The Journey That Became My Calling....
Awareness Rising Wellness was born from decades of searching for answers when conventional explanations fell short—time and again. The awareness I needed came slowly—and far later than it ever should have. Over time, I began to recognize significant connections that traditional Western care had overlooked. After 12+ years of navigating the medical system full-time and seeing some of the country’s best specialists, I was far sicker than ever—financially depleted, emotionally and medically traumatized, and no closer to restoring the vibrant, active, adventurous woman I once was.
Ultimately, I had to question what I had always been taught. Raised in a large Italian-German family with a deep trust in traditional medicine, stepping beyond it meant going against the grain. But after more than a decade of hands-on experience within the American medical system, I knew I would not find the long-term recovery I was seeking from chronic illness there. It could treat acute illness and manage some symptoms—but I was no longer willing to spend the rest of my life masking those symptoms while living only a fraction of my life. I wanted more than symptom management. I wanted to understand what was driving my illness, to restore my health, and reclaim my life.
That decision began an incredible unfolding. By surrendering what I thought I knew and embracing a whole-body approach, rather than a compartmentalized mindset, I began to understand healing differently—and to recover significantly, against extraordinary odds. I have come back from a multitude of deeply debilitating, long-term diagnoses that nearly ended my life. Although I am still healing, I now understand how much can change when we begin connecting the whole story. Had I understood these connections sooner, my path would have been far shorter and less painful. This is why I created Awareness Rising Wellness: to raise awareness around whole-body restoration and help others regain a sense of newfound direction, possibility, and control within their own health journeys. After all, these are our lives—and we deserve the knowledge, power, and possibility to reclaim them and live vibrantly.
My understanding was not learned from books, lectures, research, and clinical studies alone. It was forged through nearly 18 years of serious, debilitating illnesses that took me from a full, active life to being completely bedridden and unable to function or participate in the everyday world. Personally, I know how frightening and exhausting it is to watch life become unrecognizable while answers remain out of reach. But I also know that greater knowledge and understanding can illuminate a path forward—and that even after years of struggle, hope can begin to rise again.
To recover, I had to stop viewing my symptoms in isolation and begin connecting the whole story: body, brain, nervous system, environment, emotional/mental health, and the foundations that make healing possible. I also discovered that recovery is not only physical—prayer, meditation, reflection, nature, laughter, and a deepening relationship with a Higher Power became essential parts of that healing—restoring strength, peace, and hope through some of my darkest seasons.
What began as a long fight to reclaim my own life grew into a purpose far greater than my own recovery...
I created Awareness Rising Wellness to make what took me years to discover clearer and more accessible through deeper education, overlooked connections, and practical paths forward. If illness has changed your life or left you feeling unseen, I want you to know that you are not alone—and your story is not over.
Here, we look beyond symptoms to the root causes and roadblocks that may be limiting your body’s innate capacity to heal. Together, let’s look deeper, reclaim our power, and awaken new possibilities for healing, restoration, and a more vibrant life.
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