“After having my second child, I started struggling to get through each day. I had so much inflammation throughout my system. I was dizzy. I was bloated. I had all of these intestinal issues. There was a lot of nutrient deficiencies, even though I was eating a lot of fruits and vegetables. I just couldn’t figure out what was wrong with me. I had a lot of medical tests, but everything was turning out ok. This went on for 2 years. I ended up going to an acupuncturist who suggested giving up gluten, and once I did, it changed everything. Literally, within 48 hours, I noticed a significant change. Within 3 weeks, the inflammation was going down enough where I could make a fist. It made such a difference in my body. I could start to exercise and not feel like I was in pain. When I could not be physically active, that was very hard mentally for me. I would sleep 12 hours a night. I would wake up in the morning, and be nauseous, and I would get sick. It was really difficult. Being able to talk to people about those challenges and having the support of friends, made a big difference. When you see challenges, it also helps you reflect on the blessings that you have in life. It helps you reflect on all the great things that you have been given. I feel like I have been wonderfully blessed with friends, family, and with two beautiful boys. I’m very grateful for my life and I want to live life to the fullest. After I was sick, and after seeing my sister struggle with cancer and seeing some of my friends struggle with cancer and seeing some of my loved ones pass away, I knew I needed a career with purpose. I wanted to serve the community and the people in the community on a different level, so I changed my career and chose to be the community events director for Mayo Clinic. I will continue to find ways to always look for how I can be in a role that serves the community, because if I’m serving the community and taking care of myself, everything works better.”