Building My Career: My Journey into Tech While Raising a Medically Complex Child

Jeorgi is a Tech-Moms graduate, teaching assistant, and a fierce advocate for medically complex children—because she’s the mom of one herself. Her journey into tech wasn’t traditional, but it was born from necessity, resilience, and the unshakable determination to create a better future for her family. What started as a search for flexible work turned into a complete career pivot, opening doors she never imagined possible.

Tech-Moms graduate Jeorgi, and her family.

I never planned to get married. My dream was to be a single mom raising kids with my gay best friend. We’d live together, build a fun and loving household, and do things our own way. But at 21, I found myself unexpectedly in love—and walking down the aisle.

My dreams shifted. I wanted the house, the car, the stereotypical American dream. We bought the house, had our first child, and planned for one more. I thought I’d go back to school once the kids were older and become a nurse to help others.

Then life threw us a curveball—twins. Identical, high-risk, and diagnosed with Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome at 20 weeks. I flew to California at 24 weeks for a life-saving fetal laser surgery. It worked, and at 30 weeks they were born—tiny but alive.

In the NICU, one of my twins became critically ill with NEC. She survived against the odds after losing most of her small intestine. That was the start of life as a parent to a medically complex child—diagnosed later with Short Bowel Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, and Epilepsy. We quarantined for the first two years of her life, and every plan we’d made had to change.

Financially and emotionally, we were stretched thin. I couldn’t work outside the home—even once she was stable, I was constantly called to her school for medical support. I began to wonder how I could ever contribute financially without abandoning the care she needed.

In early 2020, I found a post about a class called Tech-Moms. I’d seen friends thrive in tech jobs from home, and this sparked hope. But then COVID hit, and we entered quarantine—again. The isolation triggered depression, and I put the idea aside.

Fast forward to fall 2022. After four years of quarantining and transitioning to homeschooling, I finally joined Tech-Moms. It was intimidating at first—I hadn’t been in a classroom in over a decade—but it reignited something in me. I explored web development, UX/UI, and eventually found my fit in software QA. I completed a front-end course and a QA bootcamp simultaneously, studying at night while my husband cared for our kids.

By January 2024, I had three certificates and was ready to job hunt. But layoffs were everywhere, and competition was fierce. I applied, interviewed, and faced rejection after rejection. Six months in, I was burned out. I took a break, then jumped back in—networking, attending meetups, saying yes to any opportunity.

Then, at a Tech-Moms event, I told the cofounders about my struggles. They offered me a TA role to build experience. Months later, Trina, one of the founders, asked for my resume. She passed it along—and I had an interview that same day. I didn’t expect much... but by the next day, I was hired.

I still can’t believe it. I have no degree and a 10-year career gap, but I found a flexible, hybrid job that supports my family and fits our life. I’m homeschooling, attending medical appointments, and finally contributing financially again.

Jeorgi Bernard, Tech-Moms Graduation 2022

"If you're a mom wondering if it's too late to start over, it's not. Tech-Moms changed the course of my life—and it can do the same for you"

Visit tech-moms.org to learn more, or share this with a mom who needs to hear it. Your next chapter could be just one “yes” away.