Like many journeys, mine has been a fascinating exploration of opportunities to enhance my health and happiness. Just like any adventure, it has a start, a middle, and an end. I’d say I’m definitely in the middle of my journey and have picked up a lot of valuable lessons along the way.  I thought I would share a vulnerable and small portion of my journey to natural solutions with you with the intention of helping someone who might be on a similar path.

 

For most of my life, I’ve been navigating different health paths, often turning to conventional medicine. I’ve had a lot of reactions to medication and treatment, and I didn’t realize what I didn’t know, so I kept going, trusting the system. I didn’t realize the system was broken, and it kept me stuck in a cycle of treating symptoms instead of finding the root cause. About 20 years ago, I began to combine traditional medicine with a more holistic approach. I started with acupuncture, which helped me with hot flashes from a medication that reduced estrogen, eventually leading to a hysterectomy because of the terrible side effects.   

 

Life kept moving forward, but I was dealing with gastric issues. This meant seeing more doctors, getting more procedures, and taking more medicine. Then, a car accident from a work-related injury happened, along with three hurricanes, creating the perfect storm of mayhem for my body. Since the accident happened at work, it was a workers’ compensation case and did not get the support that I needed.  Plus, the three hurricanes in eight weeks left resources stretched. No one was prepared to give me the proper physical therapy, and wanted to throw medication at me to combat the pain. I initially had to rely on over-the-counter NSAIDs, but they ended up causing stomach problems and a leaky gut. After a few years of no improvement, I began exploring alternative therapies like chiropractic, massage, cupping, and acupuncture to help my body heal. 

 

I didn’t realize it at the time, but these years set the course for what I went through almost a decade later. I was living in a house and working in a building that was full of mold.

 

In 2011, two big things happened that changed everything. We moved to a new home that was mold-free, and I got laid off from my job. These two life-changing events took me out of the toxic mold environment and started my natural solutions journey.

 

In 2013, I stumbled upon dōTERRA, and a small bottle of essential oil really helped ease the discomfort I was dealing with for the past several years. I discovered the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and became a Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach.  I blended my critical care nursing background and health coaching, and guess what?  I became my first client!  I found out I was allergic to wheat and started eliminating gluten from my diet. I began to feel much better.   

 

Life became a little more complicated as my parents were having their own health adventures.  I too was experiencing more health challenges as I peeled back more layers of the onion.

 

The stress took its toll on my body.  It was rebelling with head to toe hives for the next year. The nurse practitioner at the allergist discovered my thyroid needed support.  I was a hot mess.  Nightly hives that felt like I had 1000 mosquito bites. I was extremely tired. My  hair was falling out. I had heart palpitations, depression and other dark night of the soul issues.  The pandemic was at full tilt and the doctor I was seeing abandoned me.  My thyroid levels were on a wild ride as she adjusted my medication.  At one point, my TSH level was almost zero and as high as 6.  The other thyroid markers were either too low or too high. I am grateful I made it out alive. 

 

Then, I had the unfortunate experience of getting food poisoning from rice, which really turned my health adventure upside down.  Who knew left over rice could destroy a body so fast?!

 

I kept searching for answers. As you may know, there are many imposters out there.  I found two of them.  One I knew immediately was off the rails, and the other, I thought I found my knight in shining armor when I found a local functional medicine doctor.  It was a leap of faith and a lot of money to be accepted as a patient. 

 

These next eight months were the most challenging I have ever experienced. He ran thousands of dollars worth of lab tests to discover the root cause of my issues. He and his wife were a team.  She was a health coach, and he was a doctor of chiropractic medicine (which was practicing without a license, the final straw to flee this nightmare several months later). 

 

It was 2024, my brain fog was thick as mud, and I blindly did the prescribed detox and strict elimination diet.  I wanted to feel better and was desperate to follow his therapy.  He said to me on our initial visit, “I know you are a nurse and a health coach, but are you coachable?”  Of course, I said as he led me down a path of destruction.  As a health coach, I am familiar with elimination diets.  They are meant to eliminate all the inflammatory foods; however, practitioners need to meet the patient where they are.  For me, I was a vegetarian with a gluten sensitivity.  The food sensitivity test showed I was extremely sensitive to eggs, dairy, and tomatoes, which complicated on what I could eat.  I eliminated dairy, eggs, wheat, soy, corn, grains, alcohol (didn’t drink), caffeine, beans, fruit, nightshades, white potatoes, peanuts, cassava, honey, sugar, artificial sweeteners, and fruit juices. I was determined to bring down the inflammation.  He also said that I had five autoimmune conditions, one thyroid and the other a debilitating degenerating neurologic condition. With this information, I was determined to heal my body. During this time, he prescribed a series of detox supplements. 

