One Year Ago Today…

I was in the hospital.

On Morphine. Steroids. Painkillers.

I was on disability from my job with chronic swelling, c-diff colitis, myositis in my leg muscles and more stomach pain and body aches than I can even begin to explain.

It was pretty bad.

Actually it was really bad.

And after about 1,000 tests, lots of painkillers and steroids – you would think it knocked some sense into those Western medicine doctors when they kicked me out of the hospital telling me my insurance wouldn’t cover me anymore. Why? Well, they said there was nothing else wrong with me once the colitis healed.

And so, with that my parents walked me out the door.

Kinda like 2 years ago this month when my mother, aunt and I went out to Mayo Clinic in Minnesota for an entire week of tests, bone marrow biopsies, etc. The whole work up. Yep, the whole 9 yards.

Or so they thought.

And so they led us believe nothing was really wrong with me and I was just ‘crazy’ and had to deal with the pain, the 30 pounds of leg swelling in my legs everyday by 3PM, the brain fog, the night sweats, the bone aching like I was a 90 year old woman.

“What was wrong with me?” I kept asking myself  “I’m eating kale and avocados everyday- why am I suffering but everyone is telling me there is nothing wrong?”

And then I took a plunge. Yep. I branched out to a doctor that didn’t take my insurance but who did take the time to listen, to care, to cure.  An amazing medical doctor specializing in Integrative Medicine.  A doctor who answered Every Email that I wrote, returned Every Call that I made to him, took the time out of his day or night to answer All of My Questions.

I was baffled- no one- not even Mayo Clinic or Hospital for Special Surgery or any other hospital or doctor in 6 long years Ever, Ever took this time to care.

And here I am- Only 1 year later.

And I honestly have tears in my eyes while I write this.

It’s been one hell of a year. Let me tell you. Extensive mercury filling removal, chelation, detox, more dietary restrictions…

But ya know what?

It only made me stronger.

Because guess what?

I feel good.

That’s right- my heavy metals have significantly decreased in my body.

I’m a happy camper.  Yes of course I have my days when my ‘Leaky Gut’ acts up and my belly bothers me, but I am staying strong, staying positive.

Because I’m an entrepreneur now. That’s right: I’m out to change the way people eat and help them find hope without a prescription drug.

Why?

Well, that’s simple, silly.

I love helping people and want them to see how anyone can turn their life upside down (or Up) however you wanna look at it.

And I’m gunna do just that. I already am.

One person at a time.

And ya know what?

It feels pretty darn good.

Actually it feels fabulous.

Seven years in corporate America and I never really felt fulfilled at the end of the day. Even though I was working for high-end corporate brands and had a great job- it just wasn’t me- and ya know what? At one point I thought I had failed because I wasn’t excelling in my corporate jobs.

I think the only positive feedback I ever received was, “Why are you always so happy?” “Why do you smile so much?” “Are you ever in a bad mood?”

Um, what?

And I actually let these comments get to me- along  with my chronic 4 years of leg swelling and other silent symptoms.

But, that’s all behind me.

And there’s a new world ahead.

Because this lil’ Manhattan gal is gunna make some changes out there.

I already am.

And like my mother said to me last year as I lay in the hospital bed, “Everything will be okay in the End.  If it’s not okay, it’s not the End.”

So true.

I have this quote on my fridge to remind me everyday how important life is.

Below it, I have another quote my best friend, Keri sent me when I was in the hospital “Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a butterfly.”

Again, So true.

These quotes make me smile.

It’s the little things in life.

The very little things- that make me happy.

O and I almost forgot a really big thing (my health), my two AMAZING parents, sister and friends.

xo

Happy April n’ Happy Monday.

Yea for Spring!

To all of you, my readers and my clients- I love you all and so happy to have you in my life- here’s to your success in 2012.

 I am truly honored to have been nominated in the  Top 40 Under 40 in the Gluten-Free Community.  I would love your vote.

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24 comments

    1. Thank you so much Kim; so great to hear from you! Have a fabulous day and thank you for visiting my blog and reading my post. Enjoy the sunshine!

  1. Wonderful post, little butterfly! I love that quote from your mom…what a lovely reminder to ourselves to just relax and let things work themselves out.

    xoxo

    1. Awe; you are so great! xooxo Sooo excited to see you at the GIG Conference in June in Seattle. Love you darling; thank you so much for your kind words. Muahhhhhh

  2. Thank you! You just gave me the boost I needed to go workout today! I feel good and not gonna take it for granted – I’m gonna use it.

    1. So happy to hear Tippy!!! Yea for you, darling. Have a fabulous night. oxo So great to hear from you and glad you got a nice boost from my post!

  3. I used to be a person who was chronically similar to you and with same tests and things. And I tried “detoxes’ and “diets” and it only made it WORSE.

    Alternative medicine (that saved you) only made me obsess and create havoc with my body even more.

    Finally, I just let go and let myself eat whatever I want (so I’m still a “bad” eater compared to all you healthy living bloggers 🙂 But I have my mental sanity. I don’t feel the best physically, no, but the mental stress of worrying and “searching” for the “right” answer let me realize that I can be okay (ice cream and pb sandwiches included 🙂

    It was the stress of everything, me being convinced there was a “healthy” way to eat or detox my body and make it better. I 100% believe that our mental beliefs and stress can 100% determine the soundness of our physical bodies. (obviously you found an alternative approach, and that is great that you found those answers for you).

    However, I’m very happy that you are happy in your life. Best of luck in your future.

    1. Thank you Marlena; so happy to hear from you! I am so sorry to hear that. I too faced so much stress and confusion for so many years and didn’t know who to trust or listen to. I greatly appreciate your comment and kind words. Thank you again; hope to hear from you again soon. Enjoy my recipes and have a lovely evening!

  4. What a wonderful post, thank you for sharing your journey. And another perfect example of what an important role nutrition plays in our overall health. Why don’t medical doctors take that fact more seriously? Wishing you health and continued success!

    1. Awe; I miss you! Thank you so much darling. I hope you are going to be in Chicago in 2 weeks so we can play! xoxox Muahhhh

  5. Amie, thank you for this truly inspirational post! I was moved to tears as I’ve suffered my share of health issues too… LOVE the caterpillar quote; think I’ll have to re-post… Just voted btw!

  6. congrats! so happy for you! its amazing what can happen when people care! what is the name of your amazing doctor?

    1. Thank you so much! His name is Dr. Jeffrey Morrison of The Morrison Center NYC. He is amazing and the nicest most caring doctor I have ever met.
      Xxoo Have a great day!

  7. Wow, what a journey! I am so glad that you were able to find a way to heal! And thank you so much for sharing!

    I can’t wait to see you in 2 weeks! (and yes this comment needed that many exclamation points)

  8. Praise God you are feeling good. You have a beautiful spirit evident thru your writing. I believe you have and will change the world thru your clients, your blog, and just being you. Congratulations for enduring and persevering. I worked for a medical doctor who specialized in Integrative Health and daily patients sung praises…so glad you found that doctor. Still making almost weekly your no bean hummus that I wrote to you before about. Keep up the good work.

    1. Thank you so much Kelly! Great to hear from you. You are so kind! So happy to hear you are enjoying the hummus. Have a great day!

  9. Amie…I am so proud of you! Few would have your determination and your unfailingly positive outlook. Be exactly who you are- no apologies. You are an inspiration, my friend! xo