Staff

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 joined the Hand to Hold team as Chief Growth Officer in 2022.  She holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire and is a NICU mom.

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 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.

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.

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 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.

Perla is a Virtual Family Support Specialist. As a Family Support Specialist she is responsible for supporting NICU families virtually, 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 is a Certified Peer Support Specialist and a Licensed Vocational Nurse in the state of Texas. Perla is trained in Trauma-Informed Care, Motivational Interviewing, and Mental Health First Aid Specialist.

Perla had her first pregnancy end in miscarriage at 18 weeks. Her second pregnancy was normal, and she had her first son, Albert. Perla’s third pregnancy started without any problems, until at around 32 weeks, her son Ethan was born and transferred immediately to the NICU with Neonatal Respiratory Distress Syndrome due to the lack of surfactant in his immature lungs. The feelings of guilt and sadness once again returned and reminded her of her first pregnancy that ended in miscarriage. It was a courageous and difficult experience for Perla and her son Ethan. She learned that enduring through times of difficulty, like a miscarriage and the NICU stay of a child, brought her purpose as the mom she is today in my sons’ lives. Perla will always remember her child she lost but has faith and hope for the future with both of her sons. Albert has graduated from college and lives close to Perla; Ethan is a strong and healthy college student at UTSA. Today, Perla welcomes the opportunity to help other parents through her own experience with empathy and compassion.

Perla es especialista en apoyo familiar virtual. Como especialista en apoyo familiar, es responsable de apoyar a las familias de la UCIN virtualmente, ya sea individualmente o en grupos de apoyo, todo con el objetivo de reducir el impacto negativo de una estadía en la UCIN y garantizar el mejor resultado para toda la familia. Ella es una Especialista Certificada en Apoyo de Pares y una Enfermera Vocacional con Licencia en el estado de Texas. Perla está capacitada en sensibilidad y atención informada sobre el trauma, entrevistas motivacionales y especialista en primeros auxilios de salud mental.

Perla tuvo su primer embarazo que termino en aborto espontáneo a las 18 semanas. Su segundo embarazo fue normal, y tuvo a su primer hijo, Albert. El tercer embarazo de Perla comenzó sin ningún problema, hasta que alrededor de las 32 semanas, nació su hijo Ethan y fue transferido inmediatamente a la UCIN con Síndrome de Dificultad Respiratoria Neonatal debido a la falta de surfactante en sus pulmones inmaduros. Los sentimientos de culpa y tristeza una vez más regresaron y le recordaban de su primer embarazo que terminó en la pérdida de su bebe. Fue una experiencia que pedía valentía y que fue difícil para Perla y su hijo Ethan. Perla aprendió que, al sobrellevar tiempos de dificultad, como un aborto espontáneo y la estadía de un niño en la UCIN, inicio su propósito como la madre que es hoy en la vida de sus dos hijos. Perla siempre recordará a su hijo que perdió, pero tiene fe y esperanza para el futuro con sus dos hijos. Albert se graduó de la universidad y vive cerca de Perla en El Paso, Texas; Ethan es un estudiante universitario fuerte y saludable en UTSA. Hoy, Perla agradece la oportunidad de ayudar a otros padres a través de su propia experiencia con empatía y compasión.

Liz serves as a Family Support Specialist at St. David’s Medical Center and 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. 

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 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.

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.

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.

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 Carter joined Hand to Hold in 2023 as the Senior Event Specialist. She is a certified planner with over a decade of diverse professional experience managing social, corporate, and volunteer/ non-profit events. Her passion is in creating unique and memorable experiences that promote connection and growth.

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.

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.

Ivette 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 Women’s Center of Texas, North Austin Medical Center. As a Family Support Specialist, she is responsible for supporting NICU families 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.

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.

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.

Victoria is a 2022 University of Texas graduate. She majored in Communications and Leadership with a minor in Business and has had extensive studies in nonprofits and social entrepreneurship. Victoria works alongside the Development and Programs teams to inform others about Hand to Hold so NICU parents know that they are not alone in their journey. She also participates in planning, communications, and creative for local and national events. 

Growing up Victoria was heavily involved in different organizations and charities focused on the needs and well being of children at all ages and disabilities. When she was seven, her baby cousin was born at 23 weeks and only weighed 1 lb. 7 oz. After 117 days he was able to leave the NICU and is now a sophomore in high school! 

Her family is the most important thing in the world to her, including her toy Australian Shepherd, Athena. If she is not with her family or walking her dog you can most likely find Victoria on Lake Travis with friends or working hard in the office. Hand to Hold gave Victoria her first internship and has grown to be a family to her!

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.

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.

Emmy joined Hand to Hold in 2023 as the Office Administrator. She works alongside the Operations team to make sure in office operations go smoothly and efficiently for all staff members. Emmy is an Austin native and a graduate of Loyola University New Orleans having studied Music Business and Vocal Performance. When she is not working, Emmy loves to spend her time singing, reading, watching movies, and spending time with friends, family, and her dogs. Emmy is thrilled to be a part of the Hand to Hold team and bring her strengths to a job where she knows she’s making a difference to families everywhere.

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.

Rhonda has worked as a registered nurse in the NICU at St. David’s Medical Center for the past 30 years and has been the Director of the NICU for the past 15 years. Rhonda recently retired from her director position and is joining the Hand to Hold team as a Hospital Partnership Specialist.

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.

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 blog, 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 is a frequent guest/sometimes host on SiriusXM Radio. Kathryn and her husband, Scott, live with their six children in Austin, Texas.