I was diagnosed with COVID-19 on Thanksgiving of 2020. While I was extremely careful to follow guidelines, the disease still found me. Four weeks after the initial diagnoses, my worst fears were realized. I had come down with that mysterious illness that followed COVID and was wreaking nervous system’s across the world. Three months in and I still couldn't find a single doctor to help. At this point, I could barely move.

I was determined to not stop until I found medical support so when UNC opened their Long COVID clinic, I was in the first cohort of the Integrative Medical Group Visits (IMGV), which​ included mindfulness techniques, nutrition information, communication styles, massage, and check-ins, and other medical content.

I became the Lived Experience Co-Facilitator during the second and have continued to help lead the IMGV for the past 5 years and in that time, I have also become a single foster parent to 17 children, worked 2 or more jobs at any given time and run a household and mini farm on my own. Now, I am creating my start-up CAREHELD and participating in the SBCN Wells Fargo Start-Up Showdown.

 I still have days I can't get out of bed, doubts of my abilities due to my illness and fear of forgetting everything during a session due to brain fog, but I continue to move forward as I am able because I have seen the impact of having the right care and support as a Chronically Ill person and I am determined to bring that to as many others as I can.