In 2005, my step-mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. Watching her go through that journey was painful. Filled with anger, sadness, and a ton of questions - I started to read more, listen more, research more, and ask more questions to every doctor I met.
*My mom always said I asked waaaay too many questions, so this was even more!
In 2015, my personal health hit a breaking point. Debilitating migraines had become a regular occurrence, forcing me to call off work and spend days in agony.
It was then that a friend introduced me to alternative holistic approaches, opening my eyes to a world of possibilities I never knew existed. As I dove into this new paradigm, I discovered hidden culprits affecting not only my health but also that of my family.
My love for Bath & Body Works, with its enticing wallflowers and candles, unknowingly triggered allergies and wreaked havoc on our bodies. The shift from this discovery sparked a series of changes – from the products we used to clean our home to our skincare routine and even the scents and products we surrounded ourselves with daily.
In 2019, a pivotal moment occurred when I chose to remove my birth control, revealing a tumor in my left breast.
Years of exposure to hormone-disrupting chemicals and stress had taken a toll on my body.
Despite the scare, the tumor turned out to be benign, prompting me to intensify my focus on emotional and nutritional well-being.
In 2023, we proudly opened a local space "Happy Hangout" designed to serve, encourage, educate, and empower women. And I began my official coursework (after nearly two decades of unofficial research and trainings from various doctors, naturopathic doctors, chiropractors, and functional medicine doctors - I thought it was time to get officially certified) through the Integrative Health Practitioner Institute to become a Certified Integrative Health Practitioner. I now have both level 1 and level 2 certifications and can help get to the underlying root cause contributors to many of my clients health issues.
While we were prepping for our grand opening, we could tell something was NOT right with my Dad.
After several visits to various doctors, specialists, and tests/labs - we received a diagnosis.