Warrior W and Her Bug
Warrior W’s Journey: From Fatigue to Fierceness – A Story of Unshakable Healing
From her earliest days, W’s life has been colored by an invisible undercurrent of health challenges. By the time she was in elementary school, she had already begun menstruating, setting the stage for decades of hormonal turbulence. Her childhood was riddled with strep throat, allergies, and unexplained fatigue. Diagnosed with OCD and trichotillomania in middle school—at a time when understanding of such conditions was limited—she was met with misunderstanding rather than support. Then came an ADD diagnosis, which, though accurate, was never addressed. She was labeled, but never guided.
And yet, this is not a story of defeat.
The Turning Point
In her twenties, W began experiencing crushing fatigue, unexplained weight gain, and digestive issues. She was diagnosed with thyroid disease and handed a prescription without much else. The fatigue persisted. It wasn’t until she met a naturopath who identified sensitivities to gluten and yeast that a deeper healing path began. With dietary changes came unexpected shifts—her hair pulling decreased, her skin improved, and she even had eyebrows for her wedding day, something she had never experienced before.
But the path was not linear. A sudden gallbladder attack while overseas uncovered a potentially dangerous polyp. Around the same time, W noticed a lump near her shoulder. A flurry of medical visits later, she was diagnosed with classical Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Her world stood still.
The Cancer That Tried to Stop Her
Undergoing dual surgeries and months of grueling chemotherapy, W fought through the fear and exhaustion. Her breathlessness, initially dismissed as anxiety, was the cancer pressing against her lungs. Yet she endured—and she conquered. By the end of her treatment, the scans were clear. No radiation needed. Her heart, her spirit, and her hope remained intact.
The Beetle That Helped Her Heal
During her recovery, W channeled her strength into something symbolic: restoring a vintage 1966 Volkswagen Beetle, lovingly named Barkley. Still weak from chemo, she donned a hazmat suit, watched countless repair videos, and taught herself how to bring Barkley back to life. That car became her sanctuary, her distraction, and her symbol of healing. In her own words, “Even though he doesn’t go very fast, and sometimes he’s fussy, he has a new lease on life—like I do—and that makes me so happy.”
The Next Wave: Endometriosis, EBV, and COVID
Years later, persistent menstrual pain led to surgery where doctors uncovered stage 3 endometriosis, including lesions attached to her colon. The pain finally had a name—and a resolution. She turned again to functional medicine, where new layers of her health unfolded: Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, adrenal imbalances, and a likely history of mold exposure.
Then COVID-19 hit. Twice. Both episodes left her depleted, inflamed, and spiraling into profound fatigue. Post-COVID syndrome derailed her steady progress, reigniting hair pulling, hormonal chaos, and mental fog. A lifelong warrior, she felt she was back at square one.
Through the Darkness, a Spark Remains
Through it all—chemo-induced lung damage, hormone swings, iron infusions, ADHD, trichotillomania, grief, and trauma—W has never stopped seeking light. She grieved the loss of a beloved pet, endured workplace stress that brought her to her knees, and navigated sexual trauma from her past with extraordinary courage. She continues therapy and self-work with unwavering dedication.
And somehow, even through all of it, she ran three half-marathons. Despite being told she wouldn't. Despite it all.
A New Chapter of Resilience
Now splitting her time between Wisconsin and Texas, W is carving out her own healing rhythm. She works in the niche world of AI infrastructure, walks miles each day photographing birds, and continues to find beauty in small things. Her diet, her exercise, her therapies—everything is intentional. Every choice is survival. Every act is a reclamation of self.
She may not be a morning person, but she is a force of nature. Her goal is simple: to wake up, move her body, and not feel wrecked by the end of the day.
The Takeaway: Warrior, Engineer, Healer
W squared is many things: a cancer survivor, a chronic illness warrior, a brilliant engineer, and a woman who built a future with her own hands—literally.
Her story is a testimony to what functional medicine stands for: uncovering root causes, empowering patients, and honoring the full tapestry of the human experience.
Her journey reminds us that healing isn’t always linear, but it is always possible.