Since the formation of the Amy and Ruth Keane Foundation (ARK) May 10, 2018, I have had the pleasure of sharing my home with 3 families providing them with housing, financial and emotional support. 

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• Lorna Williams, RN (deceased) from August 2018 - February 2019

​I met Lorna in August of 2015 as a patient. We quickly formed a friendship which lead to sisterhood. At the beginning of our friendship, I didn't know that she would be the person that God intended to benefit from the foundation, but as life would have it, she spent the last 6 month of her life residing with me. In February of 2019, Lorna laid to rest.

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• Micheline Lenus, RN September 2018 - Present

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• Michele Isaccs, Nurse Practitioner September 2018 - September 2019

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After graduating from nursing school at a very young age, I felt as though I was ready to conquer the world. My life was all planned out. Through Christ, I was able to reach success and provide a good lifestyle for my family.

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For the past couple of years, I faced many hardships which included the death of my father (which affected me very much) and financial decline. These hardships took a toll on the well being of myself and three daughters. 

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The Lord directed me to confide in Dr. Ellis, without  even knowing of her foundation. The Amy and Ruth Keane Foundation provided financial assistance and housing which gave us the security we needed to succeed, despite our circumstances. I am proud to announce that my daughter had a stable environment for study and is now on a full scholarship to college with aspirations of becoming an orthopedic surgeon.

The Amy and Ruth Keane Foundation serves to comfort and mentor beautiful professional women in our community. Many of us have plethora of support to include family, religious institutions and their respective professional communities. However, there comes a time where none of these can meet or fill a void that is created when there is a set back in our lives.

The ARK Foundation for me, fills that void with purpose. Through communication, support, hugs, tears and so much more, ARK gave me an entire different set of family members that supported me in a way that I didn't know I needed. Very often professional women find themselves lost, confused and even insecure because they've perceived failure in what conceptually should be a natural and effortless area of life to succeed in. Or maybe they make them feel ashamed and even develop anxiety from the pressures of feeling like they need to "keep it together." This was me and though I am not afraid to admit this is still me at times, I know that I am not alone and am well supported with the genuine concern and love that the ladies of ARK have provided.

Not only does it serve as a reservoir of hope, love and sisterhood, it also allowed me to step out of my situation and give back to someone else. This allowed me to appreciate an entirely new avenue of happiness. 

Lorna Williams was a well decorated an gracious nurse. She served our community for more than 15 years at both Orlando Health and the Florida Hospital system.