For many years, I was doing everything I thought I was supposed to do. I followed my doctors' recommendations. I tried to eat well. I pushed through the fatigue because life didn't stop just because I was sick. Like so many women, I became very good at functioning while feeling far from well.
Behind the scenes, though, my body was struggling. The fatigue was relentless. My joints ached. Brain fog made it difficult to think clearly, and inflammation seemed to touch every part of my life. Eventually, my health forced me away from the classroom I loved, and later I was diagnosed with Stage 3 chronic kidney disease related to lupus. That diagnosis became a turning point. Instead of asking, "How do I manage this?" I started asking, "How can I better support my body?"
As a lifelong educator, research has always been part of who I am. I immersed myself in the science of nutrition, inflammation, gut health, stress physiology, sleep, movement, and epigenetics. I discovered that while medications have an important role, there were also everyday lifestyle choices that could support my body's natural ability to function at its best. I didn't change everything overnight. I made one sustainable change after another.
Over time, those small changes added up. My energy returned. The pain and stiffness became far less frequent. My thinking became clearer. My kidney function improved. Eventually, my doctor told me there were no longer lupus markers showing in my bloodwork—a moment I once believed would never be possible. But the greatest transformation wasn't found in my lab results. It was getting my life back.
Today I enjoy long walks, time with my family and friends, travel, and the freedom to make plans without constantly wondering how I'll feel tomorrow. That journey inspired a new calling. After retiring from 31 years of teaching, I became a Holistic Nutrition Coach and Certified Autoimmune Nutrition Specialist so I could continue doing what I've always loved—educating, encouraging, and helping women understand their bodies with compassion and confidence.
Today, I guide women living with autoimmune conditions, chronic inflammation, chronic stress, and persistent fatigue through science-backed nutrition education and sustainable lifestyle strategies that support overall health and well-being. My role isn't to replace medical care, but to help women understand the everyday choices that can influence how they feel and empower them to become active participants in their own health journey.
If you're feeling discouraged, overwhelmed, or wondering if you'll ever feel like yourself again, I want you to know this: There is hope. Your story is still being written. And you don't have to walk this journey alone.
