When I was just nine years old, I lost my father to kidney failure. He was on dialysis, and I remember vividly the fatigue, the medications, the hospital visits filled with machines I didn’t understand, and the quiet pain he carried. My father was a remarkable man—an entrepreneur, a provider, a proud Vietnam veteran, and someone deeply respected in our community. Watching him go from a strong, driven leader to a man battling for his life changed everything for me.
That moment became the beginning of my calling.
Over 2 decades ago, I stepped into the field of dialysis. Since then, I’ve dedicated my life to caring for individuals facing kidney failure—listening to their fears, holding space for their stories, and providing care with heart. I earned a degree in Healthcare Administration and fought tirelessly to enter the nursing field, making it as far as the waitlist in competitive programs. But still, something kept calling me louder: I knew I was meant to do more.
It started with a dream of opening a dialysis facility—one designed around the actual needs and concerns of patients. But the cost and complexity were time consuming, and I realized something deeper: people needed more than treatment. They needed awareness. They needed connection. They needed a reason to talk about kidney disease outside the clinic.
That’s when this brand was born.
Apparel for Awareness is more than clothing—it’s a conversation. It’s a mission stitched into every piece. When someone asks, “What are you wearing?” it opens the door to awareness, to truth, to connection. Whether it’s someone battling kidney disease or someone who’s never heard the statistics, knowledge gets passed on in a personal, human way.
This is my purpose. This is my father’s legacy.
This is how every end marks a new beginning.
