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Kristen Narotam loves her jam, be it Coolio’s “Gangsta’s Paradise” or The Spice Girls’ “Wannabe.” For about 30 seconds, and then it’s time for a new song.
Her family, who dubs her “The Thirty Second DJ,” knows something she never tires of – doing things for others.
“She is the most caring and loving person,” they say. “She is very detail-oriented and organized. You can always count on her to be loyal. She enjoys making others happy!”
“We love you. We are so appreciative of all that you do for our family.” This quote could have come from any one of the Narotams – Kristen’s husband Dhiren, son Alex, or either of her stepdaughters, Mira and Mailee. If the fur babies – Champ, Duke, Tux, Twinkles, Lucy, Shellby the tortoise, and Auggie the Doggie – could talk, no doubt they would concur.
According to her husband, Dhiren, “The quality of her work is amazing! She is a hard worker, who gets things done, and done right,” he asserts.
Dhiren is not the only one to recognize this. An Occupational Therapist by trade, Kristen was recently promoted to Chief of Prosthetics at the Des Moines Veterans Hospital.
Helping others is more than just a job to Kristen. She spends her free time taking care of her dogs, cats, tortoise and humans.
“One of the most magical things about Kristen is her genuine altruism,” her husband Dhiren says.
Her love isn’t limited to humans and animals. Love for gardening moved Kristen to adopt a flower garden for the City of Ankeny.
“DJ” Kristen’s Midwestern groove began in Lincoln, Nebraska, with her parents Jacki and Dean, and half-brother Jeff. December 14 will mark her 40th birthday. Does she have any special plans to celebrate her personal milestone?
Dhiren answers definitively, “She does not. Even on her own birthday, she would rather do things for other people. She is truly selfless.”
Dhiren defines Kristen as “The matriarch and rock of our family. The most loving woman, wife, mother and stepmother. We are blessed to call her ours.” He adds, “She is an amazing gift-giver. She remembers every detail and files it away.”
Asked what Kristen means to him personally, Dhiren says, “Everything. She is my wife and my life. I would be lost without her. I tell her that every time I leave her for even a weekend, I realize just how much I miss her and love her.”
Dhiren gushes about Kristen’s selflessness and loyalty. “She will absolutely be in your corner through thick and thin. She makes you feel like there is nothing in the world more important than you.”
Pressed for a favorite memory, Dhiren answers easily. “Our wedding.” It was planned in a single week and orchestrated solely by Dhiren and Kristen. “We decided it was our wedding and we only needed to please each other.” Makes perfect sense when you put it that way.
Perfect sense is another of Kristen’s virtues. Her 14-year-old son Alex as well as 16-year-old Mailee look to her for advice and clarity. “She’s a great listener,” they add. It’s a common sentiment of those that know and love her.
It’s easy to see how much Kristen Narotam means to her family. “Genuine, amazing, loving, caring,” are the refrains of their heartfelt praise for her. And, as each of them note, “We’d be lost without her. She keeps us all on track.”
It sounds like with the help of their “Thirty Second DJ,” the Narotam family won’t miss a beat.
