Anna and the Angels with guest Jeni Stepanek

I'm so touched and honoured to welcome the amazing Jeni Stepanek to the show! She is a true hero of mine and if you need some inspiration, you won't be disappointed! For those of you who don't know, here's why...

Jeni Stepanek, an award-winning speaker and writer, is a noted advocate for children’s, patients’, and families’ needs and rights in health and education, and the author of the NY Times Bestseller, Messenger: The Legacy of Mattie J.T. Stepanek and Heartsongs. She earned her Ph.D. and M.Ed. in Early Childhood Special Education from the University of Maryland, and her B.A. in psychology and journalism from The Catholic University of America. Jeni’s inspirational message about disability, hospice, family support, parenting, writing, motivation, and spirituality has been carried by all media outlets. Like her son, the late bestselling poet and peace advocate, Mattie J.T. Stepanek, Jeni has a rare neuromuscular disease, and relies on a ventilator and wheelchair for breathing and mobility. A noted guest on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Good Morning America, Larry King Live, and The MDA Labor Day Telethon, Mattie created poetry and essays from age 3 until he passed away in 2004 at age 13, and published seven books that reached the NY Times bestseller list. Jeni works as an inspirational speaker and as a research and editorial consultantfor the University of Maryland Department of Special Education. She also serves as the Executive Director of the Mattie J.T. Stepanek Foundation, and volunteers as a National Vice President for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. She lives in Rockville, MD near the Mattie J.T. Stepanek Park, with their service dog, Micah. For more information visit www.mattieonline.com.