Rachel Reynolds is originally from
Daytona Beach, Florida where her mother, Gayellen, and stepfather, John,
currently live. She grew up listening to
the roar emanating from Daytona International Speedway and working at her
godmother’s hotel on the beach.
An exceptional student, Rachel
participated in the International Baccalaureate program at Spruce Creek HighSchool in Port Orange and graduated second in her class. She entered the University of Miami in Coral
Gables as a Music Therapy Major and graduated with her Bachelor’s Degree in
1997.
While at “The U,” Rachel met a
long-haired, wild dressing, authority bucking jazz vocal graduate student named
Roger who eventually, somehow, talked her into marrying him and running away to
Richmond, Virginia. It just so happens
that she conveniently had an internship waiting for her at the Virginia
Treatment Center For Children so it worked out ok.
After two years in Richmond, they
picked up stakes and moved to Boone, NC where Rachel started graduate studies
in Speech Language Pathology at Appalachian State University. After earning her Master’s, Virginia called
again and they moved back; first to Fredericksburg and then finally to Ashland
where they bought their first home and where they still reside.
Rachel began working at
Commonwealth Autism Services in 2004, left in 2007 to run a small business, and
returned to CAS in 2011. She specializes
in ABA Therapy and recently began her run as principal of The Dominion School
For Autism.
Right in the middle of all that
(2004 to be precise), Rachel found out she was pregnant and on July 9, 2005,
gave birth to Charlotte Jennie Reynolds who became the center of Rachel’s life. Charlotte was a beautiful, sweet (mostly),
curly-haired little girl who learned quickly that “being adorable gets you
stuff.” She had an amazing little voice that melted hearts and made everyone
fall in love with her. She was, indeed,
very special.
In 2009, an ultimate burden was
placed upon Rachel and Roger when CJ was diagnosed with a primitive neuroectodermal
tumor (PNET) in her brain. Rachel was
pushed to the limit of what a parent should endure and was pushed past it when
Charlotte lost her battle on January 7, 2005.
Despite the nightmare, Rachel has
been able to continue her life, co-founding CJ’s Thumbs Up Foundation with
Roger, acting as executive director. And
through the pain, she has retained her ability to laugh even so far as joining
an improve comedy troupe in her tiny amount of spare time. Because she knows, first hand, the healing
power of laughter.
And so, through the sadness and
tears, she can also smile as she answers “4-1/2
Questions.”
Four And A Half Questions:
1)
Q: What is your favorite food that you’ve never
eaten?
A: Lobster
2)
Q: What is your day job?
A: Principal of The Dominion School For Autism/CAS
A: Principal of The Dominion School For Autism/CAS
3)
Q: What is one of your favorite things about
Charlotte?
A: Her laugh and her voice (which is technically 2 things but we’ll let it slide).
A: Her laugh and her voice (which is technically 2 things but we’ll let it slide).
4)
Q: What is your top goal for CJSTUF.org?
A:
Be recognized nationwide.
½) Q: Wouldn’t it be cool if…
A: a celebrity played for CJSTUF on Jeopardy?
A: a celebrity played for CJSTUF on Jeopardy?
For more information on her journey through the world of pediatric cancer, check out her book: Four Seasons For Charlotte on Palari Books or follow her personal blog, I See What You Meme.
