Meet our Ambassadors
Megan Carlson
I am the mother of a 6yr old little boy, who is medically complex. He suffered a brain injury at birth, resulting in HIE, CP, and a seizure disorder. I used to work outside the home as an accountant for a medical laboratory, but now am able to stay home to take care of our son.
It’s truly an amazing thing! When our son was first diagnosed with his injury, we knew nothing about raising a medically complex/disabled child. We were scared, alone and so defeated. After connecting with other parents with medically complex children, I realized we are a rare breed and we need to stick together and help one another out. So much of knowledge I have gained to help care for my son is from other parents in the same boat as us.
Jessie Starken
I am currently a wife and a mom of two boys, one of which is medically complex. My medically complex son is four years old. He had an inutero stroke attributed to an extremely rare genetic disorder called Gould Syndrome, which led to the cerebral palsy diagnosis. Among other diagnoses, he has suffers with epilepsy and uncontrollable seizures. I am also a working mom and have been a science teacher for 13 years. I went to Hamline University for my undergrad and St. Catherine’s for my Master’s degree.
Everyone’s journey is different. When you are the parent or caretaker of a medically complex, your journey can be very challenging. I have personally learned so much from other parents and families walking a similar walk. I want to help other families navigate the complexities of raising a medically complex kid. There are so many systems to navigate in order to survive this world. I am excited to give back and share my experience and wealth of knowledge with those that can benefit. I want to help families improve their medically complex child’s life, as well as improving their lives.
Elizabeth Fredericks
Elizabeth’s educational background is Accounting. She got her Masters in Accounting from the University of Hartford and is a Certified Public Accounting.
My professional experience has been working for a large medical insurer, which has come in handy since the birth of our son, Alex. I married my high school friend Chris 15 years later and together we have two children, Whitney (5) and Alex (3). Alex was born with a brain malformation called Lissencephaly which has caused both cognitive and developmental delays.
As a family, we are learning how to advocate and finding our voices in this crazy world.
We believe in the mission of the Kourageous Karter Foundation and the power of a strong community. More than a fundraising platform, they aim to provide resource and support for f siloed and individuals impacted by intellectual disabilities. In a world where proper information and equal rights are limited, it’s an honor to be a part of the KKF that aims the bridge those gaps.