About Me

The Longer Story

For those who like the TLDR versions of bio’s, or those happy to indulge my desire to share my story, here it goes.

I am grateful NOW that I discovered my vocation early in life. At the time I was less grateful, more in pain…

My Youth

When I was 11 years old I had a sore throat. The doctor did a swab and it was strep. No biggie, right? Take some antibiotics and start feeling better quickly. Great. With antibiotics on hand my dad (a teacher with summers off), and my brother and I began a camping road trip to see more of this amazing country. Unfortunately I was given an antibiotic to which I am allergic, and since we were camping my dad had no reason to think that my weird rashes were anything other than poison ivy or similar.

Within a couple of weeks I was in intense 10/10 pain in my hips and knees, couldn't walk, had a fever, and once admitted to the hospital far, far from home in another province it was found that I also had a heart murmur. I was diagnosed with rheumatic fever which is caused by uncontrolled Streptococci bacteria. Something that people aren’t supposed to get these days! [It’s a bit of an Olde World affliction.]

Once home the fever was done and it was just the joint pain, the diagnosis morphed into Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, and I became the kid who worked in the school library while my classmates had gym class. Lots of hospital visits, lots of medication (strong NSAIDs every 12 hours for 4 years), lots of limping, and lots of blood tests.

At 13 years old I was spending an exorbitant amount of my summer holidays watching TV since I couldn’t be as active as my peers with all the running and jumping and playing. My dad saw a “Part Time Help Wanted” sign at our local health foods store where we had shopped for years and spoke with the owner. He knew me to be a smart kid and gave me a 2 week trial.

That experience changed my life forever.

I ended up working there throughout all of high school and I’d spend a few weeks there in my first few summers of uni re-organizing the shelves (at the owner’s request!). It was a small store so while I was hired to be a cashier there was no escaping answering questions about products.

I was and still am terrible at saying “I don't know”. When asked “What does ______ do?” I’d smile and say “I’m not sure. Please ask me next week.” Then I’d go to the library one block over and learn the answer to the question. When asked “What herbs can I use for this or that condition?” I’d smile and say “I’m not sure. Please ask me next week.”

By learning for other people I slowly shifted my diet, brought in herbs, and dabbled in nutrients for the sake of my own health.

Within a year I was living proof that natural medicine works, and by 14 years old I had decided on a career as a naturopathic doctor. I just had to finish high school and jump through some other hoops first! I decided to stop the meds at 15 years old. My doctor supported the decision.

I didn’t enjoy being sick but I am now SO GRATEFUL for that illness which set me on this path. I try to carry that lesson forward through life – to be grateful for any and all experiences that come my way as the silver lining is usually there even if it isn’t clearly marked at first.

My Child/ren

The next big trauma that changed me forever was my first pregnancy…and subsequent micro- preemie.

Like many (but not all) women I was thrilled to be pregnant. As a practicing ND with a firm belief in the power of natural medicine and the strength of the human body I planned for a water birth at home. I bought a book called “The Yoga Birth Method” and ordered “Hypno- Birthing”. I wanted my labour and delivery to be as grass roots and natural as possible.

At 25 weeks and 5 days pregnant I had a tummy ache. I remember doing a mental checklist of everything I had eaten that day and wondering what was upsetting my stomach. Then the cramping started. Then the bleeding started. Then I called my midwife. She said she’d meet me at BC Women’s Hospital in half an hour.

I could write a novel (and I still might one day!) about the entire experience but the upshot is that I was in preterm labour and a mere 25 hours after arriving at the hospital my son was born by emergency Caesarean. He weighed 915g (2 lbs) and took for-e-ver to issue his first, tiny mewling cry before being intubated and transported to the NICU. My husband met him the next morning. I met him a few hours after that.

I wouldn't wish that experience on anyone! It was sheer terror every day, but with clear hindsight and a healthy, average height, pre-teen in my home I am again, very grateful. First and foremost, my son lives and breathes!! And secondly, the scientist in me got to witness the 3 rd trimester through the clear walls of an incubator. It was a fascinating process (when I wasn’t crying).

Four years later we welcomed our “termie” daughter after a stressful pregnancy of biweekly ultrasounds to measure how quickly my cervix was shrinking. The OB who delivered both of my children was certain that she would also be born pre-term but she’s a stubborn wee thing (like her mama!) and surprised us all by staying put until the scheduled Caesarean date.

Those are the two main traumas that led me to where I am today. I acknowledge them as prior sources of pain, while staying strong in my attitude of gratitude for the circumstances that made me who I am in this moment. I feel wizened and blessed to have life experience to guide my interactions with patients. They each have their own stories of pain and triumph, and the simple awareness that everyone is going/has gone/will go through challenges that shape their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health helps me to explore how those situations have played their part, and to consider what I can offer to help them feel whole and well again. And maybe even grateful for them.