Danielle Ehlert lives in the small town of Arena, Wisconsin, with her husband Bryon and son Jake. She is also the proud mother of Brody and Bryon Jr., her husband’s sons from a previous marriage. Danielle has called Arena home since 1993.

Born in 1968 during the height of her father Steve Barber’s major league baseball career, Danielle was handed to her grandmother at six weeks old after her grandfather's passing. What followed was a childhood marked by abandonment, trauma, and abuse – experiences that led to lifelong emotional and physical struggles.

At 35, Danielle survived cardiac arrest. Relying on alcohol and anxiety medications to numb painful memories, she later began the hard work of healing through therapy, sobriety, and self-compassion. Battling body dysmorphia, anxiety, and grief after deep family loss, she ultimately surrendered to God – and everything changed.

Today, Danielle is a private caregiver, poet, and storyteller. Her work advocates for greater empathy and change in how society and the healthcare system treat people with mental health and addiction. Vulnerable and honest in her words, she shares her story to help others see the value in healing, and in themselves.