My Journey Towards Health 

After decades of prolonged physical, mental, and emotional stress from being a working, single mother of five; a registered nurse serving in the critical care and emergency departments; and, from surviving several severe automobile accidents, I had faced my own health challenges. Thinking back, my symptoms really began as a teen following what my doctor felt was a viral illness. I would always have a good reason as to why the fatigue that continued afterwards remained, but the chronic pain was a symptom that I couldn’t explain. 

In the late 1990s, my family doctor finally diagnosed me with Fibromyalgia (FMS) and Chronic Fatigue Symptom (CFS); however, so little was understood about these at the time that she could offer me little more than a few prescriptions (including antidepressants and extra-strength NSAIDs) that did not really help. At work in the emergency department, I could not dare to mention that this was something with which I suffered because patients coming in with those diagnoses were dubbed “crazy, lazy, stupid, and drug-seeking”. I had to hide who I was and what I faced daily from everyone.

Finally, in 2007, I traveled to a FMS/CFS specialist in Philadelphia who ordered more blood tests than anyone ever had before – 14 vials of blood. This revealed two things no one had found before: extremely elevated Epstein Barr Virus antibodies and profoundly low vitamin D levels. Now we had something with which to work! Over three months, I received numerous IVs and began to take nutritional supplements that slowly improved my symptoms, but not completely. 

Years prior, I changed my diet and lifestyle following nine months of hyperemesis gravida during my first pregnancy in 1986. I ate well – organic and plant-based, removed all chemicals from my home, including cleaning supplies, personal care products, and food storage and cookware. But even after all of these efforts, I still felt unwell. Then, in 2018, I began to see another provider, Dr. Thomas Heath – a chiropractor trained in Applied Kinesiology and Quantum Neurology – who said that I had what he believed were the symptoms of leaky gut. “Leaky what?” I had never heard that term before. He recommended removing all grains, dairy, corn, soy, and nightshades from my diet. I cried the entire 90-min drive home from his office. “What will I eat?” I thought my diet of salads, whole grains and legumes was so pristine. He also suggested that what I needed was to take a more functional approach to my healing. I had also not heard of Functional Medicine until that time.

After much time in prayer, I was led to the Autoimmune Paleo (AIP) protocol and finally began to find relief from the now profound fatigue and pain. In the years that followed, I became disillusioned with a conventional approach to healing and have voraciously delved into the world of Functional – or Root Cause – Medicine. I have come to discover much about myself that has given me answers to decades of questions: hidden infections, negative epigenetic expression (“bad” genes turning on), microbiome disruption (“gut issues”), cell membrane dysfunction, and so much more. 

I have also come to recognize the massive impact that mental and emotional stressors can have on the physical body – the mind-body connection. I have been blessed to discover Neuro Emotional Technique (NET), a tremendously effective mind-body technique that uses a methodology of finding and removing neurological imbalances related to the physiology of unresolved stress patterns. This technique was a game-changer!

When I am not studying or working on business-related activities, I enjoy traveling, cooking, knitting, gardening, reading, singing and playing piano. I have also recorded a CD of original songs, “One Thing I Desire: Songs from the Secret Place”, available on streaming platforms. I have recently joined with a dear friend, Josh Marsh, to form The Wellsongs Together, we have a heart for the creatives among us who love to share their gifts and talents. In the spring 2024 we released an EP of original music written to with a message of hope calling home to those who may have lost their way. Most especially, I love spending time with my five children, nine grandchildren and husband; and with my inner circle of friends.