Staff

Rachel Astorga-McCain grew up in the small border town of Del Rio, TX, and has been an Austin transplant since 1999. She currently resides in the north Austin area with her husband and daughter, Patrick and Leila, and their dog, Amelia. After her water broke at 24 weeks, followed by a short antepartum hospital stay, Rachel gave birth to Leila in the fall of 2016 at 26 weeks gestation weighing 2 pounds, 2 ounces and was discharged after spending 81 days in the NICU. Despite numerous respiratory issues since then, Leila continues to thrive and is one happy-go-lucky girl.

 

 

Rachel experienced first-hand the exhausting emotional and physical toll a NICU stay can have on a parent and the conflicting feelings of excitement, gratitude, worry and grief that continue after discharge.  She looks forward to her new role where she can be part of a team that supports fellow preemie parents through quality and meaningful programs.

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 after serving as project manager for the federal Maternal Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) grant. She 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. Before accepting this position, she was the Family Education Program Manager overseeing family literacy and parenting education programs for Austin area families.

Rachel earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Applied Learning and Development from the University of Texas at Austin as well as an Executive Master of Public Affairs degree from the LBJ School of Public Affairs.

Katrina Moline has only recently come on to the Hand to Hold team in an official capacity as the Operations Manager. But she has been a part of the family since 2009 when she brought her tiny 24-week preemie home from a long and arduous 150 days in Dell Children’s NICU. She reached out to Kelli Kelley hoping to help and found help for herself instead. Ever since that fateful coffee date with Kelli, Katrina has whole-heartedly supported the Hand to Hold mission in any way possible, including by benefitting from a peer-to-peer mentor in those early days, telling her story at Hand to Hold fundraising engagements and volunteering as a mentor herself for the last several years. 

That once 1-1/2 pound preemie fighting for his life for days on end is now a healthy third grader. Though he still struggles with many challenges he works tirelessly to overcome any obstacle in his path.  He and his six-year-old little brother, born healthy and without a NICU stay, are endless sources of love, light and laughter in their family’s lives.

Katrina holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications from Texas State University. She has spent the last 14 years wearing a multitude of hats for Screen Solutions, Inc. and is excited for this new opportunity to focus her time and talents on a mission so near and dear to her heart.

When not working Katrina enjoys reading, spending time with family and friends and being outdoors.

Kelly Perkins joined the Hand to Hold team as the Development Director in December 2019. She most recently spent two years in the same capacity with The Salvation Army and four years with CASA of Travis County.

Kelly’s connection to the NICU is quite unique in that her son, Cooper, now 17, was a full-term baby who went home healthy and then returned to the NICU when he was five days old. Kelly remembers this time all too well and holds it truly as the most traumatic time of uncertainty and fear she has faced. Kelly’s passion for Hand to Hold and the families we serve comes from her experience and wishing she’d had someone to come along beside her when she was faced with such uncertainty for her little one.

Kelly holds a Master of Arts in Organizational Management from Tusculum University and a Bachelor of Science in Business from Davenport University. Coming to Hand to Hold with over 15 years of development director experience, Kelly is excited to combine her passion and past experience 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!

Christine’s first experience of the NICU was after her daughter, Isabelle, was born at 28 weeks. The family spent 45 days in the NICU before losing her to NEC. Christine’s third child also spent almost two weeks in the NICU, following a congenital heart defect diagnosis at birth.

After these two difficult and life-altering events, Christine recognized the importance of support and resources for families in the NICU and beyond, which were the reasons she was drawn to Hand to Hold. As a Family Support Navigator, she spends time in the NICU, talking to families and helping them through their stay. Additionally, her experience of loss guides her to help parents who have suffered any form of bereavement involving the death of a baby or a child of any age.

Christine grew up in a bilingual household, speaking English and Spanish. She studied Modern Languages at the University of Oxford, before working for many years in sports sponsorship and marketing in London. She now stays busy with her husband and three sons. In her spare time, she enjoys watching her sons compete in sports and loves reading, travel, food, good wine and exercise.

