at 5 days old. She is excited to combine her passion and past experiences to help forward the mission and vision of Hand to Hold.
When not working, Kelly enjoys spending time with her husband and very active children, reading, watching movies and trying to figure out her Cricut!
PROGRAMS

Christine Tester
Hospital Ambassador Program Manager
NICU and Bereaved Parent
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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.

Cassandra Bujanda
Family Support Specialist/Especialista en Apoyo Familiar serving families at St. David's North Austin Medical Center
NICU Parent
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Cassandra joins Hand to Hold as a Family Support Specialist at St. David’s Women’s Center of Texas – North Austin Medical Center. As a Family Support Specialist 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.
Cassandra had several miscarriages before finally becoming pregnant with her first son. She was bedridden for most of her pregnancy, and knows the feeling of being overwhelmed with worry. Her son, Oliver, spent 30 days in the NICU, while battling pneumonia. Hours after birth, Oliver had a collapsed lung, and chest tube insertion. She was able to hold Oliver for the first time, until the eleventh day of his life. After the NICU, he was diagnosed with asthma, which required special attention and many nebulizer treatments. After an evaluation, Oliver wore a cranial helmet for six months due to plagiocephaly. Cassandra is eager to help families navigate all of the challenges during and after the NICU.
Cassandra holds a bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies and Spanish. She particularly would like to aid families and babies with adequate resources and support. Simply, Cassandra, wants to be there to listen, and to hold someone’s hand.
Cassandra se une a Hand to Hold como Especialista en Apoyo Familiar en el hospital St. David’s Women’s Center of Texas – North Austin Medical Center. Como Especialista en Apoyo Familiar, es responsable de brindarles apoyo a las familias que tienen un hijo/a en la NICU —sea de forma grupal o individual— con el objetivo de reducir el impacto negativo de la estadía en la NICU y asegurar el mejor resultado posible para toda la familia.
Cassandra tuvo varios abortos naturales antes de finalmente quedar embarazada de su primer hijo. Tuvo que reposar en cama durante la mayor parte de su embarazo, y conoce la sensación de estar abrumada por la preocupación. Su hijo, Oliver, pasó 30 días en la NICU, mientras luchaba contra una neumonía. Horas después de nacer, Oliver sufrió un colapso pulmonar y debieron ponerle una sonda pleural. Pudo sostener a Oliver por primera vez en su undécimo día de vida. Tras pasar por la NICU, se le diagnosticó asma, que requirió atención especial y muchos tratamientos con nebulizadores. Tras una evaluación, Oliver debió llevar un casco craneal durante seis meses debido a una plagiocefalia. Cassandra está dispuesta a ayudar a las familias a superar todos los retos durante y después de la NICU.
Cassandra es licenciada en Ciencias de la Comunicación y en Español. En particular, le gustaría ayudar a las familias y a los bebés con recursos y apoyo adecuados. En pocas palabras, Cassandra quiere estar ahí para escuchar y sostener la mano a quien la necesite.

