DANYETTA'S WELLNESS JOURNEY

My Story - My Why

In 2013, I was feeling fatigued every day.  I had chalked it up to having a seven-year-old son and a four-year-old daughter plus working a full-time job and operating a coaching practice, right?  That would be so fair.  But. I knew something wasn't quite right when, in the mornings, I would feel lightheaded upon sitting up. I would also feel like I ran a marathon after walking up just one flight of stairs and had begun having a sharp pain in my back.  

At the suggestion of my spouse and my own inclination, I scheduled an appointment with my primary physician.  Meanwhile, I had planned a visit with my book club girlfriends to visit another friend who was in the hospital on the east side of town.  While we were in the car, I began to share what was going on and my plans to see a doctor the following week.  One of my friends said that it sounded serious and that I should see a doctor right away. So, when we arrived to see our friend at the east side hospital, the nurse was told of my condition.  I answered all the questions she had for me and it was determined that I needed to be admitted!  Stunned by the course of events and that the nurse was Kenyan and able to speak to my husband in Swahili over the phone, I began to cry tears of release because God had indeed winked to let me know it would be alright.  

The doctor informed me that I would require a transfusion of THREE bags of blood!  I thought, "How many bags do you actually need to live!?"  He went onto explain that I didn't have enough 'boxcars' of blood to move adequately throughout my body and was risking going into shock.  I had a long history of major fibroids, that, although present, I was able to have my two miracle children. The presence of fibroids produced extremely heavy flows during my cycle and had worsened after my pregnancies and caused me to be anemic.  I had also been informed by my doctor during both pregnancies that I had gestational diabetes, a possible indicator of developing diabetes later in life.  

Needless to say, I had the transfusion, which was very safe to do.  After that experience, I thanked my dear friends for their actions that got me medical help sooner than later.  About a week later, another friend and colleague asked to meet up for coffee. She said, "I want to talk to you about something and it's not about the field we both work in!" She shared information in this video and more about a strong wellness community.  She didn't know anything about what had happened and how I ramped up my quest for help to keep me accountable in my own self-care and self-compassion. I have been extremely fortunate to be able to keep diabetes under control through lifestyle and diet changes (simple food swaps, portion control, increased exercise, vitamins, and glycemic controlled shakes) I've been a strong wellness advocate and product educator ever since 2013! 

It takes many people, situations, and circumstances to design the wellness life I've crafted. I LOVE helping others find their unique story, bumps and all, and their personal WHY because that ultimately keeps them motivated and invested in their own wellness!