On the evening of October 1, 2017, while attending the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival on the Las Vegas Strip with a group of friends, a gunman opened fire shooting Natalie in the face nearly killing her. The Las Vegas shooting massacre quickly became known as the deadliest mass shooting in United States history. For Natalie, this event began an agonizing and painful journey toward recovery while uncovering her endless strength, bravery, and resilience along the way.  After making her way to safety at a nearby hotel, she was taken via ambulance to Sunrise Hospital where her jaw was noted to be completely obliterated – her chin fractured in half, facial nerves destroyed, leading the left side of her face partially paralyzed.  She spent 20 days in the Intensive Care Unit and underwent nine surgeries during the first year.

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Surprisingly, this was not Natalie’s first attempt at fighting for her life.  At the mere age of 27, Natalie was diagnosed with a devastating and highly aggressive form of breast cancer. After undergoing six rounds of intensive chemotherapy and numerous surgeries, Natalie beat the odds and eventually recovered.  Soon after going into remission, she dedicated herself to patient care and rebuilding her life.

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After 10 years in remission from breast cancer, Natalie found herself fighting for her life once again on the fateful night of the shooting in 2017.  During her recovery, Natalie began sharing the coping mechanisms she has developed over the last decade to help others break down the walls to realize their full potential and overcome adversity.  This true story of a life being shattered and rebuilt in a mere decade has given strength and hope to thousands of people across the United States and world.  Natalie is a survivor and a true warrior, and her message is one of perseverance to help others find their inner warrior to keep fighting and moving forward.

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This story of determination, dedication, and tenacity for survival despite the odds has reached middle-school aged children to young adults and established professionals across the world.  Since surviving the Las Vegas shooting with dignity and grace, Natalie has been interviewed by Dateline, ABC, FOX, Inside Edition, and CBS.  With her soft smile and riveting life experiences, she is able to captivate diverse audiences. She uses touching moments of her own survival mixed with humor to keep her listeners engaged. Her story is unique in that while she has undergone horrific traumatic events, she maintains a compelling positivity that empowers those around her while engaging her listeners and providing strength and motivation for them to believe in themselves.

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In her down time, Natalie enjoys spending time by the ocean near her home in Southern California with her husband of 16 years and their 5-year-old miniature Pinscher.  She also enjoys gardening, getting lost in a good book, volunteering, and she jokingly calls herself a dessert connoisseur. 

 

Please visit Natalie’s Facebook Group she created called “I am a Warrior” where she journals frequently and shares life experiences.