“I consider my work with Amy one of the greatest blessings in my recovery. In our coaching sessions, she was a model of grace and truth - she allowed me to be where I was but she also encouraged me and gave me a vision for healing and wholeness that God designed for my life. Amy literally taught me how to breathe - like actually breathing from my diaphragm - which has been one of my most impactful and most used tools. She taught me how to reconnect to my emotions, express feelings other than anger, surrender, and forgive. She taught me practical things about addictions, trauma bonds, shame, anger, etc. and lovingly showed me how these things were impacting my life.

I love Amy so dearly. My work with her has set me up for continued healing. The framework she set for me in our coaching sessions continues to help me move forward today - three years later. Sadly, I never had the chance to meet Amy face to face, but I am forever grateful to have known her and learned from her. Even after we stopped working together so she could receive treatment, we would check in. She never ceased to show compassion. She was a true light and the voice of wisdom and strength in the toughest time of my life.”

- Maggie

“Amy was a friend to me during a time in my life when I desperately needed a friend.  When the rest of my world was encouraging me to forgive and excuse unacceptable behavior, Amy picked up my broken, bleeding heart in her hands and said to it, “You are worth taking care of and I will help put you back together.” When people in my community judged me and even counseled against firm boundaries that looked like a six-month marital separation due to betrayal, Amy nodded her head and patted my back and said, “Yes, Girl, you get to safety.  I’ll help you do it.”

The Bible states, “Enter by the narrow gate…and difficult is the way which leads to life and there are few who find it (Matthew 7:13).”  While most of us probably don’t even know where to look for the narrow gate, and I’m talking to myself here, I believe Amy not only discovered it, but was an expert at how to navigate the path, especially as it pertains to relationships.  She took seriously God’s invitation to wellness in her own life, emotionally, physically, intellectually, and spiritually and she taught others—she taught me—to do the same.  

Once during one of her treatment rounds, several years ago now, I texted her—and I’m paraphrasing my words—but the message was something like, “Why hasn’t God healed you, yet?” I had been contending and covering her in prayer for a good while and Amy sensed my impatient anger towards God.  Her response to me was something I often think about, it was so full of grace and wisdom, without a trace of the same anger and animosity I felt in my own heart.  

She said something—and again I’m paraphrasing—like: “God is God, and I am not, and I choose to trust Him.” She believed God, even with the awful cancer infiltrating her body, was for her and not against her.  

As a Christian actively involved in healing prayer and ministry, I can say that I too frequently speak words that suggest cancer is not a sign of God’s wrath, but Amy gently helped me recognize my heart wasn’t aligned with my thoughts and words.  There was a gap in what I professed to believe and what my heart embraced.  

In this short text exchange with her, I had to admit that Amy was exemplifying a type of trust and surrender in the Divine that is reserved for people in the spiritual big leagues (not for the minor’s leagues, like me.) Her witness was in that moment and remains a profound example to me.  Amy intimately knew the Author of life and that meant she possessed intimate knowledge that while indeed bad things do happen to us in life, the Author only writes what is always good. 

So, the narrow gate?  Yes, Amy found it, even as cancer took her body.  The cancer did not destroy her because on that small, tricky path, Amy found life and she found it abundantly.  I’m blessed to have known her.”