MY  JOURNEY

WHY I DO, WHAT I DO…

At 27, I faced a life-changing accident that altered my world forever. Just twenty-five years ago, I was a vibrant woman engaged in a diverse range of activities—dance, travel, sports, workouts, and cherished mountain hikes with my beloved dog. The difference between my life before and after that fateful moment was dramatic; a single moment holds the incredible power to fundamentally reshape one’s future. It can turn your entire world—everything you know, cherish, and hold dear—completely upside down and sideways, leading to unexpected changes and challenges. My accident set off a chain reaction, forever altering my path ahead. The impact of my accident resonated throughout my life, influencing my relationships, aspirations, and my place in the world around me.

It happened on an ordinary shopping trip. I casually sat on a chair that suddenly broke beneath me. In an instant, I found myself falling, striking my head, and landing heavily on my lower back, injuring my lumbar, sacrum, and coccyx. Fear gripped me as I lay there, unable to move, overwhelmed by excruciating pain. Thoughts of "what ifs" flooded my mind: What if I have a serious head injury? What if I’m permanently paralyzed?

When the ambulance arrived, they tried to put a neck brace on me. The paramedic noted that I had such a small neck that I would need a child's neck brace, but they didn’t have one available. Instead, they used an adult neck brace. While it was uncomfortable, the neck brace offered slight relief from the overwhelming throbbing pain and the relentless pressure that throbbed like a drum in my head. Each pulse of pain was accompanied by sharp, stabbing sensations that seemed to shoot through my lower back like a live wire, causing spasms that left me gasping. Electric shocks cascaded down my legs, sparking into my toes with every movement. As the paramedics carefully strapped me onto the backboard, I felt every bump and jolt of the cold, hard surface beneath me, sending waves of anxiety through my body during the long drive to the hospital.. I closed my eyes, attempting to block out the chaos around me, and silently prayed, hoping with every ounce of my being that I would recover and regain my ability to walk.

At the hospital, I endured a battery of tests—X-rays, blood work, CT scans, and MRIs. To my shock, every test came back normal. I was left with no answers to explain the throbbing pressure in my head. A sharp, stabbing electrical pulse shooting down my back and legs. My legs were painfully swollen and felt weighed down, as if each leg was burdened by a hundred-pound weight. The heaviness made every attempt to lift them feel like an insurmountable challenge, leaving me struggling to move and painfully aware that I might never walk again.

My hospital departure was marked by a frustrating I don’t know shrug from doctors and staff, a prescription for pain medication, and the vague suggestion to follow up with my general practitioner.

This was a devastating setback—it was also a pivotal moment that reshaped my life.

The day after my accident, I tried to get out of bed as usual. As I stood up, my legs suddenly gave out beneath me, and I collapsed onto the floor in excruciating pain. I screamed for help and reached for the rented wheelchair beside me.

The rest of the day was filled with mental anguish, emotional shock, and physical pain as everything in my life had changed. I needed assistance even with the simplest tasks, like bending, reaching, lifting, cleaning, showering, getting dressed, and moving around in a home that wasn't wheelchair-accessible. A relentless ache pulsed behind my eyes, making it difficult to focus. Meanwhile, a searing pain radiated through my lower body, accompanied by jarring electrical surges and nerve spasms that shot down my legs like lightning strikes, leaving me feeling vulnerable and overwhelmed as my world was crashing around me.

After enduring almost a year filled with relentless disappointment and pain, I found myself trapped in a cycle of pain medication that offered the most relief. Each day brought a blend of physical struggles and subtle changes in my condition. Due to constant stress, I gained a large amount of weight and now weigh 296 pounds. I received no clarity from medical professionals regarding the cause of my ailments or the path to recovery. Frustration mounted as I realized that if I truly wanted to heal my body, I needed to take control of my journey and actively seek solutions for my well-being.

After attempting numerous forms of therapy to alleviate my condition, I eventually discovered a skilled manual manipulation physiotherapist who made a significant difference in my journey to recovery. With a keen understanding of the human body, he patiently helped me pinpoint the exact origins of my pain. Through detailed explanations and hands-on techniques, he revealed the intricacies of what was happening deep within my muscle structure, shedding light on the underlying issues that had been causing my pain and discomfort. This insightful approach not only provided immediate relief but also deepened my understanding of my body’s mechanics.

This marked the beginning of my transformative three-year journey into holistic healing. Eager to understand how to restore my body, I delved deeply into research and immersed myself in various practices. I explored the art of deep tissue self-massage, learning to release tension and promote relaxation. I studied pressure points, discovering how targeted touch could alleviate pain and enhance wellness. My curiosity also led me to lymphatic drainage techniques, which helped me understand the importance of detoxifying the body. I committed to fitness routines and experimented with healing herbs, enriching my body with natural remedies.

After dedicating countless years to the painstaking process of rehabilitating my body and managing persistent pain with carefully prescribed medications, I reached an incredible milestone that marked a profound turning point in my life—I was finally able to part ways with the wheelchair that had been my constant companion for so long. With unwavering determination and resilience, I embarked on the challenging journey of learning to walk again, this time with the support of a cane, reclaiming my independence step by step. As I navigated this transformative path, I not only regained my ability to move but also shed an astonishing 160 pounds, embracing a vibrant new chapter of life filled with energy and mobility.

Throughout this healing journey, I immersed myself in the intricate knowledge of the human body, which ultimately allowed me to channel my experiences into a rewarding twenty-year career in deep tissue massage. With compassion and understanding, I leveraged my vast and extensive expertise to support and heal others in their times of need, guiding them toward their own paths to recovery and well-being.

MY FUTURE IS IN MY HANDS

  • I lost the weight by listening to what my body wanted.

    My biggest realization was “do not over eat/drink” our bodies can only digest and get rid of so much food and fluid in a day.

    I stopped drinking just water, I would drink only one-two glasses of water throughout the day, to allow my body to get rid of all the excess fluid throught my body.

    I drank only one coffee in the day.

    Zero, one or two glasses of water slowly throughout the day.

    one glass of glass cows milk or chocolate milk daily and one sugar or juice drink daily and one daily herbal bedtime drink.

    The main thing was I drank only when I felt thirsty not out of habit or convienence.

    I eat one full meal a day, my dinner has all food groups.

    or I split that one meal into two meals in the same day.

    I have kept this way of eating and drinking for over 15 years. I can happily say I’ve kept the weight off and now I’m 47 and I feel and look amazing.