Hi, I'm Monica

Hi, I'm Monica — the nurse, the founder, and (let's be honest) the everything-else behind Selah Drip Co. If you've been reading along, you've heard me talk about hydration and care and the quiet importance of a pause. Today, I'd love to pull the curtain back a little and tell you the story underneath it all. Because Selah isn't just a business to me. It's the place where almost everything I love has come together.

How nursing found me

Nursing is more than my profession — it's a calling I treasure more than I can say. It found me in one of the tenderest seasons my family has ever walked through — when my dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

I watched the home health nurses care for him, and I have never forgotten it. They were so kind, so gentle, so endlessly patient with him. Their care shined through everything they did, even the smallest tasks. Somewhere in those days, watching them love my father well, I knew: I wanted to become a nurse. I wanted to be that kind of nurse.

My dad passed away three years ago, and I still miss him more than words can hold. Caring for others the way those nurses once cared for him has become one of the quiet ways I keep carrying him with me.

My dad loved to sing. He lit up when he was surrounded by people, putting on a show, never missing a chance to show off his voice — and my own love of singing, and whatever talent I have, came straight from him. Even as Alzheimer's slowly took his memory and the lyrics to his favorite songs slipped away, he never stopped humming them. I call him my hummingbird.

The truth is, caring for people has been the thread running through my whole life. Before nursing, I worked as a medical assistant and a medical interpreter. I even earned a bachelor's degree in Christian counseling, back when I dreamed of becoming a marriage and family therapist. Looking back, every step was quietly pointing me here. Everything aligned — in a way I can only credit to God — for me to become a nurse.

Where I come from

I'm proudly Dominican and Panamanian — the second-youngest of six siblings. My heritage is woven right into who I am: the warmth, the big-family love, the music that always seems to be playing somewhere.

My mom is the strongest woman I know. She cared for my dad faithfully, all the way until his very last breath, and watching her do it taught me more about love, endurance, and quiet strength than any classroom ever could. She is the example I hope to follow.

I also carry my dear brother, Neal, with me wherever I go. He passed away almost five years ago, and I miss him so much — his laughter, his hugs, his jokes, and all the stories he loved to tell about me from when I was a little girl. Love like that doesn't leave. It just changes shape.

The people who are my whole world

And then there's the family I'm building now. My husband is a true jack of all trades — there's honestly very little he can't do — and he has stood beside me through every adventure: school, career, and now this business. So much of this simply wouldn't exist without his steady support.

We have two teenagers — a son and a daughter — who make me laugh every single day. Aside from the gift of hearing them call me "Mom," the thing I treasure most about motherhood is that they trust me. They come to me for advice, or just to tell me about their day and whatever is going on in their lives. That fills me up like almost nothing else.

And I can't leave out our English lab — the gentlest creature you will ever meet, especially with the kids. He's family too.

What fills my cup

More than anything, I am a follower of Christ. I gave my heart to Jesus when I was just ten years old, and following Him has been the very center of my life ever since. I'll be honest, though — my faith journey hasn't been a straight line. I've had my ups and downs, my wandering seasons. But the beauty of it is that God was always there, waiting for me with open arms as my Abba Father. I'm a worshipper at heart, too — I have the privilege of serving on the worship team at my church, and singing to the Lord is one of the deepest joys of my life. I also love spending time in the Word of God and in devotionals that draw me closer to Him — that quiet time is what keeps my own roots deep.

Beyond that, you'll find me happiest at the beach with music playing. I love getting lost in a good thriller — reading or listening — and there are few things better than cuddling up on the couch for a good movie or series. Simple things. The ones that steady me.

Why "Selah"

For a long time, I was curious about a little word tucked all through the Psalms: Selah. I started reading about what it meant and why it appears between passages of Scripture.

What I learned undid me a little. Selah is something like an interlude — a moment for the congregation, the singers, and the musicians to pause and reflect on what they had just been singing. To stop. To breathe. To let it sink in. The explanation that truly moved me to tears was one I read at GotQuestions.org.

When I was searching for a name for this business — something that actually meant something — Selah simply jumped out at me. It was the word. A pause. A holy breath. Exactly what I hope to offer the people I'm privileged to care for.

The dreams I keep dreaming

I've always wanted a business of my own. For years, my dream was a little coffee shop and bookstore — two of my very favorite things in this world. After several years of nursing in different areas, IV hydration felt like the right place to begin, with hopes of growing into something bigger.

And I do dream big. I'd love for Selah to grow one day into something more than IV hydration — a place for true whole-person care, body and soul. I've even dreamed about becoming a health coach, walking alongside people in their wellness over time rather than for a single visit. Exactly what it all looks like is still taking shape. I still dream of that coffee shop and bookstore, too — and maybe, one day, a way to weave all three together. A girl can dream!

I don't know which of these dreams will come to pass. But I keep dreaming them, and I keep trusting the One who planted them.

A dream I've carried since I was little

There's one dream I've held longer than almost any other. Since I was a little girl, I've wanted to be a missionary — to go where there is need and help however I can.

This September, I get to. I'll be using my nursing skills to care for an underserved community in Guatemala, and I cannot tell you how much my heart is already there. It feels like the joining of two callings I've carried my whole life: to care, and to go.

If this trip stirs something in your heart, I would be so grateful for your partnership — whether through a gift toward the journey or, just as meaningfully, your prayers. Both mean more to me than I can say. You can support the trip here.

Above all

If you take away one thing about me, let it be this: I serve Jesus, my Lord and my Savior, and everything I do flows from my relationship with Him. Selah Drip Co. would not exist without the guidance of the Holy Spirit — He has led every single step.

My deepest desire is that everything I do would be pleasing to God, and that the care you receive would carry something of His kindness. That is the heartbeat behind the pause. That is Selah.

I'd love to meet you!

If you've read all the way to here — thank you, truly.

Whenever you're ready, I'd love to take care of you and meet you right where you are.

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