Today we’d like to introduce you to Adina.
Hi Adina, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I began my professional career as a full-time office manager, where I developed leadership and operational skills – managing teams, marketing, accounting, and complex scheduling – all while raising two children. Wearing many hats became second nature and laid the foundation for navigating the multifaceted challenges of entrepreneurship.
Later, my path shifted when my father was diagnosed with cancer. This deeply personal experience inspired me to become an oncology nurse. Over 15 years, I served at top cancer centers nationwide including NIH, The James Cancer Center, Duke, and City of Hope, in both inpatient and outpatient settings. I cared for thousands of patients struggling with side effects like brain fog and chemo brain, seeing firsthand a glaring gap in mental recovery support.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, I founded Nurse Adina LLC, providing private patient advocacy amid hospital restrictions. I specialized in family dynamics mediation, tailored oncology care, education advocacy, and public speaking – deepening my understanding of patient needs beyond clinical treatment.
Balancing nursing, family caregiving, and advocacy, I launched Cattywampus in 2023. The purpose behind Cattywampus is both deeply personal and professional.
In cancer survivorship, there’s lots of encouragement for physical recovery and emotional support, but little focus on mental recovery. This gap resonated with me.
On a personal level, my family has faced devastating dementia and Alzheimer’s—my grandmother and mother-in-law before they passed, and now my mother’s decline is a daily, heartbreaking reality. I know I’m not alone. Dementia and Alzheimer’s cost the U.S. over $700 billion annually. While we can’t change our genetics, emerging research shows we can influence brain health through engagement and learning new challenges.
Combining these experiences with the science, Cattywampus emerged—not just as a game I’d imagined, but as a joyful, accessible way to help people stay mentally sharp as they age. It blends word games, brain games, strategy, and puzzles into an engaging mental workout.
Cattywampus isn’t just a business—it’s a calling. I keep walking through every door God opens, trusting this platform can be a meaningful tool in the journey toward better brain health for many.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Cattywampus hasn’t been a smooth ride. One of the biggest challenges was creating an app without any coding experience—diving into a whole new world while juggling my existing roles. Along the way, I’ve learned a ton about mobile gaming, app development, and the tech side of the business.
What might surprise you is how many skills from nursing have carried over into game development. I often say, “A good nurse doesn’t have all the answers; a good nurse knows her resources.”
Resourcefulness, critical thinking, time management, staying calm in a crisis, delegating effectively, leadership—the list goes on. These qualities have been my foundation as I navigate this new terrain, turning obstacles into opportunities.
At the same time, I was working full-time as a bedside oncology nurse, which is demanding enough on its own. Balancing two full-time careers stretched me thin but fueled my determination to see Cattywampus succeed.
In early 2024, I talked with my husband about how God might transition me from juggling two full-time jobs to focusing fully on Cattywampus. And, naturally, He did it in a way only He could. I was working as a travel nurse on a transplant unit in Virginia—one of my 14 contracts across several states. This particular stint was my favorite because this facility had solid processes in place. Too often, hospitals have policies without the systems to make them work, but here it was different.
I had just renewed my contract and was working on my third cycle when God abruptly pulled me away from the bedside due to a medical crisis involving my mom and stepdad. More on that coming next.
What I cherish most is that God allowed me to leave the bedside on a high note, not in a valley. Unlike many nurses who leave feeling burned out and frustrated, I carried a deep love for nursing with me—a love still embedded in my heart.
The most profound challenge came in late 2024, during a medical crisis with my mother. Living in Maryland with her husband Steve, my mom was battling dementia alongside multiple health issues. Tragically, Steve’s alcoholism led to liver and kidney failure, and he passed away within a month. His death accelerated my mother’s cognitive decline, which was heartbreaking to witness.
People with dementia age backwards—my mother became terrified, crying out in fear of being placed in a nursing home. She longed to be with family, despite decades of estrangement between us. She was widowed, uprooted from her longtime home, and facing the unknown.
Despite her earlier wishes, I couldn’t bring myself to place her in a home. Instead, she moved in with us.
Caregiving quickly revealed itself to be more than the logistical tasks of insurance, medications, and appointments. It was a complex, emotional journey—God used this season to heal and deepen my relationship with my mom. Physically demanding and emotionally exhausting, caring for her felt like caring for a 150-pound toddler, full of vulnerability and need.
Even with all the challenges, speed bumps, and hiccups along the way, I love what God is doing with Cattywampus, and how He’s using this fun little game I played in my head for years to help people stay mentally sharp as we age.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Cattywampus is the flagship product of DnA Games. It is a mobile game combing the fun of word games, the strategy of brain games and problem-solving aspect of puzzles into one beautiful, bold app. It is designed to make cognitive wellness accessible and enjoyable. We pioneered a category we call Productive Play – fun that feels good and does good. It’s a great game and tool for those individuals who want meaningful downtime. Many of our players are smart, busy, productive multi-taskers looking for a joyful experience while staying mentally sharp as they age.
What do you do, what do you specialize in / what are you known for?
We specialize in creating engaging, scientifically informed gameplay that supports cognitive health. What sets us apart is our unique foundation: Cattywampus was born from my personal experience as an oncology nurse caring for thousands of patients facing cognitive challenges from treatment, combined with a heartfelt commitment to brain health shaped by my family’s battles with dementia and Alzheimer’s. This blend of clinical insight and personal passion informs every aspect of our game design.
What sets you apart from others?
Casual mobile games feel like junk food. You don’t need to be a nurse to know that junk food is bad for you. Brain games feel like homework. Cattywampus uniquely combines enjoyment with real cognitive benefits, designed to engage multiple areas of the brain through diverse challenges. We are not just a game; we’re a tool for Productive Play that encourages lifelong brain engagement. Plus, my firsthand experience in healthcare and patient advocacy gives Cattywampus unmatched authenticity and a deep understanding of the mental recovery journey.
What are you most proud brand wise?
I’m most proud that Cattywampus is more than a product—it’s a platform rooted in purpose. It’s a joyful, accessible mental workout that people truly enjoy, without feeling like “work.” We’ve created a brand that balances fun and function, science and heart, helping shift how people think about brain health and aging.
I am also very proud of how much we have accomplished in such a short amount of time. In two years, we built and launched an app. We have steady growth showing early adoption and for that I am so grateful. It’s truly my desire to help as many people as possible through smart play.
What do you want our readers to know about your brand, offerings, services, etc?
I want readers to know Cattywampus is built with love, insight, and a deep commitment to helping people maintain their cognitive vitality. It’s designed for anyone who wants to feel confident in their mental sharpness well into the future. We offer a unique game experience combining proven cognitive stimulation with fun, and we’re just getting started on a journey to impact millions. It is free to download and is available in the App Store and Google Play.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
I grew up in the era of Linda Carter as Wonder Woman, and I watched that show religiously. Did you know Wonder Woman was a nurse? 😉
As a kid, I had vivid dreams of being her assistant—flying around in her invisible jet, helping catch bad guys, deflecting bullets with bracelets made of aluminum foil. And, of course, wielding her iconic lasso of truth!
Those childhood adventures fueled my imagination and planted early seeds of strength, courage, and compassion—qualities that continue to shape me today.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.playcattywampus.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playcattywampus/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PlayCattywampus
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adinamaynard/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PlayCattywampus
