about me

I was a great life coach then. I’m an even better life coach now!

My journey to a healthy life began in 2010. It’s been a long and difficult recovery, but with a lot of hard work it has a happy ending.

In 2010 I woke up with a pain in my neck. By that afternoon I couldn’t stand straight and was in excruciating pain. The next day I was in an ambulance fighting for my life.

Doctors in the emergency room determined I had a concentrated infection in my spinal cord. It was pressing against my vertebrae, causing loss of mobility in my arms and legs. Basically, I was incapacitated from the neck down. They thought it had likely been brought on by an ear infection or dental work I’d just had.

My body began shutting down. My hands closed into fists. I couldn’t even sign the consent forms. This is how my journey to health began.

It turns out that gaining and maintaining health is a life-long commitment.

I was in the hospital for nearly 30 days. The doctors determined I would need to take a course of antibiotics for at least six months. I left the hospital with a wheelchair and walker, plus a pic line that delivered antibiotics directly into my heart.

Over the next year, in horrible pain, I was prescribed several opiod-based narcotics. Almost impossible to wean from, they caused permanent neuropathy and pain in my lower extremities. Ultimately, it took a spinal cord stimulator, surgically implanted into my back, to help with the pain in my legs.

In the next year, came weight gain. I went up to 285 pounds. It was the heaviest I had ever been.

In June of 2014, the infection flared up again in my hip and glute, and I had to undergo two surgeries.

Surgeons removed the damaged tissue and attempted to stop the spread further into my body. During this hospitalization, my family felt I was more capable of advocating for myself, so they left me alone during the nighttime hours, and once again I stopped breathing and they had to resuscitate me.

In March 2016 I weighed 254 pounds. I decided to join Weight Watchers. I lost 85 pounds in the first year!

I so impressed Weight Watchers, they invited me to take leadership training. I completed the coursework and became a Wellness Coach.

After the first year at my goal, however, I became lax at tracking and following the plan. I gained weight back. I had body pain that just kept getting worse. Doctors recommended I have spinal nerve ablation. After doing that three times and having a botched procedure, I decided I was through being anyone’s science experiment.

In 2019, I met a personal trainer and asked for his card. It laid on my desk for two years.

During Covid, my weight reached 285 pounds. Every week I would say to myself, “Once I lose some weight, I will call that trainer and set up some sessions.” Well, two years later I finally did it.

In October 2021, with my weight at 239, I decided it was time to take control. I called and scheduled a consultation.

Finally calling was the best decision I ever made. Within the first month I had no pain and stopped needing the spinal cord stimulator.

My life now is better than it was in 2010 when all this started. The doctors may have saved my life, but it’s me doing the work that has brought me back to life.

I began following a food plan, seeing my trainer three days a week and doing cardio twice a week. Here is the short list of benefits I experienced just in the first three months of training:

Eliminated all pain | Eliminated four medications

Increased mobility and balance | Stronger joints | Improved posture

Better nutrition, fewer cravings | Increased self esteem

Greater mental clarity | More motivation | More energy | Better sleep

Today, I am totally pain- and infection-free.

This journey has made me a better life coach.

My purpose has always been to help people who work with me take responsibility for enhancing the quality of their lives. Now my coaching services have expanded to include health concerns in addition to:

Weight loss | Starting a business

Becoming a better salesperson, parent, spouse

Personal development | Having more confidence

Overcoming an addiction | Coping with a major tragedy

I hope my story shows you that I walk my talk.

I hope it inspires you to take control of your life and health. I hope by working with me, you will gain the ability to truly ENJOY LIFE AND LIVE THE LIFE YOU ALWAYS DREAMED OF!

Please join me on your own unique personal journey. It will be a great adventure—YOU ARE WORTH IT! We can do this together and our relationship will be based on honesty, compassion, and dedication to your success.

You can do this!