My ROOT to Wellness

The train rumbled along, people were chatting, kids were crying, and yet it all sounded like muffled background music to the overwhelming emotional thoughts raging through my head…

I was returning on the train from a week at the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) Undiagnosed Disease Program, where they poked and prodded every inch of my tired body. For 30 years I struggled with an undiagnosed disease, being passed from one specialist to another, taking part in studies at Yale with some of the best docs in the country, and still no diagnosis. All I knew was that I was getting sicker and sicker.

I was living on machines and meds to clear my lungs, and yet the infections just kept coming. I lived in fear day to day that when I went to sleep, my breathing would stop, as it sometimes did, and that I would not wake up to see another day.

The train ride home from the NIH was monumental in pathing my route to wellness. I heard this little voice say, “Stop chasing a diagnosis and start doing what you can to optimize your health.” This began the most amazing journey.

I knew knowledge was key to doing all I could to improve my health, so I enrolled in the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in 2012. This program opened my eyes to healing not coming merely from the foods we eat, but also from how we live our lives. I went on to attend the Life Transformation Program at the Hippocrates Health Institute. This was life changing in so many ways. After experiencing these two powerful programs, I knew I needed to write and share my story…and ROOTS2Wellness was born!

In 2014 I published my story, ROOTS2Wellness, where I outline my healing methodology: Unearth, Weed, Nourish, Bloom.
• Unearth – getting to the root of the problem/illness/dis-ease
• Weed – removing the obstacles that are in your way to healing
• Nourish – feeding your mind, body, and soul what it needs most
• Bloom – living a life of vibrant health and happiness!

By the close of 2013, I was able to get off all machines and meds. I am constantly in awe of how blessed I am to be living this incredible journey. I now look at my illness as a gift. It has brought so many incredible people into my world and has given me the opportunity to share my passion for living well in all aspects of life!

I now look at each day as a gift. I go to sleep at night counting my many blessings. I wake up feeling gratitude for the day ahead. I live all in, from a place of love, and ask how I may be of service in my life.

How do you want your life’s story to read? What are you doing to live well in this crazy, joyous thing called life?