My Health Journey

I SUFFERED FROM BRAIN FOG, JOINT PAIN, MEMORY ISSUES, EXHAUSTION, INSOMNIA, HAIR LOSS, FOOD SENSITIVITIES, SNEEZING/ALLERGIES, MIGRAINES, NERVE PAIN, MUSCULOSKELETAL INJURIES,  DRY SKIN, HIVES, SEASONAL BRONCHITIS, BLOATING, SINUS ISSUES...THE LIST WENT ON.  I HAD ALSO DEVELOPED ANAPHYLACTIC REACTIONS TO BEE STINGS.  

I was trying to raise young kids, be a wife, work, & manage my household & life, all unsuccessfully with my expanding list of symptoms taking over each day.  I was desperate for help.  I started to make some diet changes & started to see some improvement.  However, through a series of unfortunate events, my symptoms progressed until I was facing life threatening anaphylactic reactions on a regular basis.

 MY IMMUNE SYSTEM HAD BETRAYED ME... I WAS LEFT SICK & DESPERATE.  

I was unable to eat because I "reacted" to all foods, except for a short, "safe" list of 15 foods.  I was left sitting in my "death chair" with an Epi Pen in my hand, taking high doses of antihistamines trying to survive.  Through God's abundant grace, many prayers were answered & I was led to a Functional Medicine, M.D.   After that, my life changed.  I did not know about Functional Medicine, so I began researching it through the Institute of Functional Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic.  I was shocked & completely amazed to find that there was a very large group of well trained physicians in Functional Medicine that were addressing chronic illness in an incredible way.

 FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE LOOKS AT THE ROOT CAUSE OF ILLNESS, HELPING TO HEAL PEOPLE, BASED ON SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE, COMBINING BOTH TRADITIONAL MEDICINE APPROACHES, GOOD NUTRITION, & INTEGRATIVE THERAPIES TO ACHIEVE THE BEST OUTCOMES FOR PATIENTS.  

My Functional Medicine Doctor identified some serious imbalances in my gastrointestinal system, helped uncover the root of my illness, prescribed appropriate medications & nutritional supplements, & helped me to reintroduce healing foods.  I was no longer left dying in a chair, but instead living my life!  Over the months to years of healing, I became stronger & healthier...I was on a mission like never before!  I enrolled in a Master's Program  in Human Nutrition & Functional Medicine & completed my degree in 2018. I wanted to learn how I too could help people recover from health issues using principals of functional medicine based on science.  I have lived the hard road to healing through good nutrition.  

Along the road to healing, I continued to function at a very high level, but after a very stressful time in my personal family life, I recognized that I was having some new undesired symptoms.

after a very stresful time in my personal family life, I noticed I was experiencing new symptoms such as: tripping, foot drop, constipation, bladder issues, difficulty with cognitive tasks & memory, drooling, eye lid droop, swallowing difficulty, & A decrease in hand strength.

After a brain MRI & spinal tap, it was clear that my symptoms were due to Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS). This new autoimmune disease diagnosis stopped my life in its tracks. What if I became disabled? How would I be the wife, mother, & grandmother I dreamed of being? So, I started to dig deeper. I looked at my diet & lifestyle with scrutiny this time. I needed to make some very tough decisions if I wanted to live a highly functional life well into my future.

I AM SO GRATEFUL TO USE my knowledge of functional medicine to CONTINUE TO HEAL & TO BE WORKING WITH PATIENTS TO HELP THEM ACHIEVE OPTIMAL HEALTH THROUGH APPROPRIATE NUTRITION INTERVENTIONS.  

I would love to hear from you & discuss how I can help  you start living your life again!