I was born with a strong will. I've always been a little scrappy and will dig my heels in and fight for what I want. I don't like being told what to do (especially what I can't do!). I rebuke limiting beliefs daily. This is what has led me to coaching and has also led me to better health at age sixty than I experienced in my forties.
Following the birth of our third child in my early forties, I discovered that the sudden onset of limiting symptoms that came like a bad storm, was most likely Fibromyalgia. I was exhausted with a newborn and didn’t know where to even start, but my instinct to fight set into action. I pushed really hard to even receive that diagnosis, which I basically discovered for myself and my primary care doctor at the time simply agreed because there wasn't another answer. There was very little information available at the time and Fibromyalgia was extremely controversial. There were no definitive tests available and although the symptoms were very real, the overall understanding about it in most social settings was little to none. I had heard of people “taking to the bed”, remaining in excruciating pain, and losing the ability to do normal daily physical activities. I was pretty much there myself! My doctor suggested prescription medications from pain relief to antidepressants. I tried them all at the time with no relief and I wasn't about to lay in bed and be depressed! I had goals and dreams and was determined to see them all through.
I set out to find everything I could about my new diagnosis. And several years later (amidst another perfect storm - menopause) I experienced a new set of physical circumstances that set me on yet another series of discoveries and a new diagnosis of Hashimoto’s Disease.
Autoimmune Disease all stems from the same root and once one surfaces, you can almost bet another is lurking close behind. It has taken years of tenacity to put all the pieces together, to understand the root cause, and to ultimately know how to tackle it head on and be victorious!
I am so grateful that I have that built-in tenacity and that I’m willing to dig for information and then have a will strong enough to keep me committed to the course of what I believe to be the answer. Through a series of floating from specialist to specialist, I was connected with researchers and educators with high platforms and I started my healing journey. I will forever be thankful for my chiropractor who helped me make these connections. Among these, I discovered holistic nutritionists, cellular healing practitioners, and massage therapists. I began to realize that healing is a physical, spiritual, and emotional process, and along the way true wellness is discovered.
I continue to uncover more and more information the longer I travel.
Throughout the last two decades it would have been so easy to give up and give in. Oftentimes I felt as if I was a fish swimming (for my life) upstream and constantly going against the grain. Learning to navigate through so much information, that wasn’t always supported by most in the mainstream medical industry, was a constant battle. I felt alone and misunderstood, but I stayed the course and I’m so glad I did.
Now that I’m approaching my “golden years” I am encouraged that the answers are available and the actions to prevent and even overcome sickness and disease are within reach for everyone! I’m also sad and disappointed that so many are not on the right track to healing and wellness. However, I’m extremely hopeful that I can begin to make a difference in the lives that I touch, simply by sharing my story, my experience, and the education that I’ve gained throughout my personal wellness journey. God has given me an extra dose of tenacity to pass along and to inspire others to dig in their heels and fight for their health and to continue to reach for healing.
“And on the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither, nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing.” ~ Ezekiel 47:12