Meet the team

Katie started Addi's Miracle TBI Advocacy and Pedestrian Awareness and Survivors against distracted driving after Addi, the youngest of their family was a pedestrian struck by a vehicle looking at Christmas lights with her Dad, Christmas 2022. Her injuries included a C1 and C2 displacement which needed a full fusion as well as a cracked skull and grade 3 diffuse axonal TBI. The family realized how extremely lucky they were placed with the medical teams that they were placed with. Having something happen to a child, that you don't think will ever happen to you puts you in a really scary place. Thankfully they had a team to direct and point them where to go, who to call and what to do next. Katie realized that so many family members do not find themselves this lucky and are extremely lost. That is how Addi's Miracle TBI Advocacy and Pedestrian Awareness was born. 

Katie wears many hats with both advocacy and education pages. In the thick of the journey with Addi, she finds fulfillment in being there for other parents and family members trying to find what comes next, providing support and resources to survivors of distracted driving accidents, providing resources and guidance for families in the unknown beginnings of the unexpected.

Jeff , just like Katie has seen the need for advocacy, education and a need for change in the distracted driving laws. He will be taking on the role of out of state resources, community out reach and survivor advocacy.

Cristeena serves on both advocacy and education teams as an Advocate as well as our Treasurer. It was important to Katie that Cristeena serve on the board from the start. They have been best friends for the past 18 years and life has run parallel for them. Both have been stay at home Mom's, both have a whole bunch of kiddos ranging in ages. Cristeena has a background in numbers and administrative work as well as Advocacy for Domestic Violence and mental abuse and illness. She is quick to find full resources for a wide range of topics and has a heart for Children and Moms who need a shoulder. 

Kyle serves on both advocacy and education teams as well. He takes on the role of our community outreach advisor helping our advocacy and educational platforms reach as many as possible. Kyle has a background in providing to his community and surrounding cities. Friends find him easy to talk to and a good listener and problem solver. He is available to help other men who have survived an accident due to distracted driving. Kyle's own survival story is posted under "Survival Testimony's" on our Sister site. 

Amber servers on both advocacy and education teams as well. She is a Mom to three amazing Children. She is an Angel Mom to one of them. Through her own grief she has been able to be an empathetic, understanding advocate to Parents who have endured a loss of their own. 

Additionally, Amber has  been a licensed counselor since 2002 With the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health. 

She is well known in her community not only as City Council Woman and Vice Mayor but as a huge advocate for the youth and those struggling with mental health struggles. Her compassion for others with her own life dealings makes her a force to be reckoned with.

 Katie met Elias when his news team wrote a multi-part series about Addi's Miracle. After meeting face to face and talking about the statistics of pedestrian accidents and distracted driving accidents Katie realized that they both had legal opinions that lined up. After talking about Elias's background it was without a shadow of a doubt that Elias would be a perfect fit and companion on the board to help make a difference. Elias serves as director of advocacy and public relations. He has spent the last decade as an advocacy journalist covering traffic, public safety and the legal system for local, state and national newspapers around the U.S. 

Dayna is one of Addi's older Sisters. She has walked this path with Addi since day 1. For years Dayna has had a special gift behind the camera. She is always called upon to be the "amateur" photographer behind her friends snapshots and important moments they want to remember. My favorite memory during our family photos last year was how many questions she had for our photographer. She will be serving as our board photographer. Most of her work might be behind the scenes but as we start doing public events, she will be around capturing moments on our path towards change.