I remember the day when I was sitting in the doctor’s office like it was yesterday. It was not the first time I went to see him for the same issues of pain in my joints but many times I was sent home with ibuprofen and the suggestion to buy different running shoes.

On that day after yet another blood test he handed over a printout of a diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis. I recall sitting there and hearing his words of various treatments in the background while I tried to read the printout with a condition I could not even pronounce. I now know that my health journey began as a child.

I experienced recurring painful ear infections and later during the very delicate years of being a teenager and young adult I had terrible weeping eczema that covered my hands and my arms. During a holiday when I wanted to purchase some cream, I came to see a homeopath who advised me on a specific dietary change. The eczema subsided within days, and I felt a first spark of interest in food and nature’s ailments.

Fast forward many years at a time of great stress, I held this paper with this diagnosis in my hand and all I could think of was ‘how am I going to reverse this?’. I went on a long journey with strong medication and many setbacks. I did not understand why nothing I did or took was of lasting help. My passion in alternative medicine grew and I started reading everything I could get my hands on that would offer support in understanding my body.

I started implementing changes and I could feel small steps of relief. What I really wanted to know was WHY. Why me and why this disease? I realised if I knew the answer to this question, I could find the answer in how best to support my body in regaining health and help others with similar concerns.

This led me to my nutrition studies in 2018 where I undertook a year of Biomedicine and three years of Nutrition. I grew in the understanding of myself and my body and what steps one takes that lean towards disease and which ones are of support and benefit to health and longevity.

I finally stopped merely surviving and began my journey of healing and wholeness.