09/21/2025
It feels surreal to post this but it’s been a year.
One year ago today, we were at PCMC praying for answers. It was the hardest year of our lives with Anja. Her health was deteriorating at an alarming rate. She lost so much weight her body turned on itself and muscle disappeared. Mentally, she was slipping away because every ounce of energy was being spent on surviving.
It wasn’t a good day. We didn’t get any answers but there were tender mercies. As painful as it was, people walked out of Anja’s life while she was at her lowest—but then the most beautiful people stepped in to fill the void and elevate her life. Her photography teacher helped her find a passion that filled the space left by cheer and the girls who were willing to support her through this horrible journey solidified what real friendship looks like.
I was hoping this day in the hospital would be the beginning of the end, but it really was just the refiners fire.
Answers didn’t come until Anne Carr and her husband Gavin Carr stepped in. By January we had answers. By February Anja was seeing Gavin and Carolyn Griffin in CA and the healing began.
By April, Anja was pain free on a regular basis and off all the ridiculous medications the docs at PCMC had her on. Caroline helped her heal her gutt, Gavin continued to check in on her as her care continued at a clinic in UT.
So here we are…a year later. Anja is thriving, living on her own and loving college life. A year ago, I had no hope. Today, I have nothing but excitement for her future. I am full of gratitude to the team of professionals who walked into our lives and saved us all.
I will never again let a group of specialists get tunnel vision when it comes to my family’s health. If they would have only looked outside of their specialty box, they would have found the problem six months earlier.
One thing that I want to brag about— Anja graduated with full honors, full scholarships and 25 concurrent college credits. Everything about her senior year was hard but through it all, Anja was tough. She set and accomplished her academic goals—she did it!
Cheers to putting the last year in the rear view mirror and keeping our eyes on the road ahead!