Shelly Brown
Family Support Specialist/Especialista en Apoyo Familiar serving families at St. David's Medical Center
NICU and Bereaved Parent
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Shelly is a Family Support Specialist at Hand to Hold helping to reduce the negative impact of a NICU stay and ensuring the best outcome for the entire family. She supports NICU families at St.David’s Medical Center.
Shelly’s first child was unexpectedly born at 20 weeks gestation and passed away shortly after birth. She knows first hand the experience of pregnancy not working out as you had pictured and the trauma it can cause for the immediate family. She is also mom to two wonderful little girls, one of which stayed for one week in the NICU due to irregular breathing after being born at 36 weeks when Shelly was induced due to HELLP syndrome.
Shelly hopes that her experiences can help other NICU families. She especially empathizes with trying to keep everyday life moving forward when it feels like the world has stopped. She also hopes to help give Spanish-speaking families a sense of familiarity as she is a native Spanish speaker herself.
Shelly spends most of her free time with her family enjoying all of the seasonal things to do in central Texas, and especially enjoys listening to live music and dancing.
Shelly es Especialista en Apoyo Familiar en Hand to Hold, donde trabaja para reducir el impacto negativo de una estancia en la NICU y asegurar el mejor resultado para toda la familia. Apoya a las familias que pasan por la NICU en el hospital St. David’s Medical Center.
El primer hijo de Shelly nació inesperadamente a las 20 semanas de gestación y falleció poco después de nacer. Ella conoce de primera mano la experiencia de que el embarazo no salga como se esperaba y el trauma que puede suponer para la familia inmediata. También es madre de dos maravillosas niñas, una de las cuales permaneció una semana en la NICU debido a una respiración irregular tras nacer a las 36 semanas de gestación, cuando el parto de Shelly fue inducido debido al síndrome HELLP.
Shelly espera que sus experiencias puedan ayudar a otras familias que pasan por la NICU. Se siente especialmente identificada con el hecho de intentar que la vida cotidiana siga adelante cuando parece que el mundo se ha detenido. También espera ayudar a que las familias de habla hispana se sientan cómodas, ya que ella misma es hablante nativa de español.
Shelly pasa la mayor parte de su tiempo libre con su familia disfrutando de todas las cosas de temporada que se pueden hacer en el centro de Texas, y disfruta especialmente de escuchar música en vivo y bailar.

Cristal Carrasco
Family Support Specialist/Especialista en Apoyo Familiar serving families at Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin
NICU Parent
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Cristal has triplets, born at 28 weeks gestation, who were in the NICU for 3, 4, and 5 months respectively. Aside from prematurity, some of the challenges they faced in the NICU were being ventilated, on CPAP followed by cannula, kidney disease, feeding aversion and reflux, surgery, and pneumothorax and chest tube placement. After the NICU, some of their challenges included coming home on oxygen, hernia surgeries, developmental delays, ear tubes, sensory processing disorder, motor and sensory neuropathy, and ADHD.
Cristal struggled with PTSD and anxiety for years after her NICU experience and began to drink in order to cope. In 2017, she got sober and began learning about the importance of mental health. She became certified as a Mental Health Peer Specialist in 2018 and joined Hand to Hold in the same year. She is passionate about offering support and providing education on mental health to NICU families.
Cristal es una Especialista en Apoyo Familiar, y madre de trillizos nacidos a las 28 semanas, que ahora tienen diez años, y un bebé a término que tiene tres años. Su estadía en el NICU fue de un total de cinco meses, incluido tener hijos en dos hospitales al mismo tiempo, mientras enfrentaban todos los desafíos de tres bebés de dos libras que nacieron 12 semanas temprano.
Tener un hijo en el NICU puede ser una experiencia aterradora. Al construir una red de apoyo para ayudar a las familias antes, durante, y después de una estadía en el NICU, el peso de esta carga puede ser ligera. A Cristal le apasiona ofrecer apoyo a las familias del NICU, difundir la conciencia sobre los desafíos durante y después de una estadía en un NICU, y ofrecer información sobre los recursos disponibles para los padres y las familias de la NICU.
Cristal disfruta cocinar y pasar tiempo con su familia en su tiempo libre.

