I joined the United states Marine Corps in 1991. My Military Occupational Skill was as a 0121 or unit diary clerk. While stationed at MCAS Cherry Point, I worked towards a Bachelor of Arts from Park College in Social Psychology.
While stationed with Combat Assault Battalion on Okinawa, I had the distinct honor of being amongst the first fifteen females sent to Camp Schwab. I, also, applied to fill a low end B-billet as a Substance Abuse Counselor. I attended the BUMED school for Alcohol and Drug Counselors at Pt Loma, San Diego, CA in 1997. I began what would become my career. As a counselor, I was stationed at Naval Medical Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, NC and also at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point NC.
Before I was honorably discharged in 2000, I began to I pursue a Master’s Degree in Human Resource Development. I obtained my second Navy Achievement Medal for the work I did during this tour.
In my civilian life, I initially worked as a Social Counselor for Marine Corps Community Services (MCCS), MCAS Cherry Point then for the Department of the Navy, Naval Medical Camp Lejuene NC. I obtained approximately a total of thirty four (34) years combined military a civilian service with the last twenty four (24) years providing individual and group counseling for service members experiencing substance use and other mental health disorders.
I went from an Alcohol Drug Counselor Certification I to Alcohol Drug Counselor Certification II, via the U.S. Navy Counselor Certification Board; then pursued licensure as a Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist (LCAS), Certified Clinical Supervisor (CCS) via the North Carolina Addictions Specialist Professional Practice Board (NCASPPB); and licensure as a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Supervisor (LCMHC-S) via the North Carolina Board of Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors.
I invested all this time and effort into my career because I know that change can be difficult and that people can and do make all the difference in the world. As I have struggled with becoming the person I am today, I know I couldn’t have done it without the love and support of great folks around me. I have been married for thirty-eight years and counting to a great, patient man, who also served in the Marine Corps. We have one son and two grandsons. We support other Veterans and their families by volunteering with the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), the Women Marines, Irreverent Warriors.
My family is my main level of support and I couldn’t do all I am doing right now without them. I shared with my son how stressed I was about deciding which type of dialysis to begin. When I told him I had decided on peritoneal dialysis and then that I immediately regretted it and was feeling “down” because of tubes coming out of my body and fighting thoughts about it; he merely pointed out that one of my favorite Star Trek characters, the Borg Queen also had tubes coming out of her body and she was still pretty cool. That just lifted my spirits like you will never know. I stopped caring about the tube coming out of my body; I’m on my way to becoming a BORG Queen.
I was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease when I was about nineteen (19) years old. My maternal grandfather passed the gene. I went several years of no identified concerns or issues until about two years ago. I was referred to my nephrology clinic and I found out I was a candidate for transplant team at Eastern Carolina University/Vidant Medical Center. I have a great team and I am still learning so much.
Where do I start with my interests and hobbies? I currently am interested in continuing to volunteer with the Veteran groups I have joined: The Disabled American Veterans, the Women Marines, the Irreverent Warriors and my church.
I still enjoy flying kites on the beach or even just looking at the kites out there! I enjoy walks, taking my dogs to the park or on short hikes/ nature walks. I love working in yard, cutting the grass and planting, growing trees.
I meditate, pray, volunteer where I can. I want to continue to work in counseling for as long as I can. I want to continue to contribute how I can to make a difference in someone’s life/ my community.
For medically cleared donors, giving the gift of life through living kidney donation has been proven to be very safe. DOVE will assist all prospective donors throughout the process and make sure they do not incur any out-of-pocket expenses related to the evaluation or surgery. A healthy person can live a normal life with one kidney and save Yvonne’s life with the other!
Your support, whether through spreading the word on social media or considering becoming a donor, can make a profound impact on her life and the life of her family!
Please click on the link below if you would like to learn more OR call (551) 233-1611