Today we’d like to introduce you to Crystal Duffy.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
After surviving a two-month bed-rest extended NICU stay, high-risk twin pregnancy and 2X near-death experience at the age of 29, I was emotionally, physically, and spiritually transformed by my medical trauma. I wanted to share my “Emotional Tale of Empowerment.” I wrote and published a book called Twin to Twin to inspire other families navigating through a similar journey with a message of hope and encouragement.
I teach an Expectant Twins Parents Class through Twiniversity, the largest global resource for parents of Twins. I also run a support group with the Houston Motherhood Center called Life After the NICU, where we provide, education, resources and support for families after their babies are discharged from the NICU.
Additionally, I sit on the Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital–Parent Advisory Council in the Houston Medical center where my feedback as a patient care advocate is helping to #changetheconversation with respect to how doctors and patients interact and collaborate. I’m growing a strong community to change the conversation in maternal and infant health.
Has it been a smooth road?
One of my biggest struggles was navigating the publishing world. After having written a 321-page manuscript with two preemie infants and a two-year-old daughter at home, the most challenging part of the journey was finding a traditional publisher. I had to invest a great deal of time and money into getting an agent. I learned that getting a book published is so much more than just having a good story, it’s about the author’s platform and their marketing plan. After two years of hard work, researching, submitting, re-submitting and persistence I landed a literary agent to represent me in New York. The journey did not end there though, even after having an agent, I had to do a great deal of work growing my platform which included my presence at different writers’ conferences and events and my online social media presence. A year later, my efforts were successful. I grew my platform and readers and landed a contract with a publisher. It was one of the happiest days of my life. A huge insurmountable hurdle was now behind me.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Crystal Duffy Author story. Tell us more about the business.
Under Crystal Duffy company, I run two classes, travel for speaking engagements and do book signings.
Here is some information about the classes.
Creator of Life After The NICU—Support Group at Motherhood Center
After my own personal experience of having two babies in the NICU in 2014, I noted that there were support and resources available to families currently in the NICU, but nothing after the babies were discharged and the families went home. While in the hospital, families have their built-in support system of nurses and doctors and at home, they are left alone to balance their baby’s special needs and care and ongoing medical appointments. Many families have medically fragile babies that will require extensive ongoing medical care such as physical, occupational and speech therapy. Through my own experience, I saw a need in the community and partnered with the director of the Motherhood center to fill this need and provide, comfort, emotional support, resources and education to all families that have had babies in the NICU or are caring for medically fragile children. I launched the community support group, Life After the NICU, it is free of charge and meets monthly at the Houston Motherhood Center. This fall, my Life After the NICU support group was featured on KHOU 11 in honor of Prematurity Awareness Month.
Instructor–Houston Expectant Twins Parents Class
Twiniversity is the largest global resource for parents of Twins. The Twiniversity expectant twins parents classes are currently offered in New York and Chicago and I launched the Houston class. The course is over 6 hours of the curriculum including how to prepare your body, home, and marriage for the arrival of the twins. I talk extensively about baby gear and what to buy. Our class is the number 1 class for expectant twin parents.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
My industry is turning more and more to social media. Our in-person classes may become strictly online in the future as being logged in via Zoom or Facetime is easier than in-person.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.crystalduffy.net
- Email: Crystal@twiniversity.com
- Instagram: @CrystalDuffyAuthor
- Facebook: Crystal Duffy Author
- Twitter: @CrystalDuffyTTT
Image Credit:
Amir Smith Photography, Quy Tran Photography
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