The Setback

At the end of that year, I came down with a respiratory illness that steered my life into constant physical distress. After more than two years of health trauma, hospitalizations, surgeries, and ER visits, my second team of doctors diagnosed me with a rare autoimmune disease, EGPA.  There is no cure and they said I would be taking a continual high dose of steroids and injections for the rest of my life. One of my specialists strongly suggested that I shut down my business and start on disability. Between the illness and the steroids, my weight steadily increased, my sleep was minimal and I lived a life of exhaustion. But from the point that I was told the name of the disease, my quest to find answers began.

The Wake-up Call

As the new year began in 2013, I evaluated the way I had been living my life and not prioritizing my health. I had watched my father suffer from multiple health problems in his later years and wanted a different life for myself. I changed my diet, my fitness, and routines and committed to making consistent, healthy and mindful choices. When 2014 rolled in, I had lost the extra weight I had gained through the years and felt healthier and stronger than ever before. I treasured my walks with my sweet dog, Scoutie, and fell in love my new yoga practice, which spoke to my mind, body and soul. Life was good.

Starting Over

Over the next several years, I immersed myself in learning, through courses, books, trial and error, and both in-person and online classes from experts in their fields. I worked on all aspects of my life, focusing on everything that effects our bodies and the practices that are intertwined with our whole selves, all while continuing my medical care. My plan was to defeat the disease and reclaim my health.

A New Life

With each step forward, I gained more hope. Each new hurdle became another step toward reaching my goal. By changing my diet, my habits and my methods of coping with life, I lost over 100 pounds. This, alone, was a huge accomplishment. I felt freedom and confidence, and continued to pursue my goal of overcoming the disease that the doctors had diagnosed me with.

It was not easy, and the doctors did not think it was possible, but the day that my labs came back normal for the first time since the sickness began, it had happened.

I got my health back.

The first time my labs came back clear, my doctor said, Wow; I would not have predicted that and only typically see that with patients actively on oral steroids … these suggest that EGPA has somehow resolved… which is honestly something I have not seen before.

I felt overwhelmed and my first reaction was … shock. Then I told myself, ‘this is what you’ve been working on for all those years. This was your plan!’

So, plan realized, I’m now able to teach you with my own expertise, found through studies with experts, doctors, experience and practice, how to manage your life with health struggles too.

After losing over 100 pounds and receiving confirmation from my doctor and lab reports, I finally felt free.