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.

Rhonda has been a strong supporter of Hand to Hold for many years and has watched the amazing impact Hand to Hold has had on NICU families in the NICU at St. David’s Medical Center. She served on the Hand to Hold Board of Directors from 2017 to 2020 and the Emeritus Board from 2020- present. Rhonda was recently recognized by Hand to Hold as a NICU Champion in September of 2022.

Rhonda was born and raised in New Braunfels, Texas where her parents still reside. Rhonda graduated from the University of  Texas Medical Branch in Galveston in 1990. Her 33 years of nursing have been in the NICU.

Rhonda lives in Pflugerville, Tx with her husband Tim and her very spoiled chihuahua, Lizzie. Rhonda’s pride and joy are her two daughters, Lindsey and Riley. Lindsey is 27 years old and lives in Austin and Riley is 19 years old and is a sophomore at UNT in Denton. In her spare time, Rhonda loves to read, garden, cook, travel, and she is a very proud member of the Taylor Swift fan club.

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.

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 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.

Ivette’s experiences with high-risk pregnancy, loss, preterm birth and PTSD have inspired her to advocate for others and to raise awareness about anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder among NICU parents and for better education and screening for mothers in general. She is certified as a Mental Health Peer Specialist with the goal of working within the Antepartum and NICU population. Ivette also holds certifications as a Wellness Recovery Action Plan facilitator and a Diversity and Inclusion workshop facilitator. Prior to joining Hand to Hold, Ivette worked as a Peer Mentor for Austin Mental Health Community and Travis County Mental Health Public Defender. 

Ivette, her husband, and four children live in Round Rock, TX. She is proud to be able to raise her children from her cross-cultural lens, and loves exposing them to her South African beliefs and traditions. Ivette speaks English, Afrikaans, Dutch and Zulu.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Ayesha Youngblood is a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate (LPC-A), under the supervision of Andranique Goodman, LPC-S. Ayesha is also a Certified Trauma Professional offering counseling services to NICU families at Hand to Hold. While she has not had a NICU experience, she is passionate about supporting families in any area that is needed. 

Ayesha believes each individual’s concerns are unique and because of that, she works toward meeting clients where they are and utilizing the approaches that best fit their needs. She has worked with varying concerns, including anxiety, depression, trauma, personality disorders, bipolar disorder, ASD, ADHD, fertility concerns, relationship concerns, and familial concerns, and is open to many more. Ayesha hopes to work as a team with clients to encourage growth, gain insight, and utilize or develop the skills needed to be their best self.

Ayesha earned her Bachelor’s degree from Towson University, where she majored in Psychology and minored in Public Health. She is also a graduate from the University of Central Florida, where she earned her Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology. 

Angel is committed to bringing a stress-free event day for everyone in attendance. Having successful events both celebrating and educating others in the NICU space help to create better relationships, compassion, mental health awareness, better business practices and a greater sense of belonging to those who may have felt alone or not even sure what they were feeling. Angel is excited to bring her experience and network to help continue to grow the success of Hand to Hold.

Angel lives in Austin, TX, with her husband, two sons and a full house of pets. Most of the time you will find her and her husband cheering on their high schoolers in their respective sports, wrestling or playing baseball. She has an addiction to shopping, sushi, decorating and playing poker. In the summer, you can find her out on a boat in the middle of the lake where she and her husband relive the memories of the days when they first met while he lived on a houseboat.

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 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.

As the Donor Engagement Specialist, Teresa plays a crucial part in strengthening our connections with donors through a meaningful donor experience, ensuring that our fundraising initiatives align with our organizational objectives.

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.

Andrea Pratt joined Hand to Hold in 2023 as the Finance Associate. She is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin and has been using her Finance degree to serve Austin area nonprofits, in a professional capacity and as a volunteer, for the last 11 years. Andrea lives in Cedar Park, TX with her husband, son and two spoiled Cocker Spaniels. She is a passionate community volunteer and spends much of her free time volunteering. When she is not working, volunteering or attending her son’s games, Andrea can be found by the pool, at Longhorn football games, outdoors with her dogs or at her favorite Mexican food restaurant.

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.