Lacie Dixon
Family Support Specialist serving families at Baylor University Medical Center Dallas
NICU Parent
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Lacie is a Family Support Specialist at Hand to Hold helping to reduce the negative impact of a NICU stay and ensuring the best outcome for the entire family. She supports NICU families at Baylor University Medical Center Dallas.
Lacie has a Bachelor of Behavioral Science degree with a major in Exercise Science. She also has a specialized degree in Cardiac Sonography. Prior to joining Hand to Hold, Lacie worked in a large Children’s Hospital as a registered Pediatric Cardiac Sonographer. She has also been a Peer mentor with Hand to Hold since 2018.
Lacie and her husband have two beautiful little boys, both having spent time in the NICU. Two stays with two very different experiences, both with their own challenges. Lacie’s oldest son was born at 24 weeks and faced numerous hurdles throughout his 8 months in the NICU. He struggled with Chronic Lung Disease, feeding difficulties, Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) and bilateral hearing loss. Due to his premature lungs, her son required a tracheostomy and ventilator to be able to come home from the hospital along with a g-tube for feeding. He continued to grow and develop at home with the care of parents and home health nursing. Her son has since been decannulated and started kindergarten in the fall of 2021. Lacie’s youngest child was born at 35 weeks. He too had a NICU stay, though this time around it was only for a few days. Lacie realized then how emotional even a short NICU stay could be.
In her free time, Lacie enjoys spending time with her family, teaching Pilates, reading and being outdoors. She understands how challenging and overwhelming a long or short term NICU stay can be and wants to be there to help guide other parents through their own personal journey.

Whitney Guth
Family Support Specialist serving families at CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances
NICU Parent
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Whitney joined Hand to Hold as a peer mentor in August 2018 and became a Family Support Specialist for Christus Trinity Mother Frances Hospital in February 2020. She is a certified Mental Health Peer Specialist and 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.
Whitney gave birth to her first premature baby at 34 weeks and her daughter, Kolbie, spent one month in the NICU. Three years later she gave birth to her son, Kase, at just 24 weeks gestation. After having already spent time in the NICU she remembers how scared she was knowing she would have to go back through another NICU journey. Kase was born a few hours away from home so being apart from her family and friends was extremely tough. He spent four and a half months in the NICU which included several surgeries, some really hard days and also some pretty incredible moments.
She is very passionate about sharing her story to help other families navigate their journey through the NICU and believes that giving back to others is very important.

Jenny Landry
Peer Mentor Coordinator
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.

Palmira Leal
Family Support Specialist serving families at Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas
NICU Parent
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Palmira joined Hand to Hold in 2021 in the role of Family Support Specialist at Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas. As a Family Support Specialist she is responsible for supporting NICU families 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. She works at providing support to NICU families through validating their experience and instilling hope grounded in personal experience. Her passion has always been to be a positive influence to those around her. She acquired a Bachelor’s in Interdisciplinary Studies as a Bilingual Generalist teaching elementary children. After several years teaching, she acknowledged her purpose was found in sharing her story. This is her way of paying it forward, life has come full circle.
Palmira’s NICU journey began in 2005 when her baby girl was born at 37 weeks when induced due to the umbilical cord being wrapped around the baby’s neck. She quickly realized the road ahead would be filled with a multitude of challenges. Despite this notion, no one could have prepared her for the emotions that impacted her life. Her daughter was born with multiple genetic disorders which affect almost every major organ system in her body. After 16 years of countless surgeries, medical procedures, and hospital stays, Palmira’s daughter is now a teenager who is extraordinarily resilient, and wise beyond her years.
Palmira se unió a Hand to Hold en 2021 como Especialista en Apoyo Familiar en el hospital Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas. Como Especialista en Apoyo Familiar, es responsable de brindarles apoyo a las familias que tienen un hijo/a en la NICU —sea de forma grupal o individual— con el objetivo de reducir el impacto negativo de la estadía en la NICU y asegurar el mejor resultado posible para toda la familia. Trabaja para proporcionar apoyo a las familias de la NICU validando su experiencia y dándoles esperanza sobre la base de su propia experiencia. Su pasión siempre ha sido ser una influencia positiva en quienes la rodean.
Obtuvo una Licenciatura en Estudios Interdisciplinarios como generalista bilingüe enseñando a niños de primaria. Tras varios años enseñando, reconoció que su propósito era compartir su historia. Esta es su manera de devolver a la comunidad y cerrar el círculo de la vida.
El recorrido de Palmira en la NICU comenzó en 2005, cuando su hija nació a las 37 semanas de gestación. El parto tuvo que ser inducido porque el cordón umbilical se había enrollado alrededor del cuello de la bebé. Rápidamente se dio cuenta de que el camino que tenía por delante estaría lleno de retos. A pesar de ello, nadie podría haberla preparado para las emociones que impactaron en su vida. La niña nació con múltiples trastornos genéticos que afectan a casi todos los sistemas principales de su cuerpo. Después de 16 años de innumerables cirugías, intervenciones médicas y estancias en el hospital, la niña es ahora una adolescente extraordinariamente resistente y con una gran sabiduría para su edad.

