Advisory Council

Minda Lee Briaddy lives in the hamlet of Saranac Inn, near the shores of Upper Saranac Lake with her husband John, and their son Jimmy. They have a blended family of five adult children and their 14-year-old. She and John became involved in the world of foster and adoption thru Jimmy who was five when Minda met him. He was a child Minda worked with who went up for adoption and she and John had just started dating. They decided to get married and adopt Jimmy out of foster care. They began working with a trauma therapist immediately to learn how to parent a child from hard places. Of course, they had to become therapeutic foster parents as Jimmy had many medical and developmental issues. They did so under the pretext that it was “just for Jimmy” They ended up fostering 8 children in 5 years. Thru that process, there were many battles with the system that became a war eventually. 

Three years ago Minda was diagnosed with stage four melanoma which is a very aggressive internal cancer that attacks the organs. She was able to get the treatment she needed and thru that and her faith is cancer free now. The family has changed and the foster home is closed but Minda continues to be passionate about supporting those who foster and adopt. She has degrees in psychology and special education and is currently working on a book about her experiences in getting healed from cancer during the pandemic. She also discovered the use of essential oils while in the hospital and is a Doterra wellness advocate and is a certified essential oil specialist. She teaches families how to use essential oils for personal use and to have a toxic-free home thru her business Mindas Hope Essentials. 

Minda is a friend to those who are hurting, a strong defender of children, and a person who is not afraid to fight the good fight even if it is from a place of prayer. She has a strong faith that leads her path and she continues to educate others about the struggles that foster families encounter. She is honored to be included in this panel and will do her best to move things forward!