At nine, I started massaging family and friends for candy bars and pocket change. Luckily, milking goats on our family hobby goat farm gave me the added gift of stronger hands. Massage was almost unknown in the 1960s, so I never planned on that for a career.

At age 16, I suddenly found myself on my deathbed. After a month in the hospital without a diagnosis (of a digestive/nerve ailment), I was down to 89 pounds, weak, and in a wheelchair. On Christmas eve, the doctors told my parents to “take her home to be with family, while you still have her”. I too, knew I was dying, and I felt sad that I would never marry and have children.

My panicked parents searched outside the box for any solutions. Prayerfully searching for answers, they stumbled upon nutrition books (no internet then). My dad became my nutritionist and my mom my nurse. Apparently, I wasn’t receiving or not absorbing many needed nutrients. 

Only fifteen weeks after hospital discharge, I hiked three miles, halfway up Mt. Washington, NH, to watch skiers ski the ‘Bowl’. It’s the highest mountain on the East Coast, part of the Appalachian Mountain Trail. I needed to take breaks, but I was clearly regaining strength.

After that powerful life-changing event, I became convinced that what we do or don’t eat and drink creates our health and strength for our tomorrows. I felt I had just witnessed a miracle. Mine. I grew closer to God and set my sights on natural living with joyful enthusiasm into my 90’s.

Looking outside the ‘box’ for root-cause answers, just like my dad did, became my habit. I developed a passion for holistic health after studying and becoming certified in foot reflexology, and massage. Later, I became a BreathWork and Nutrition Coach.

During an unexpected divorce at age 44, I went into premature menopause and only slept 4 hours a night for several years. I prioritized letting-go of old fears, bitterness, and Negative-Worry-Thinking. Studying methods for Re-Balancing Emotions, I also took a course on how to reduce Love-Pain to remove the fear that Love-Hurts.  Becoming much happier and content, I then searched for methods to help me attract my best Heart-Mate.