The Heal is Real…
A Healed Warrior: When a “Concussion” Wasn’t the Whole Story
Some healing journeys unfold slowly, quietly, and then—almost suddenly—everything clicks.
This is one of those stories.
I want to share the journey of a young warrior who came to The Lyday Center after nearly a year of persistent headaches following what was labeled a mild head injury. What unfolded was not just concussion recovery—but a deeper story of mold, immune overload, and a nervous system that had been carrying far more than anyone realized.
Where It Began
She first came to us in August 2024, nearly a year after a head injury at work. An impact drill fell from a ladder and struck the top of her head. There was bleeding, some whiplash, but no loss of consciousness. She was evaluated at urgent care, cleaned up, asked a few questions, and sent back to work.
At first, things seemed okay.
But shortly afterward, the headaches began.
They improved briefly, then flared again—especially after travel and neck strain. She did all the “right” things: primary care, chiropractic care, neurology consults. Neurology gave her a long list of things that were “wrong” and a treatment plan—but instead of improving, her headaches dramatically worsened during their protocol.
By April, the headaches were constant.
And they wouldn’t go away.
Looking Deeper
When she arrived at TLC, we approached her story differently.
Yes, she had a head injury—but her symptoms didn’t fully match a simple post-concussive pattern. Her history revealed something important:
Long-term exposure to older buildings and apartments
A childhood home that was built “too tight” and later found to have black mold
Multiple living environments with potential mold exposure over many years
A major trauma (the head injury) that likely brought a long-simmering immune burden to the surface
Her testing supported what her story was telling us:
Positive VCS
Ochratoxin exposure
A clear picture of CIRS (Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome)
Interestingly, she did not have classic leaky gut or LPS reactions. Her gut wasn’t the primary driver—her immune and inflammatory systems were.
The Turning Point
Instead of overwhelming her system, we focused on simplifying and streamlining:
Tweaking her food plan to remove inflammatory triggers
Adjusting oils and fats to ensure immune tolerance
Gentle liver and bile support to improve toxin elimination
Craniosacral therapy to support nervous system regulation and lymphatic flow
A carefully paced mold protocol once she transitioned fully to TLC
We addressed nasal MARCoNS, supported binding and elimination, and later added antifungal support when her system was ready.
No heroics.
No rushing.
Just listening to her body.
What Healing Looked Like
Slowly—then steadily—things shifted.
Her headaches decreased by about 50%, then continued to improve. She became less reactive. Her nervous system calmed. Her body stopped bracing.
And then, earlier this week, she said the words every practitioner loves to hear:
“I’m 100% symptom-free.”
No headaches.
No daily pain.
No fear of flare-ups.
She knows how to protect herself moving forward. She knows what early warning signs feel like. And she knows she can come back if she ever needs support again—on vacation, during stress, or if symptoms return.
Why This Matters
This case is a powerful reminder of something we see often:
👉 Trauma doesn’t always cause disease—but it can unmask it.
Her head injury didn’t create the problem. It revealed an immune system that had been quietly overwhelmed by mold for years. Once we treated the true root cause, her body knew exactly how to heal.
A Message for Other Warriors
If you’ve been told:
“It’s just a concussion”
“Your imaging is normal”
“You’ll just have to live with it”
…but your body says otherwise—listen to that voice.
Healing is possible when we stop chasing labels and start honoring the full story.
This warrior is healed. And I’m so grateful she trusted us with her journey. 💚