About

From the time I was three, I would tell people that I was going to be “a baby’s doctor.” As I grew into a teenager, I thought that meant that I was going to be a pediatrician. However, once I was in college my vision changed. I had the blessing of following my local small town North Dakota Family Practice physician after my first year of college. She was still delivering babies in a very small hospital. After watching my first delivery I knew exactly what God had planned for me.

My first experience with the medical field started in 8th grade when I started to have back pain. At the annual screening, the school nurse found that I had scoliosis. I was placed in a back brace and then also saw a chiropractor to try to help with my alignment. I had to have x-rays every three months to monitor my curvature since I was still growing, and it was still progressing. My pain was manageable and better if I stayed active in sports and was able to keep my core strong. 

Fast forward to medical school after having my first child I did okay as my core was stable. Then with my pregnancy with my second child my back pain started increasing again. I assumed it was since I was not able to do core training being so busy as a resident and now with a pregnancy. My second child was also a pound and a half bigger and breech, so I ended up having a Cesarean section for a delivery. When she was 7 months old, and I was post call from a 30 hour shift my back pain became very severe. I went to the ER, and they thought it was a muscle spasm but none of the medications would relieve it. I then went to physical therapy without relief, so the doctor ordered an MRI. I was diagnosed with myxopapillary ependymoma, a cancerous tumor of the nerve tissue in my lower spine. I had to have emergency surgery as the tumor had bled, causing the pain, and my nerves were becoming damaged. I had an amazing team of physicians in and out of the field referring me to the best treatment options. I then had to go to MD Anderson for proton beam radiation to kill the cells that they were not able to remove. My tumor was not chemo sensitive so that was not an option. I am forever grateful for the people in my life at this time and for the advancements in medicine, as without them I would not be here to share my story. 

This brought a great awakening in me. I knew in my heart that all of that radiation in my past had lead me here. I knew that all of the pesticides and environmental toxins from the conventional farms that surrounded my house put my body at a higher risk. So this started my journey of looking for alternative ways to help my body. I had felt very blessed for my medical school education at this point since I was taught about treating the whole body, as well as many alternative therapies. I started reading and taking as many courses as I could afford then, and I haven’t stopped. I will never stop learning. With each course, I can help more patients and that is my drive — to help you live the life God intended for you. We have to have faith and believe in our bodies’ ability to heal. We all deserve to feel and be the best we can be, and to support each other through this challenging, but rewarding, life.