Simone trained as a radiation therapist at Auckland Hospital. She has a passion for writing good resources for chronically ill mothers. She describes it this way, "Professionally, I knew a lot about chronic illness from years working in radiotherapy. However, when I developed Crohn's disease, I gained the lived experience. Going on drugs like prednisone and azathioprine opened my eyes to the resources that were needed." Simone was diagnosed with Crohn's disease in 1998. She is married to Nick, and they live with their family in Auckland, New Zealand.