Category: Sickness
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Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle While Still Enjoying Comfort Foods in the City
Over the last several years, my health has been slightly subpar due to tremendous amounts of stress—stress from work, everyday responsibilities, and most importantly, the heavy role of being a caregiver for my husband. That season took its toll on my body and mind in ways I could never have anticipated. By the time I…
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The Power of Choice: You Always Have One
People often say things like, “Well, I had no choice,” or “I was born this way.” But let’s set the record straight—that is a cultural mindset, not a universal truth. It’s a product of propaganda that encourages resignation instead of reflection. While the world increasingly leans on excuses, there is another, more liberating truth: everything…
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When Doctors Give Up — The Alarming State of Healthcare in the Southern U.S.
This morning I woke up with a heavy heart. My husband and I got ready, not for work or a pleasant outing, but to go and pray with a dear friend in the hospital. He’s been battling stage 4 liver and esophageal cancer since last year. Now, his doctors in Georgia have given up hope,…
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Caregiver Life 101
“Take care of yourself.” It’s the first thing people say when they find out you’re a caregiver—and quite honestly, it’s the last thing they help you understand. When my husband Dexter was diagnosed in 2019 with Fanconi Anemia, a rare and complicated genetic disorder that predisposes individuals to multiple types of cancer, I was thrown…
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Living with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome: Aging, Understanding, and Hope
When you live with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), every day can feel like a puzzle you weren’t given all the pieces to—especially when you’ve lived most of your life not knowing you even had it. For me, EDS isn’t just a diagnosis; it’s a life journey that has spanned four decades of unanswered questions, unexplained pain,…
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Finding Real Connection: The Power of Community Engagement and Mental Health
Studies have shown that involvement in community activities significantly reduces feelings of loneliness and depression. According to the American Journal of Psychiatry, “Social connectedness is…
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A Busy Week of Big Goals, Family Visits, and Faith
Hey y’all! It’s been a whirlwind of a week, filled with both hard work and cherished moments with family. With a little break from teaching my little ones due to Spring Break, I took the opportunity to focus on some long-term goals—including the launch of my Country Girl Gone City store! I’m so excited to…
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The Benefits of Gratitude While Waiting on Life’s Blessings
In life, it’s often during the waiting seasons—the times when we’re hoping, praying, and working toward our dreams—that we face some of the greatest challenges in our attitudes. Gratitude can feel difficult to cultivate when we’re still waiting for blessings to unfold, but it’s precisely in these moments that gratitude becomes most powerful. Gratitude not…
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Understanding Fanconi Anemia: A Rare Genetic Disorder
Fanconi Anemia (FA) is a rare genetic disorder that affects the body’s ability to repair damaged DNA, leading to a host of serious health complications. It’s most commonly inherited and can be passed down if both parents carry a defective gene related to FA. The disease primarily targets the bone marrow, resulting in decreased production…
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Rare to Rare: Caregiving for a Rare as a Rare
Being a caregiver is a challenging role, but when you’re balancing your own chronic illness while caring for a spouse with another rare disease, the challenges intensify. I live with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), a rare connective tissue disorder that leads to chronic pain and physical limitations, while my husband, Dexter, has Fanconi Anemia (FA), a…
Country Girl Gone City 