Whitney gave birth to her first premature baby at 34 weeks pregnant. Her daughter, Kolbie spent one month in the NICU. Three years later she gave birth to her son, Kase at just 24 weeks. 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. He was born a few hours from home so being away from her family and friends was extremely tough. He spent four and a half months in the NICU which included a couple of
surgeries, some really hard days but also some incredible moments.

During her first NICU experience she only had the support of her husband; Clinton, family and friends but when her son was born, she was introduced to Hand to Hold. The support she received from her peer mentor made a big difference in her second NICU experience. 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.

She and her husband enjoy spending time with their three kids camping, fishing and rodeoing. They also find joy in traveling, spending time at the lake and going on new adventures as a family. Both of their preemies are thriving, healthy kids!

 

Suzy Kellough’s passion for helping others has led her to work with seniors and children with special needs for the past 15 years. Her daughter, Alisa, was born at 27 weeks weighing 1.6 pounds. They were in the NICU for 137 days. Although that was 19 years ago, Suzy still remembers the stress and worries of the NICU and the sadness of not having the experience you dreamed of when finding out you were growing your family.

 

 

 

Suzy and her husband, James, have been married for 25 years. They just relocated from Chicago, to McKinney, TX, in August 2017. Suzy loves to read and spend time with family & friends, laughing, visiting the ocean and getting involved in their new church. Her daughter Alisa is 19 years old and starting college.

 

Cynthia is one of our Virtual Family Support Specialists. She has a love of psychology and helping parents and families find balance and self-awareness within their unique lives. She earned her master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling and behavior analysis in Florida and is now providing group and one-on-one support to NICU families through Hand to Hold’s virtual platforms.

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)!

Christine was born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y. She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Brooklyn College. Christine took an interest in healthcare after graduating and has worked in various medical settings in New York.

Christine joins Hand to Hold as a Virtual Family Support Specialist to support NICU families in one-on-one or in group settings on Hand to Hold’s virtual platforms, all with a goal to reduce the negative impact of a NICU stay and ensure the best outcome for the entire family. Her main focus is to provide assistance to bereaved families. Her passion for the bereaved community grew when she experienced the loss of her son Zachary in 2018. Her son was born with a rare genetic disorder called ALGS, and he spent a grueling six months in the NICU, undergoing multiple surgeries. After his release from the NICU, Zachary fought for his life for the next three years until his body gave in. He is loved and remembered as being a courageous, loving boy.

Although experiencing the loss of a child is devastating, Christine emphasizes the importance of self care and mental well being. During her spare time, she enjoys going on walks and meditation. She loves good food and traveling.

Sonja Ferguson is a native Southern Californian who moved to Austin, TX in 2010. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Communications from California State University-Fullerton (Go Titan Baseball!), with a minor in Psychology. She then began her journey into education by earning her certifications and Master’s degrees in both cross-cultural teaching and educational counseling from National University. Before becoming a middle school counselor in the Austin area, Sonja spent time as a teacher and college advisor/counselor.

Sonja began working for Hand to Hold as a Family Support Navigator in September of 2017. The support she received from Hand to Hold after the premature birth of her own son Jack at only 29 weeks in December of 2016 was invaluable and became a catalyst for her to want to help others grappling with NICU life. Sonja runs the Hand to Hold NICU Families group on Facebook, a private community connecting families all over the world who are currently experiencing the rollercoaster of the NICU and those who have graduated and can provide support through the lens of their own experiences. This has been such a rewarding endeavor for Sonja and she is honored to be a part of this organization.

In her spare time, Sonja is interested in spending time outdoors, going to comedy clubs, “road tripping”, cooking (and eating), running around with her cat and two dogs, and especially spending time with her son Jack and husband Rob.

Jenny hails from Lafayette, Louisiana, but was transplanted to Texas soon after. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts at the University of Texas and currently resides outside of Houston in Cypress, Texas.

