In the fall of 2020, I packed up and moved to Ft. Lauderdale. The beaches called to me — they’ve always been my place of serenity. Sand between my toes, the rhythm of the waves, the feeling of life slowing down — that’s where I feel most at peace. But behind that search for peace was a struggle I carried long before the move.

Years earlier, I had nearly lost my life to a severe medical complication tied to my autoimmune condition. Recovery was slow, and every day carried reminders that my health was fragile. That experience left me with both a deeper gratitude for life and an awareness that simple things — like breathing freely, walking outside, or being near others — could never be taken for granted again.

So when COVID-19 struck the U.S. and South Florida quickly became one of the most contagious places in the country, rivaling New York and Los Angeles, the fear was personal. Everywhere you went, masks were mandatory. The air carried a heaviness, not just of humidity, but of uncertainty. Watching hospital beds fill day after day wasn’t just news to me — it was a reminder of how close I had already come to losing everything.

But even in the middle of that storm, my mind went to possibility. I thought: how can we find a way to safely enjoy the outdoors again? How do we reclaim those moments of laughter, of relaxation, of simply being outside without worrying about every stranger who passes by? That question was the spark.

From then on, I began creating. Not just products, but solutions — devices that protect, uplift, and give back something we had all been missing: joy. I believe the things we make should do more than work; they should make life easier, safer, and happier. That’s been my mission ever since: to design with purpose, so people can live with a little more freedom and the extra joy we all deserve.

​