Functional with FND

02/16/2026

🧠✨ Let’s Talk Neuroplasticity (FND Style)

One of the wildest, most hopeful things about the brain is this:
it can change.
Even when symptoms feel stuck. Even when your body is glitching. Even when your leg decides it’s “out of office” for the day.

That ability to change is called neuroplasticity — and it’s the foundation of healing with FND.

Here’s what it actually means in real life:

🌱 1. Your brain can learn new pathways
Just like a trail in the woods, the more you walk a path, the clearer it gets.
With FND, some pathways get mixed up — but new ones can be built.

🔄 2. Repetition + safety = rewiring
Your brain learns best when it feels safe, supported, and not overwhelmed.
Small, consistent steps matter more than pushing through.

⚡ 3. Symptoms don’t mean “broken” — they mean “misfired”
Your brain is sending signals down the wrong route.
Neuroplasticity is how we gently guide it back.

🧘‍♀️ 4. Calm moments count as much as exercises
Regulation, grounding, pacing, and rest all help your brain rewire.
Healing isn’t just physical — it’s nervous-system deep.

🌟 5. You’re not starting from zero
Every tiny win, every moment of connection, every time you try again…
your brain is learning.

02/15/2026

Something exciting happened recently.

We live in the country and yes while we do not have high traffic volume we do have lots of farmers zipping and zooming to honestly get some quite important work done, large farm equipment passing by, and other vehicles as well.

If you live in the country you know.

However one of Leenas symptoms is dissociation.
More specifically dissociative wandering. This causes her to be an elopement risk.

🟢Dissociative wandering is a rare, severe condition involving sudden, unexpected travel away from home, accompanied by amnesia for one's identity and past. Triggered individuals may adopt a new identity, function normally, and later have no memory of the episode.

🟣Elopement risk, commonly referred to as "wandering," involves a person with cognitive impairment or special needs (e.g., dementia, Alzheimer’s, autism, FND) leaving a safe, supervised area without authorization. This poses severe dangers, including fatal accidents, exposure to extreme weather, and dehydration. Prevention requires comprehensive assessments, secure environments, and vigilant supervision to avoid serious injury, and emotional distress.

Not too long ago we reached out to our township in regards to possibly receiving some signs to help decrease traffic speeds by our home and help us provide a safer environment for Leena.

This is NOT our only precaution. We have several.

With that being said, we asked and they delivered.

We are so incredibly greatful for the assistance of people in our community.🧡💙

02/14/2026

❤️❤️Happy Valentine’s Day, Functional Family.❤️❤️

Today isn’t just about romance.
It’s about love in all its forms—especially the kind we forget to give ourselves.

Living with FND means our bodies ask for things others don’t always see.
Rest. Patience. Flexibility. Grace.
And none of that makes us weak. It makes us wise.

So today, I hope you offer yourself the same tenderness you give to everyone else.
Honor the body that carries you through the hard days.
Honor the nervous system that’s doing its best.
Honor the courage it takes to keep showing up in a world that doesn’t always understand.

You deserve love that doesn’t rush you.
Grace that doesn’t judge you.
And compassion that starts from within.

If your Valentine’s Day looks quiet, slow, messy, or different than you imagined, that’s okay.
Your worth isn’t measured by productivity, energy levels, or symptom-free days.
Your worth is inherent, constant, and unshakeable.

Be gentle with yourself today.
You are loved.
You are enough.
And your body is not your enemy—it’s your partner.

02/13/2026

Mailed our first donation kit. Thank you for donating. If you would like to donate a kit or buy one .
https://venmo.com/code?user_id=2497594785792000937&created=1769838215

https://cash.app/$LeEllaCall

02/13/2026

Today was a reminder of why accessibility and understanding matter.
I went to the store with my Peach Head, hoping for a quick 20‑minute trip. Instead, it took 1 hour and 10 minutes because I had three seizures and my body simply couldn’t move the way I needed it to.

This is the reality for so many of us living with neurological and sensory conditions.
We don’t “take longer” because we’re unprepared or dramatic.
We take longer because our bodies demand it.

I’m grateful I had my sensory kit and my Peach Head to help me stay grounded, but tools shouldn’t be the only thing that make public spaces survivable.
We need environments—and people—that recognize invisible disabilities and honor the pace our bodies require.

I still got it done. But it shouldn’t have to be this hard.

02/12/2026

🌿 Let’s Talk About Losing Independence with FND

Hi friends.
This is a tender topic, but it’s one so many of us carry quietly.
Living with FND can mean losing pieces of independence you never imagined you’d have to give up — driving, working, cooking, showering alone, making plans, or even just moving through a day without needing help. It can feel frustrating, scary, embarrassing, or grief‑filled. And none of those feelings make you weak. They make you human.
If you’re comfortable, I’d love to hear your experience.
How has FND changed your independence, and what has that journey been like for you?
There’s no pressure to share — your story is yours.
But if you do want to talk about it, this is a safe place. Many of us are walking this same path, and your voice might help someone else feel less alone.
You deserve support, dignity, and understanding.
Always. 💛

02/10/2026

A great resource for family with FND kids

✨ You’re Not Alone — Join Our Community ✨
We would love to invite every parent and caregiver raising a youth FND warrior to join our page 💙🧡
We are new.
We are small.
But we are mighty.
Making Leaps With Leena was created with two goals in mind:
Advocacy for our daughter as we fight for answers and to build a safe, supportive community just for children with FND and their families.
A place where we can:
• support one another
• share lived experiences
• work together to find and share resources that are actually accessible and appropriate for our kids
• remind each other that our children are capable, resilient, and so much more than a diagnosis
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, isolated, or unsure where to turn next — you belong here.
If you’re further along and want to help lift others — you belong here too.
Together, we can make leaps. 💙🧡
👉 Follow & share to help us reach more FND families.

02/10/2026

My Peach Helmet Adventure 🍑
Today, my FND (Functional Neurological Disorder) symptoms were extra sensitive — lights, sounds, and movement all felt turned up to maximum volume. Normally, that can make going out feel overwhelming.

So, I tried something new: I wore my peach helmet 🩷

It might look a little silly, but it worked like magic. It helped me feel safe, grounded, and protected from sensory overload — kind of like a soft, portable comfort zone. And the best part? People smiled. Some even laughed in the kindest way. That simple joy made every interaction lighter, easier, and more human.

Sometimes coping with FND means finding what works, even if it’s unconventional — whether that’s noise-canceling headphones, fidget toys, sunglasses indoors, or yes… a giant peach on your head. 😄

If you see me out there in my peach helmet, just know — it’s not about hiding. It’s about healing. 💗