My Story

My Early Years

My roots in healthcare began at a very young age, as the daughter of a nurse. I grew up in a hospital/clinic environment where my mother (pictured with me above) worked in the operating room alongside my stepfather, an orthopedic surgeon. Many nights were spent sleeping in the doctor's lounge, waiting for their surgeries to end. Our home was filled with bone models and anatomy charts, sparking my fascination with the workings of the human body. This led me to pursue allied health sciences, earning a master's degree in occupational therapy. Since 2006, I've worked as an OT, mainly with infants experiencing developmental delays and congenital feeding issues, which is what piqued my interest in nutrition.

Besides aiding my patients in their recovery from injuries, I've navigated my own challenges with health. As a child, I was frequently ill, contracting every virus or cold each year, including German measles, scarlet fever, the flu, mononucleosis, and chickenpox. Additionally, I endured regular constipation, asthma, tonsillitis, strep throat, ear infections, urinary infections, seasonal allergies, sinus infections, uterine fibroids, and intense migraines. It all seemed "normal" to me to fall sick often, as I came from a medical family and received excellent healthcare. The prescribed medications were effective in symptom relief, yet they did not address or investigate the underlying causes of my recurring illnesses. 

As a young adult, I underwent several surgeries due to frequent sinus infections, high breast cancer risk, and sepsis from acute appendicitis. Each surgery came with a hospital stay, IV antibiotics, and more prescription medications. In the first thirty years of my life, I had taken an INNUMERABLE amount of antibiotics and various prescriptions. I only knew the allopathic way of medicine because that is what I was taught at home and is the norm in our culture. I made the best medical decisions for myself with the information available, trusting my highly esteemed doctors. However, what I did not do was trust in myself, or in God's creation for my body's ability to heal.

Devastating News

In 2012, my life was forever altered. My mother was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic pancreatic cancer and tragically passed away just 12 weeks later. During her diagnosis and passing, I was pregnant with my youngest daughter, making it an exceptionally tough and distressing period for me. My mother wasn't just a parent to me, but also my closest confidant, and losing her was profoundly traumatic. It was an unprecedented loss, and I struggled to find a way to continue without her presence. She was an integral part of my daily life and also shared a special bond with my eldest daughter. The rapid farewell was deeply traumatic for us all. At the same time, I developed gestational diabetes, depression, IBS, and severe eczema that enveloped my body. The itching was so severe that I would scratch until I bled, even during sleep. The term 'miserable' doesn't even begin to cover my state. I sought help from numerous allopathic doctors, but the overwhelming consensus was that my symptoms were due to stress and depression, and they would subside with medication, ointments, and time. However, due to my pregnancy, I opted against taking the prescribed treatments and just continued to endure the discomfort.

Taking Control Of My Health

Following my mother's death, 30+ years of prescription medications, antibiotics, surgeries, and frequent illnesses, I had never felt worse physically, emotionally, and spiritually. My itching symptoms not only persisted, but also intensified. Additionally, I experienced severe fatigue and brain fog, and feeling utterly overwhelmed. At my lowest point, I resolved to decipher what was afflicting my body and to take control of my health. I knew I had to stop repeating the same ineffective practices and needed a fresh approach. The passing of my mother ignited a passion within me to delve into research. Her illness and death propelled me on a quest to understand health and wellness and to explore holistic and preventative medicine. I was eager to absorb all information on pancreatic cancer, which then steered my focus towards wellness and prevention. I recognized that decades of antibiotic overuse had absolutely destroyed my gut health and severely weakened my immune system. The shock and emotional charge of losing my mother further burdened my already taxed immune system, leaving my body unable to cope. 

My research led me to the realization that my lifestyle and diet were significant contributors to my issues, prompting an urgent need for change. I was severely nutrient deficient, and it showed. I immediately started consulting with a holistic doctor and adopted a new lifestyle that remarkably transformed my life. In order to fully heal, I also had to deal with my emotional pain. From the depths of grief and despair, I emerged renewed. Collaborating with a naturopath and nutritionist, I learned new dietary habits and how to scrutinize food labels as well as implementing environmental and lifestyle adjustments. I reviewed signs and symptoms in my bloodwork that revealed severe nutritional deficiencies and made changes in what I ate.  In just a few months, I was healing and thriving again. 

Where I Am Today

After much work over many years, all of the ailments that had plagued me since I was a young child are now gone. Now, I seldom fall ill, and I haven't needed any antibiotics or prescription medications in at least a decade, which were a constant in my life since childhood. This is a stark contrast to my earlier years. My experience is personal, yet I'm aware that I'm not alone, as many suffer from chronic illnesses. After my mother's death, I felt a divine calling to delve into natural health and healing and to share this knowledge with others, empowering them to heal themselves. This led me to The Energetic Health Institute to learn, and subsequently, to the creation of 5 Elements Nutrition, a platform for you to discover the underlying causes of your symptoms and start the journey of listening to and healing your body. 

So, are you sick and tired of feeling sick and tired?  Are you ready to make a change in your life?