05/01/2025
When I was born my left foot was turned inwards, I had flat feet and slept in leg braces before I could walk. As a child I grew up being told I was “just double-jointed”—something quirky, but nothing to worry about my parents frequently said. My orthopedic doctor warned me as a child that one day I would fall and not be able to walk. At the time, it sounded dramatic but kept me curious searching for the “why” would this happen
Until decades later, at 48, that moment arrived. After a serious fall left me with bilateral bone bruises on both knees and escalating pain, I began a long and complicated journey through multiple surgeries, countless appointments, and finally—a diagnosis: Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS).
Getting that diagnosis helped me make sense of a lifetime of unexplained symptoms—chronic health conditions , joint instability fatigue,proprioception issues, undiagnosed ADHD, unexplained bruising, and whole host of other quiet challenges I faced every day. It didn’t just change my life however; instead it gave me purpose.
That lived experience led me to pursue a degree in Integrative Medicine, earn a certificate as a health and wellness coach, and a certified laughter yoga leader. I joined the EDS Echo programs to advocate and continue to choose a path to help others navigate their own healing, while living with invisible illnesses, helping to foster healing through laughter and bring more awareness to the EDS community.
May is EDS Awareness Month, I wanted to share my story not just for myself—but for the many others still searching for answers. We deserve to be seen, heard, and supported.
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