Life can be so unexpected. In August, 2023, I had just moved to the east coast of Florida with my children and was about to let them go out to surf by themselves when suddenly my daughter collapsed to the ground, convulsing...she was having a tonic clonic seizure.

I thought my daughter was going to die. I had no idea why she was seizing, and all I could do was hold her as she lay unconscious and barely breathing in my arms for what felt like forever before the paramedics came.

The angels were looking over us that day, saving her from having that seizure while out in the water.

After some research & testing, it turned out my daughter had a rare form of epilepsy called Sunflower Syndrome. It's called sunflower syndrome because sunflowers are attracted to the sun, and so it is as well with someone with this syndrome.

The seizures are induced by the sun, and when directly in sunlight, they stare at the sun, as if hypnotized, and it causes you to wave your hand rapidly in front of your eyes (imagine brushing hair out of your eyes)... that is the seizure. She had started doing this about a year prior, and we all just thought it was a tick she would soon grow out of.

Our life is in the sun. We are a surfing family that live in the sunshine state! My world was rocked and my heart broken for my daughter.

My daughter is most alive when she is surfing! What gave us hope with this type of epilepsy is that it can be controlled with sunglasses and a hat, so that's what we did to keep her surfing and outside. I've been on a mission to heal my daughter instead of giving her drugs. This healing journey hasn't been easy, especially for a young girl. But we are seeing so much improvement. She hasn't done the classic "hand waving gesture" or "sun gazing" for months now.

Although still cautious, she can be in the sun now without it triggering her!

I am inspired by my brave and beautiful Sol Flower Child. I created a full spectrum sun protection lotion in honor of her, and she is the one pushing me and encouraging me to sell it!

I hope her story inspires other children with this syndrome, or anyone with any other rare syndrome to radiate and live from the heart, doing what you are passionate about, and to never give up on their healing journey.

Now with an even deeper appreciation of life, I'm pouring my heart into inspiring and supporting women who love the sea & sun. I'm so excited to share this product inspired by my baby girl: a sun protection for Sol Babes, because we can't help but be attracted to the sun!