 

My body was under attack, and it was releasing the toxins.  I felt worse. He said it was normal and to keep going.  Plus, I was hungry.  After 30 days, this meal plan was not sustainable.  Numerous text messages and misguidance continued.  At one point, my thyroid prescription ran out, and he put me on a natural thyroid supplement.  At first, my numbers were good, until they weren’t.  It was another wild ride.

 

My body was screaming out to stop this madness, but the phrase, “are you coachable?, still rang out in my head.  Mind you, I could barely get out of bed, full body aches, my hair is falling out in clumps and he said to continue the course.  I was able to introduce grains and beans back into my diet under duress as he wanted me to supplement my diet with meat.  Um, hello, vegetarian/vegan here.  I overlooked this and kept going.   Unfortunately, he never took responsibility of stopping my thyroid medications cold turkey and the roller coster of my thyroid levels that ensued. 

 

It is now June, and my beloved husband gets a scary aggressive C-monster diagnosis.  Together, we relied on each other.  He had so much support from family and friends during his journey.  I am truly grateful that he was held in so much love and made our journey easier.  Unfortunately, I felt like I was stranded on a dessert island.

 

Nonetheless, I dove into research like a mama bear protecting her cubs. I found resources from Nathan Crane, Becoming Cancer Free and Chris Warrick, Chris Beats Cancer.  I looked into Dr. Joel Furman’s super-clean diet, which focused on GBOMBS—greens, beans, onions, mushrooms, and seeds and nuts. We also took out any sugar or caffeine we had, boosted our dōTERRA supplement and essential oil routine with vitamins and minerals, Omega 3 fish oil, pro-inflammatory supplements, digestive support, essential oils, and products that help him feel his best. We discovered Beta Glucan and eliminated all plastic at home. Luckily, we were already on a low-toxin path, so we didn’t have to worry about harmful chemicals in our cooking, cleaning, haircare, and body care products.  I knew that everything we put IN and ON our bodies either fosters or prevents dis-ease. 

 

Scott did well with his treatments as we supported his body naturally.  I was amazed during his chemo treatments how so many patients consumed processed foods and sugary drinks. We looked at this as an adventure of a lifetime.  I packed a picnic lunch for the both of us with fresh, organic, and clean food and beverages.  We joked as we imagined ourselves traveling to Italy on treatment days, as they were as long as a flight to Tuscany.  He was in first class on a recliner, while I was back in coach on a chair.  The time together was lovely. He slept for most of it and his body fought those unwanted cells. 

 

September was a beautiful turning point.  Scott’s PET scans showed no evidence of disease. I left the wild ride of the previous practitioner and found The Center for Integrative Medicine with Dr. Amar Kalidas. Together, we worked together. No ego. No demands. He discovered that the detox I went through unleashed the mold biotoxin that was stored in my body for the past decade.  We tested the house twice and knew that was not the source.   During a mold detox treatment, one has to be removed from the source, and thankfully, it was not our current home but our previous home and workplace.  Our house failed inspection when we sold it.  The chimney chase was full of mold.  The damage occurred when they replaced our roof due to the hurricanes, and we lived in that toxic home for seven years.  They tested me for five different types of mold. Being the over achiever as I am,  I tested positive for all of them with levels ranging from 3 to 18 (not present is less than 0.5-1.8).  Eureka! We found the culprit. 

 

For the next seven months, I treated this debilitating biotoxin, and my body started to improve.  The fog lifted.  My hair was growing back. My joints did not hurt. I released 40 pounds of unwanted weight.   I worked on reprogramming my mind, body, and soul.

 

At the end of last year, I found an amazing woman, Cathy Heller. She had a 21-day Most Abundant Year Ever challenge.  I joined and it helped recalibrate my brain.  Daily prompts, videos, meditation, zoom calls and a community of amazing souls.   Her book, Abundant Ever After, was life changing as well.   I joined her membership and this past year, I’ve reframed my story and have a different perspective on my life.  Cathy is offering another challenge for 2026.  It’s called Manifest Your Most Abundant Year.  It’s only $26 and it will change your life!   For more information, click here!  It is a wonderful program and community.

 

Scott continues to thrive without evidence of disease.

 

I’m feeling like I’ve just woken up from a coma and I’m so glad to be feeling better! 

 

I am grateful for this journey as it solidifies my commitment to help others on their own health adventures using natural solutions. 

 

2025 was a year of rebuilding and rising from the ashes.  Scott and I are solid and navigating life's journey together.

 

During all of this, the one thing that remained consistent was our natural solution support through dōTERRA.  Each physician we encountered was impressed on how well we doing despite our situation.  It could have been so much worse.

 

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Join me on my FaceBook and/or Instagram pages. This month, we are bringing warmth, creativity, and seasonal wellness to your home.  You will cherish a balance of fun DIY projects, thoughtful gift ideas, cozy diffuser blends, simple recipes, and nourishing winter products to the make the season feel meaningful and connected.

 

 

Until the next time,

Be Well, Deanna

Peace. Love. Oils.  

 

 

‡These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.