The Journey to Living Well
August 29th, 2023
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Today marks my one-year anniversary at the ARH Foundation.
I was offered the position as the Executive Director two days prior to the flood and was excited to begin the process of building a vibrant foundation that would support the communities that ARH serves. Little did I know that I, and those communities, would experience life-changing events before I could even start my first day.
On my first day, lives had been lost in Eastern Kentucky, and thousands had lost homes, memories, and so much more to the flood that ravaged the region. Also on my first day, my husband Michael was in the ICU recovering from sepsis after a below the knee amputation. On that day, I walked in the door to ARH and was immediately surrounded by friendly faces and compassion. The Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Maria Braman, was there to say hello and then immediately asked about my husband. She and the President/CEO Hollie Phillips offered for me to go be with him—it was clear that they cared from the first moment I met them.
Four months later to the day, my husband died in the hospice unit. I was with him and had been with him for 21 days thanks to the compassion of ARH.
Less than 2 weeks later after Micheal’s passing, I was back at work, and still to this day, I believe that my work saved me. Knowing there were people out there who needed the foundation’s help got me out of bed every day and I am so thankful to have been given the opportunity to be a small part of healing for our communities–it has truly blessed me.
Those months and the ones proceeding were a blur. However, I also experienced a bit of an awakening. During the week of the 1-year flood anniversary, I saw myself on television during an interview asking for school supplies to support our communities. I was floored by what I saw.
It was at that moment that it hit me. I was promoting the Foundation for Healthier Communities every day, yet I was so far from healthy. I am overweight, depressed, grieving, and I haven’t taken care of my own health for over a decade. I haven’t gotten any of the health screenings a woman over 50 should have, my A1c was at dangerous levels, and I realized that if I did not make a change, I would die of diabetes complications just like my husband did.
For the last ten years I had put all my focus on Michael and his health—like so many others do as we care for those that we love. I was his caregiver, advocate, and transportation after he became wheelchair bound. After 2 strokes, 3 heart attacks, dialysis, multiple amputations, and over 30 surgeries, Michael’s suffering from diabetes and all its complications were over. However, if I do not change my life and the daily choices I make, I know that his journey can become my own and that is not ok. I have children, grandchildren, and parents that I love, and they depend on me. I want to live, travel, and enjoy my family instead of them having to take care of me. It is time for a change.
I’m not alone in these struggles. According to the CDC, among adults aged 45 to 64, about 1 in 5 of those living in distressed counties had diabetes, compared to only 1 in 8 of those living in non-Appalachian counties. I do not want to be yet another statistic.
So, today, I’m making a change and I hope you will join me on this journey. I will be sharing with you my journey to Living Well and changing my life through health care provided by ARH, as well as changes in diet, exercise and so much more. I will share each adventure with you in the hopes that perhaps I will help others, but also that you might help me by being my accountability partners!
Will you join me? Please look for future posts and share with your friends.
Let’s build a community together. If you have questions, comments or just want to say hello, please send me a message at livingwell@arh.org.
Note: Every health journey is unique. I am sharing my personal health journey and the specific recommendations I am receiving on my quest to better health. I encourage you to consult with your provider to learn how you can become healthier too. This website, blog, and article does not provide medical advice and is for informational purposes only. No material on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.