Before joining Hand to Hold, Jenny worked for the American Cancer Society as a volunteer coordinator and for the University of Virginia School of Medicine, where she recruited community members to participate as “patients” in clinical skills programs. She is happy for the opportunity to combine both of these work experiences into her role as Family Support Navigator at Hand to Hold, where she works with incoming and current peer mentors to ensure each family that seeks support has a hand to hold.

Jenny has two sweet girls who are both native New Yorkers, but she is grateful to be living in Texas again where her family resides. She enjoys volunteering at both of her girls’ schools. In 2016 she married her husband, Kevin, a nice cajun boy.

Tess is a Registered Nurse with clinical experience in the NICU and a trained DONA doula. In 2012,she moved from the Bay Area to Austin, where she later met her husband, Matt.

After building a career in marketing, Tess felt called to return to school and seek a new career in women’s health and birth-positive spaces. Tess graduated with an Associate’s Degree in Nursing from Austin Community College and is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing at Texas Tech University. In addition to witnessing firsthand the experiences of NICU providers through her clinical experience, her close friends’ NICU journey and the loss of their son inspired her to join Hand to Hold in 2019. Her goal is to provide empowered and informed care to her clients and patients.

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 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 and bonus mom to her wine-maker boyfriend’s five children. 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.

In late 2020 Chaney decided to pivot her career to the nonprofit world, and she joined the Hand to Hold team in 2021. Chaney works alongside the Development and Programs teams to get the word out about Hand to Hold so NICU parents know that they are not alone in their journey. She is excited to contribute to Hand to Hold her marketing and advertising sales background as well as her positivity and glue gun skills. Chaney lives in Austin, TX with her high school sweetheart husband and their two rescue dogs.

Leigh Ann Torres is a writer, creator and mother of three living in Austin, TX. 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 currently runs Hand to Hold’s online content and social media channels. When she’s not doing laundry or fulfilling requests for snacks, she usually has her nose stuck in a book.

Alicia resides in Austin with her husband and three beautiful daughters. A former native of New Orleans, LA, she and Christopher met at a conference while working in the specialty banking field. She was quickly swept off her feet and moved to Dallas, TX. They have been in Austin since 2009. Alicia has owned her own floral and event business and has worked as an Executive Assistant/Office and Design Coordinator for a large Church in Dallas. Alicia’s own miscarriages have given her a passion for NICU and bereaved families. She enjoys working to bring her creative touch to the events for families in the NICU.

Mary Dudley is the proud mother of Hand to Hold’s Founder and Executive Director, Kelli Dudley Kelley. Mary has been with Hand to Hold from the very beginning. Her first visit to a NICU was the night her first grandson was born at 24 weeks. Mary has been by Kelli’s side through the whole journey and is proud to be working as Administrator Coordinator. Mary has been a legal secretary, an assistant to a bank president, the owner and operator of a retail garden center and manager of a health club. She says working for Hand to Hold is living a dream come true with her daughter, helping ensure NICU Families like their own receive support that they so desperately needed 17 years ago. Mary recently celebrated her 50th wedding anniversary and is looking forward to moving to the Austin area to be close to her two daughters and five grandchildren.

Kailee is the Executive Assistant here at Hand to Hold. She is originally from Houston, TX, but moved to Austin in 2016 to pursue a degree in Human Relations at The University of Texas. She enjoys doing all things outdoors and spending time with her partner and their son, Elliott.

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.

Cristal Grogan joins the Hand to Hold team as our Virtual Event Consultant. But it is her role as an advocate and mother to Seth, who inspires her daily, that drives her passion.

With a background in computer forensics, Cristal’s career path took a twist after the traumatic delivery of her son, Seth, at 29 weeks. After navigating NICU life overseas with no support system or proper resources, Cristal pledged to become involved in the preemie community and ensure that no other parent was left in the same desperate situation.

Jessica has been with Hand to Hold since 2014 and serves as the organization’s Grants Manager, bringing 10+ years of fundraising and public relations experience to the team. She is a graduate of Kansas State University and a Kansas City native. Jessica loves creativity, podcasts and raising two energetic boys with her husband Jesús.