Debra was born in the United States of America but grew up in international schools throughout countries such as Venezuela, Egypt, and Greece.
After moving back to the USA she lived in Seattle, Washington working for the State of Washington specializing in the department for developmental disabilities. Debra worked with the state for 29 years managing a region, training and supervising the staff working with individuals with a wide range of developmental delays.
In 2015 Debra, her son, and her husband who is Dutch, permanently moved to the Netherlands.