Lexi Losch, MA, LPC, NCC
Counselor

Cynthia Shogreen, RMHCI
Virtual Family Support Specialist
NICU Parent
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Cynthia serves our families as a Virtual Family Support Specialist and a Bilingual Mental Health Therapist. 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. 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 8-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 gastrostomy 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! She earned her master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling and behavior analysis in Florida. Cynthia strives to provide excellent service and support, a sense of community, and a safe space for NICU families.
Cynthia es una de nuestras Especialistas en apoyo familiar virtual. 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 8 años. Su experiencia en la NICU sucedió luego 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. Obtuvo su maestría en análisis del comportamiento y asesoramiento clínico sobre salud mental en Florida. Cynthia se esfuerza por ofrecerles a las familias de la NICU una asistencia y un servicio excelentes, espíritu comunitario y un espacio seguro.

Alexis Stocks
Family Support Specialist serving families at Baylor University Medical Center Dallas
NICU Parent
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Alexis Stocks is a Family Support Specialist at Hand to Hold helping to reduce the negative impact of a NICU stay and ensuring the best outcome for the entire family. She supports NICU families at Baylor University Medical Center Dallas.
Alexis received her Bachelors in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2013 and has had many years of experience working with vulnerable families within the community providing support and resources.
Alexis strives to be a listening ear and a resource for families. Although Alexis’s first son was born prematurely 21 years ago, she vividly remembers the emotions surrounding the experience. Her subsequent experiences with postpartum depression following the birth of her two other children have given her a unique insight into the emotional toll parents face when lacking adequate support.
Alexis moved to Texas from Wisconsin in 2018 and lives in the Dallas area with her family.

Teresa Test
Programs Administrative Assistant
As the Programs Administrative Assistant, Teresa assists with the day to day tasks that revolve around the Hand to Hold programs department. She works closely with the Director of Programs and the program managers to ensure projects are completed and deadlines are met. She also helps the Family Support Specialists with the coordination of family events and activities in the hospitals. As Teresa is also a NICU graduate parent, she will be co-facilitating some Virtual Support Groups.
Before her daughter was born, it was discovered that she had an omphalocele. This is an abdominal wall defect that causes your abdominal contents to form on the outside of your body. Unsure of what the future would look like for them, she and her spouse as first time parents, remained positive and tried to plan and prepare as much as they could. Because of their daughter’s condition, they knew that a NICU stay after birth would be upon them, but they did not know how long it would be once her omphalocele became stable enough for her to go home. After a few failed attempts of trying to wean her down on her respiratory support, they learned that she had underdeveloped lungs and that she would need to receive a tracheostomy requiring ventilator support. During their 7 ½ month NICU stay, Teresa learned about Hand to Hold and that is where she met Christine Tester, a Hand to Hold Family Support Specialist. Teresa always admired the work this organization did and knew she wanted to be a part of it one way or another.
Over the years, Christine and Teresa kept in touch. Christine connected Teresa with a few women going through similar situations with their NICU babies. She feels it has been such a blessing providing that support and listening ear to others in hard times such as life in the NICU.

