Sometimes I find a twin warrior…
My new patient today definitely struck a heart chord. Our stories were so similar we could have been Irish twins born a decade apart in different cities. Born as only children to alcoholic fathers and co-dependent mothers, we both grew up dodging verbal barbs and stepping around landmines during our fathers' nightly drinking rituals. We learned to overachieve—to graduate in the top five of our high school classes—in an effort to avoid adding more drama to already volatile homes. But despite our best efforts, we both carried an unshakable feeling of never quite measuring up.
Her journey unfolded like a suspense novel—a mystery she was determined to solve. She had her first mold exposure at just two years old while living on the West Coast. Her mother never thought to mention that one of their walls was coated with black mold during their time in the dreary Seattle suburbs. “That’s just how houses are here,” her mother thought. Pneumonia, before she was even able to form words, seemed like an unfortunate but normal occurrence. But I see it differently.
Fast forward to adulthood, and this warrior was the embodiment of a Type A personality. She had created miracles in her life and career, seemingly defying odds at every turn. When she lost her high-level job during COVID, she saw the plot twist as an opportunity to double down on her health. More time for hot yoga? That sounded like the perfect way to refocus and rejuvenate.
But here’s where her story takes a dark turn. The yoga studio, her sanctuary, turned out to be a hidden culprit. The mold growing on its walls wasn’t just an aesthetic issue. Each hot yoga session—designed to open her pores and deepen her breath—unintentionally made her sicker. Class by class, her reserves were stolen until she reached a point where she could barely move under her own power.
And then came another blow. Despite being fully vaccinated, she contracted the Delta variant of COVID. The irony was not lost on her—she had been in charge of rolling out vaccines at her facility. COVID drained what little energy she had left, leaving her in a pit of exhaustion, depression, and anxiety.
Her quest for answers became all-consuming. Conventional doctors. Homeopaths. Functional medicine specialists. She tried them all. But the root cause of her mystery illness remained elusive. And being Type A, she wasn’t about to stop searching until she unearthed the truth about her own body.
This is where our paths converged. As she recounted her story, I couldn’t help but feel the parallels between her journey and my own. Together, we began the work of unraveling the complex web of factors—mold exposure, COVID aftermath, and years of pushing herself to the limit—that had brought her to this breaking point. Her story isn’t just a mystery; it’s a testament to resilience and the unwavering determination to heal. And I have no doubt that this warrior will write the next chapter of her life with strength and clarity.
Tune in for more as we take this next chapter to new heights together…