About ME

I believe my story is a miracle in itself. Born in the outskirts of Ethiopia, without running water or electricity, I faced countless hurdles from the very beginning. My father left before I was born, and my single mother struggled to provide a stable income. My childhood was spent between my mother and grandmother, where life was simple, and joy was found in the little things—playing in open fields, running after animals, and imagining a world without limits.

But life changed dramatically when I turned five. I developed tuberculosis of the spine, which restricted my movement, and within a year, I lost both my mother and grandmother. With no immediate family able to take me in, I moved from one relative’s home to another. Eventually, an aunt took a leap of faith to give me a chance at life. Despite the odds, we traveled to Addis Ababa, the capital city, seeking medical help.

Facing what seemed like insurmountable challenges, my aunt made the tough decision to leave me at a church, hoping for the kindness of strangers. I lived outside the church walls for some time, sustained by the generosity of people who saw my need. One day, I was so ill that an ambulance was called, and I was taken to Mother Teresa’s Mission for the Sick and Destitute.

That was my lowest point. But life has a way of surprising you. I was introduced to an American doctor who would eventually become my adoptive father. He opened his heart and home to me, taking me in while I awaited a surgery that many doctors had said was too risky. In 2002, after being accepted for surgery at Scottish Rite, my life changed forever.

I returned to Ethiopia six months later and began a new chapter. I finished school and spent the next decade traveling between Ethiopia and Dallas, Texas. Today, I am an entrepreneur, driven by the dream of building businesses that make a difference in Ethiopia’s economy and change lives for the better.