Who is Sam?

Hey, ya'll 👋

So excited to get to know everyone this summer! Allow me to introduce myself 😎. I'm Samantha but everyone calls me Sam. I'm 32 years old and have lived in Warwick, RI my entire life. I currently live with my boyfriend, Patrick and our 17 month old daughter, Cora. We also have two rescue pets; a tuxedo cat named Bean 😼 and a boxer/pitbull mix named Luna 🐕. I purchased my house when I was 25 years old before I met Patrick. My dad and I spent a year and.a half renovating it prior to me actually moving in. The house is structurally sound but was very outdated. DIY'ing is a hobby of mine, so it was really awesome making my house my own with the help of my dad!

Patrick and I met at a Halloween party in 2019. Halloween is my favorite holiday 👻 and Fall is my favorite season 🍂! We even hosted our baby shower in a halloween theme: A Baby is Brewing. Our registry was gender neutral because we waited until birth to find out the gender. Cora was born on December 13th and ironically I called months before that: she was a girl, would be born on 12/13 and would weigh 7lb 4oz. I was spot on with everything except she weighed 7lb 0.4oz; pretty close though!!

One of Three 2024 Halloween Costumes ft. My Little Family

Cora and I were born with Waardenburgs Syndrome which we inherited from my paternal grandfather, Papa. There are 4 types of Waardenburgs Syndrome and we carry type 1, the least severe. Type 1 has physical and auditory characteristics that vary among each person. We have the signature white forelock and deep, blue inset eyes along with some mild skin pigmentation. I am profoundly deaf in my left ear with mild hearing loss in my right ear. Cora has bilateral profound deafness and received bilateral cochlear implants at 9 months old 🦻. Papa also is profoundly deaf bilaterally and my mom has no hearing loss.

Four Generations Carrying WS T1

I completed undergrad at URI and earned my Bachelors in Nursing with a minor in Non-Violence and Peace Studies. I started my nursing career at Rhode Island Hospital where I was employed for 6 years. I chose to leave after the snowball effects from Covid. I was burned out, unappreciated and needed to find a new position that would reignite my passion for nursing. I started working as an agency RN where I would pick up shifts across RI at various nursing homes, mental health facilities and public schools. I absolutely loved it! I felt like I was making a difference among a vast population and enjoyed collaborating with many different professionals. My assignments were never the same and that gave me autonomy and confidence. Plus, if I didn't like a facility, I didn't have to return! I simply picked up when I wanted and never had to ask for PTO. This job offered the best work/life balance I could ever ask for!

When I found out I was pregnant, I was determined to save up for a years worth of bills because I did not have maternity leave benefits. I also knew I wouldn't want to go back to work after 6 weeks of giving birth. This position gave me the financial freedom I needed and I am incredibly thankful! I did not know my daughter was going to have Waardenburgs Syndrome, or what her hearing loss would be, if any. It worked out incredibly well that I was able to stay home to not only bond with my daughter but to also focus on her speech and language development. Patrick and I decided after Cora's first birthday that I would stay home for a little longer to continue Cora's success story. At 17 months old, Cora says 15+ words and knows over 100 signs in American Sign Language. She is ahead of her peers in all areas of development including speech and she hears better than I do with her CI's on! 👏

Cora at RWP Zoo last week wearing her CI's and retention cap while signing "bird"

Being a mother is my absolute favorite version of myself. As I get ready to head back into the workforce, I decided it was time for another career change. I am now in graduate school to earn the qualifications for my School Nurse Certification. I loved working with children when I would substitute for school nurses. More so, the hours are ideal for a family; making this transition is a no-brainer. While I am not fond of returning to school after almost a decade hiatus, I am excited for the intellectual stimulation! And, I am proud to be a role model to my daughter by showing her that age and time means nothing when you set a goal for yourself. 💗