David Winsman
Fatherhood Support Specialist
NICU & Bereaved Parent
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David’s daughter, Penny, was born at 31 weeks, after a driver pulled out in front of his wife, requiring an emergency delivery. Penny suffered a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). David and his wife spent 82 days in the NICU and eventually went home with Penny on hospice. She passed away at eight months old. This loss and his family’s combined NICU experience deeply impacted him. His family’s experience showed David how much care and support is truly needed for NICU parents, both in the NICU and at home.
David lives in Austin with his wife, Rose, and son, Diego. He enjoys spending time with his family, listening to music, and playing guitar. David appreciates the small things in life and is very happy to be able to serve along other NICU parents and staff at Hand to Hold.

Sara Zavaleta, LMSW
Bilingual Mental Health Therapist
Following a birth companion training offered by Mama Sana Vibrant Woman, Sara was inspired to join other folks working to address racial health inequities affecting families of color. They have prior experience offering trauma support to Latinx populations, LGBT+ folks, survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, asylum seekers, and communities of color. In their psychotherapy, Sara uses an intersectional feminist, trauma-informed, and strengths-based approach that honors people’s identities, cultures, and experiences.
For their graduate education, Sara earned a Master of Arts in Latin American Studies and a Master of Science in Social Work from the University of Texas at Austin. Sara also graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a Minor in Spanish from Vanderbilt University. In their spare time, Sara enjoys swimming, paddleboarding, hiking, and cycling–basically any quality time in nature is great! Sara also loves regularly practicing yoga and meditation as part of their self-care practice. Sara is a proud Austinite and second-generation Salvadoran-American.
Sara (pronombres: elle) es une asistente trabajadore social bilingüe y bicultural que ofrece servicios de salud mental en español e inglés a familias con bebés en UCIN en Hand to Hold. A pesar de que nunca ha tenido un bebé en una UCIN, le apasione mucho promover la salud perinatal para padres con ofrecer psicoterapia y psicoeducación inclusivas y holísticas bajo la supervisión clínica de René Gaitan (supervisor de trabajo social clínico). Sara cree firmemente que el propósito de su vida es ayudar a otros a lidiar con sus experiencias traumáticas, su dolor y sus pérdidas como alguien que ha superado sus propias experiencias traumáticas.
Tras una formación de acompaño de parto ofrecida por Mama Sana Vibrant Woman, Sara se sintió inspirada para unirse a otras personas que trabajan para abordar las desigualdades raciales que afectan a las familias de color en el ámbito de la salud. Tiene experiencia previa en ofrecer apoyo para traumas a poblaciones latinxs, personas LGBT+, sobrevivientes de violencia doméstica y agresión sexual, personas que buscan asilo y comunidades de color. En su psicoterapia, Sara utiliza un enfoque interseccional feminista, informado sobre el trauma y basado en las fortalezas que honra las identidades, culturas y experiencias de las personas.
DEVELOPMENT

Nora Ulrey
Development Coordinator
Nora, a transplant to Austin from Chicago, joined the Hand to Hold team as Development Coordinator in 2021. She has worked in the nonprofit sector via the performing arts since getting her degree in Theatre Performance from Western Michigan University. Nora’s experience in marketing, operations, and development has given her the tools to advocate for the work she believes in.
Nora was drawn to H2H’s mission after having close family members experience late miscarriages. She is excited to help bring awareness to the mission while supporting and empowering families dealing with NICU stays.

Renli Reynolds
Online Store Coordinator
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.
MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS

Chaney Barton-Nichols
Marketing Manager

Leigh Ann Torres
Managing Editor
NICU Parent
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OPERATIONS

Alicia Shawhan
Finance and HR Coordinator

Mary Dudley
Administrative Coordinator
NICU Grandparent
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Kailee Paramore
Executive Assistant
Kailee was first introduced to the NICU when her younger sister, Baylee, was born at just 24 weeks. Her sister is now almost nine years old and is the most energetic and full of life person Kailee knows. The time her family spent in the NICU was very impactful and a lot of her career interests can be attributed to this experience.
CONTRACTORS

Jessica Torres-Sosa
Grants Manager