Gea Meijering
Author Hacking the Code and founder iCare Press.
Gea Meijering
Gea is a creative writer, seasoned marketeer, parent mentor and artist with a passion and a mission. As the mother of a dyslexic son she researched dyslexia better than an FBI agent would, and witnessed the dyslexia struggle and gift it can be, upfront and personal. Gea volunteered as a parent mentor for the special education department of her local school district and is a dynamic dyslexia advocate.
Over the years she saw many kids and their parents struggling to find out why school wasn't going well. Reason to write a children's book that offers kids and families the opportunity to identify with the different characters, make visible the learning struggles some students go through and bring dyslexia awareness to the community.
Mads Johan Øgaard
Illustrator Hacking the Code
Mads Johan Øgaard
Mads Johan Øgaard is an illustrator, animator, public speaker, and special education teacher who creates art to improve the awareness of learning differences and mental health. Øgaard is the co director & co producer of the award-winning short film 'I Am Dyslexic', director & producer of short film 'With the whole Universe in My Suitcase' - an ADHD Norway short film & illustrator of the book 'There are words behind the letters' - a hand book for all individuals with dyslexia.
The First 8 Days of Being a Mom
Gea Meijering
Translator and editor of The First 8 Days of Being a Mom.
Gea gave birth to two sons on two different continents within twenty months. While going through that, she discovered that maternity care and recovery was organized totally different in the United States as compared to the Netherlands. Actually she was amazed that most new moms in the U.S. are on their own again very soon after their delivery. No time to recuperate from the delivery, or to learn and get used to the newborn. And no one to teach them the tricks of the trade. In the Netherlands every new mom gets a specialized nurse at home for the first 8 days after delivery.
Gea realized that the Dutch approach she experienced with her oldest son was very special. And that the book she used then, and used again the second time, would be a great help to all the moms in the US, as it was for her. It took her some time because she was busy with diapers, park days, painting, Spanish, and other very important stuff being new mom. But she is proud to announce the birth of The First 8 Days of Being a Mom.
And while in the process of making the book she discovered that publishing it herself would give her much more flexibility. Gea founded iCare Press, LLC to realize her goal and get this valuable information available to new moms in the US.
The past 19+ years Gea has lived in the US busy with her mommy career. That gradually evolved from nursing to applying band-aids to volunteering in the classroom to starting up her own company. She grew up in the Netherlands and is living in SoCal.
Gea takes painting classes to satisfy her artistic drive, loves to travel and tries to work out on a regular basis. But most importantly she is committed to steering her two children through childhood and beyond, with bumps and bruises, laughs and joy along the way.
Melissa Sherman Pearl
Editor of The First 8 Days of Being a Mom
A regular contributor to California Homes Magazine, Melissa began her career in the entertainment industry working in both syndicated and network television. Her work has been featured in Frommer’s California for Dummies, Luxe, Simply Smart, Beach Houses, and The Orange County Annual Edition, amongst others. Additionally, she enjoys her roster of private clients for whom she creates P.R. copy and marketing collateral in a broad range of fields ranging from fitness, real estate, design, and home businesses. Freelance has been key in her search to finding the right balance as her most important and fulfilling role is that of mom. Sure, sometimes it’s frustrating, but at the end of the day, it’s the little hugs and kisses that inspire. And boy, howdy do they.
Kris Bagiu
Midwife and reviewer of The First 8 Days of Being a Mom
Kris Bagiu is a graduate of the National College of Midwifery and credentialed as a Certified Professional Midwife by the North American Registry of Midwives. She is licensed to practice as a midwife by the
Medical Board of California. Based out of Newport Beach, she provides home birth services to families in and around Orange County. You can visit her website at http://pacificbirthcare.com/
Mona Saint, M.D.
Ob-Gyn and reviewer of The First 8 Days of Being a Mom
Mona Saint M.D., M.P.H. is a board certified Ob/Gyn and works part time in private practice in Orange County, CA and is a busy mother of three. She loves her career and feels privileged to spend time with women during the most pivotal times of their lives. She enjoys discussing with patients, family and friends their important health questions and the latest health news and is the creator of the women’s health newsletter and website What Women Want to Know. Her newsletter provides the latest women’s health news and answers reader’s important questions in a light and friendly manner. Dr. Saint has written many medical publications including articles in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine, American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, and Journal of Contraception and is a frequent medical text book reviewer in the areas of Ob/Gyn, sexual medicine, infertility, and enjoyed helping review this book about motherhood!
She loves both of her careers as a physician and mom and integrates them both into her perspectives. In her down time she loves spending time with the family at the beach, socializing with family and friends, and loves cooking, wine, reading, shopping, and absolutely loves ice cream!