To my mother - whose wit, love, and home cooking are and always will be therapeutic. I will always admire your wisdom, intellect, personal discipline, modesty, courage and unique sagacity. You have taught me compassion, faith, to never give up and to believe that nothing is impossible. Thank-you for my life, and for nurturing me in every way imaginable. You are the best Mom in the world.

To my father - your undying strength, character, humor, and love will always inspire me. Even in death you are my biggest inspiration and not a day passes by that I don't feel your warm spirit live on in me in all that I do and pursue in life. Everyone should be blessed to have a father like you. I miss you with every fiber of my being.

To my grandmother - whose courage, firm resolve, and longevity give me reassurance through the murky days. As someone who has experienced the most difficult of times, you have shown a strength and resiliency I could only imagine. You inspire me to be a stronger person.

To my feline children - you melt my heart each and every day with the joy and unconditional love you bring to my life. You are the bright light in my darkest of days. You remind me of what is genuine and beautiful in this world. Your intelligence and assorted feline antics bring me much needed therapeutic laughter. If I didn't know better, I would swear that you were human. I love you both more than life itself.

To the rest of my family and friends who have supported me during my educational and professional development. Thank you for the encouragement you have brought over the years. Most importantly, thank you for accepting my flaws, quirks, complex and often brooding nature, and for putting up with the many moods of me. I appreciate you all.