Rooted in love.
Moved by purpose.

The Main Impact Foundation began with our son, Hudson—and with the years we spent trying to give him something every child deserves: relief, safety, and the chance to simply be a kid.

From the time Hudson was born, he was hurting. He cried, struggled to settle, and needed care that often took us back to the hospital. Hudson’s grandparents, aunts, and uncles would come over to sit with him so I could do something as simple as take a shower. Their presence gave me a few moments to care for myself while knowing he was with people who loved him. There were days when getting through the next hour was all I could think about.

Through all of this, Nathan and I were also running a family business together. Keeping that business going meant he had to be away for long periods of time. He was working to keep food on our table, maintain medical insurance, and give our family stability, while I was at home navigating hospital visits, sleepless nights, and the needs of both of our children. We were carrying the same worry from different places. His time away was a sacrifice for him and for our family, and it gave me the ability to keep searching for answers for Hudson.

Our family stepped in wherever they could. Someone would come with me to the hospital; someone else would stay with Addison. She was a little girl watching her little brother struggle, yet she met him with patience, kindness, and a desire to help. Finding a babysitter willing to take on Hudson’s needs was incredibly difficult. When we finally found someone who would care for him with that same determination, it changed our daily lives.

Hudson’s itching was relentless. He scratched until he bled. There were frightening fevers and seizures, and test after test without the answers we desperately needed. We kept food journals, tried medications, and went through skin tests and ultrasounds. Water was often the only thing that gave him comfort. I would sit in the shower holding my baby—sometimes taking 10 to 13 showers in a day—just to give him a few minutes of peace.

Meeting Dr. Nguyen at Akron Children’s Dermatology finally gave our struggle a name. He told us Hudson had one of the most severe cases of eczema he had seen. But having an answer did not make the treatment decisions easy. Topical treatments and steroids had not brought the relief he needed. I remember discussions about light therapy and what I understood at the time to be low-dose radiation. I was not comfortable choosing either for my little boy. I needed to understand every option before making a decision.

I researched in every spare moment I could find. What would a treatment do to his body? What reactions could it cause? What might the long-term effects be? I read and searched, then read and searched again. Behind every question was the same thought: I needed to help my child, and I needed to know what that help could mean for his future.

Then a newer treatment offered hope. At the time, access was difficult and could have meant traveling to Chicago twice a month. Akron Children’s worked with the manufacturer to arrange treatment locally. Dr. Nguyen’s reassurance mattered as much as he may ever know. When I cried, asking him to help my baby, he reminded me that I was doing everything I could and that we needed to give the treatment time.

The treatments were painful. In those early appointments, it took four nurses and me to hold Hudson while he cried. I cried too. Knowing something might help your child does not make it easy to watch him hurt. At home, our routine had included diluted bleach baths, wet wraps, and constant attention to infection and discomfort. Gradually, we began to see the relief we had hoped for.

One day, Hudson told us he wanted to try his treatment without being held. He did it. The little boy we had watched fight through so much found the courage to face it in a new way. There wasn’t a dry eye around him. That moment will stay with me forever.

Relief did not mean every battle was over. Securing insurance coverage brought its own exhausting fight. But seeing Hudson able to enjoy childhood made every phone call, every appointment, and every hard day matter. We know what it feels like to be frightened, exhausted, and desperate for someone to help.

When we started Merchants On Main, a dear friend’s daughter, Harper, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. As her mother shared their story, I saw the tears in her eyes. It hit far too close to home. Hearing about the uncertainty, sleepless nights, and battles for care brought back feelings I knew all too well. I could feel my anxiety rising the same way it had when we were searching for answers for Hudson.

I knew that look. I knew what it felt like to want so desperately to protect your child and still be frightened of what came next. I could not listen to her story and simply move on. Something had to be done. If there was any way I could help Harper and her family, I was going to find it.

That is why we founded The Main Impact Foundation in 2025. Our first initiative supports Harper’s service-dog journey. As our work grows, Hudson and Harper will help choose future recipients—turning what they have lived through into compassion for other children. We want families to receive the support we understand so deeply: someone beside them, a reason to keep hoping, and help taking the next step.