Owner, Instructor
Laura
Laura has always been in a world that needs CPR. Whether it been the impact of fostering on her life, her sister, or one of the other many jobs that she’s had along the her career path. Laura decided it would be a great idea when she was living up in Waco to start a satellite company there she started teaching CPR and first aid as well as the BLS healthcare provider courses to the Waco, Killleen, Temple, Austin and DFW areas. She did that for a better part of six years until some life changing events happened and moved her back to Houston.
After coming back to Houston, she started helping her mom with classes and teaching,. Laura always loved teaching and interacting with people, making sure they have the life skills that they need to protect others and their day-to-day life. When and Susie decided that she wanted to retire, she asked Laura to take over her company. In 2024, Laura has been teaching full time. Laura has learned that she has some big shoes to fill because Susie had a huge heart and impacted so many in the Houston and surrounding area. As Laura goes out to train people, she loves to hear the stories about her mom and the impact that she provided for them.
Growing up
Laura would say that she had a unique childhood growing up. While Laura is the middle child between two biological brothers, it’s the impact of her parents being foster parents that had the greatest impact on her. For the most part it was a rotation of younger children; birth to about three years old for adoption. As she and her brothers got older, her mom started taking the medically fragile kids. At a young age, she was taught that when mom said the code word it activated the emergency response scenario for their family.
Along came a sister….
One of the first foster kids with medical problems was a young baby named Samantha. Samantha was HIV and AIDS positive, which meant the adoption agency had a hard time of placing her in a home. The Longs were told that Samantha would not live past nine months. Laura learned that doctors can be wrong with a little bit of love and care, people can live and defined all odds. Samantha lived until she was 3 1/2 years.
The foster child that made the most impact on Laura’s life is her adopted sister Brandy! Brandy has a diagnosis of cerebral parsley, mental retardation, and also is seizure disorder. Brandy is wheelchair bound and nonverbal. Brandy was about 2 1/2 years old when she came to live at The Long’s House. She was supposed to be a temporary placement, but you know that God always had a plan for Brandy to stay! Brandy lived at the Long’s home for two years and found so much love and care. Again, the doctors told Laura’s parents, Susie and Mark, you should not adopt this child because she is not going to live past eight years old. Brandy was adopted by The Long Family when she was about 4 1/2 years old. This is another example of what love and care can do. Brandy is now over 30 years old! Over the years growing up, Laura and Brandy shared a room and were the best of friends. Like two peas in a pod, they love to watch movies together, laugh, dance or just whatever. Living with Brandy was the first touch in Laura’s experience of home health and taking care of somebody with any kind of needs.
Brandy remains a central part of Laura’s life. Brandy is an active participant in Ainsley’s Angels. She gets to travel every month to participate in one of the racing events on the weekends. Laura loves to go and cheer Brandy on and the rest of the family as they races in support! Laura still a primary care giver to Brandy when mom and dad go on vacation or when Brandy request special sister time. Laura will take her family and Brandy with her to places like Morgan’s Wonderland, which is a disability inclusion theme park for special needs people. Brandy is still a big part of Laura’s life and that is the main reason why she does what she does and became a certified CPR instructor and following in her mom’s footsteps.
To this day, Brandy has the biggest impact on Laura’s life; the compassion she has to take care of people with intellectual, physical, or even mental disabilities.
Home is where the heart is
Laura and her husband, Ron, have many adventures of their own. They are both ‘Harry Potter’ and ‘Lord of the Rings’ fans and will take advantage of special showings or traveling exhibits to get the opportunity to dive into that world for a while.
When Laura’s not training she likes to spend time with her family. Laura’s stepson is very active in Scouting America. Laura supports her son in a number of ways though this journey. Taking on leadership roles on the committee is one way that Laura helps to make sure the Troop runs and provides the program to the youth.
Being outside is always up on the To Do List for Laura especially if it’s sunset or sunrise. Laura loves watching the sun painted the picture in the sky.
Time well spent
“It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live,” Dumbledore tell Harry in chapter 12 of The Sorcerer’s Stone
