Profile for Irma May Baptiste

ibaptiste Parent of surf participant

• Kailua, HI

I am a mom of three children (Skylar 17, Kalei 10 and Kala'i 11). Earlier in 2016, my husband passed away suddenly; we found him unresponsive at home. He was the sole provider for our family. Skylar, our eldest who is now 75 years old, has three rare autoimmune diseases. When you look at her, she doesn't look like she suffers from anything. The medical warfare is on the inside and has been that way since 2009. While I am a widow, I am grateful that I have our three children to keep me going. Skylar's care requires me to be available at all times, which is why I am currently not working (since her third diagnosis which happened in 2011 -- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Classes 3 & 4). Her 12 year old brother Kalei and 11 year old sister Kala'i LOVE surfing. We go when we can and treasure our beach time. They've been very mindful of Skylar's health needs and how we need to minimize our time in the sun.

Our life narrative happens in waves. We love your mantra -- 'may the wave heal us all.' We find true healing in the ocean -- when we are in it, near it, and even when we are sitting in the shade, watching each ripple and wave. With each wave that happens, we heal, we grow, we exhale.