Kera Hughes, Secretary

Kera Hughes & her husband, Jon, live in Red Bank with their children Kayden, Emery, Lauren, & Hatcher. Kera was a labor & delivery nurse for 15 years- she has always had a love for babies & caring for people. An opportunity opened up for her to be able to stay at home with her kids- something she always wanted to do. She enjoys staying involved in her kids’ school by volunteering in various ways and also cheering them on in their many sporting activities. In 2014, she & her husband adopted Hatcher at the age of 14 months. They knew he had “special needs” but he did not have a diagnosis. Even after multiple tests, he was never given a diagnosis outside of intellectual disabilities. Hatcher has not only been a blessing to his family but to the community. He is quickly becoming the little mayor {as a teacher named him} of Chattanooga. He is the reason Kera found Downside Up which has been the very thing she needed but didn’t know she needed. She quickly knew she wanted to be a part of it in any way she could.

Kera writes, “I was in search of a summer camp that Hatcher could attend a few years ago- Downside Up was a space where I didn't have to explain him or apologize for him. What I didn’t expect to find was a community of moms that were walking similar paths who made me feel seen & heard. They’ve become a huge source of support on overwhelming days!”