Hello, beautiful community!

It’s been a while since I’ve shared an update, and wow—so much has happened. Over the last few months, I took some time offline to be fully present with my family as we’ve been grieving the heartbreaking loss of my dear granny. On top of that, I’ve been dealing with some very unexpected health challenges. It’s been a lot to process, but I finally feel ready to sit down and share everything with you—from the very beginning. So, grab a cozy spot and settle in…because it’s storytime.

The First Sign Something Was Off with My Health

Let me take you back to the morning of June 23rd—the first sign that something was off with my health.

I woke up, started my morning routine like I normally do, and when I looked in the mirror, I legit screamed. My face had swollen up like a balloon—my eyes were puffy, my lips were huge, and I felt nauseous and dizzy for about a week. It was beyond bizarre. I was confused and in complete shock just thinking to myself, “Why did this happen?”

I’ve had allergic reactions before but never this bad. 

Poison Oak… or Something Else?

Fast forward 10 days, and I’m out for a run—nothing unusual. I didn’t even go near the woods. When I got home, I noticed a rash forming on my left hand. My immediate thought was, What is this?! So, I headed to urgent care, and they told me it was poison oak. But here’s the strange part—it was only on the top of my left hand, nowhere else. The doctor said it looked like a case he’d expect to see in the second or third week of exposure, not the day after. His exact words were, “It’s healing at lightning speed.” At this point, I’m sitting there thinking, Okay, seriously, what is going on with me?

A Much-Needed Getaway: The Calm Before the Storm

A few days later, my husband and I had a trip planned to Vegas to celebrate his birthday and see Dead & Company at the Sphere. It was our first trip away together since having our kids, and as much as I was nervous about leaving them behind for the very first time—and not feeling 100%—we really needed this.

And oh my God, I’m so glad we went! The show was mind-blowing, and we had the absolute best time. We missed our babies, but they had so much fun spending time with their Gigi, aunt, and cousin. It was a nice reminder of how important it is to carve out time for just the two of us, even in the midst of all the craziness.

But unfortunately, when we got home, things took a serious turn. My husband started feeling unwell, and that’s when everything spiraled.

COVID-19, Then Heartbreak

Twenty-four hours after we got home, my husband got really sick. At first, he thought it was the flu, so he kept his distance from us. But within a couple of days, the kids got sick too—and then, of course, so did I. Turns out, it wasn’t the flu—it was COVID-19.

My husband recovered in just a few days, and the kids? They bounced back like nothing even happened. I thought I’d be fine too… until I started noticing some really unexpected side effects. I’ll share more about that in a minute.

Then, about a week later, I got a message that shook me to my core. My aunt told me my granny only had 24 to 36 hours left to live. We rushed to be by her side, hold her hand, and say our goodbyes.

Losing her has left a huge hole in my heart. We were so close, and honestly, it’s just been really hard to process.

My kids absolutely adored her. She was my mom’s mom, and since my mom never got the chance to know or play with my kids, watching Granny with them was a gift I’ll treasure forever. Those memories mean the world to me now, and I miss her so much. We all do. She was such a huge part of our lives, and it’s hard to imagine life without her now.

Reflecting on Grief

Grief is such a heavy, complicated thing—you know what I mean? It comes in waves, and just when you think you’re doing okay, it hits you out of nowhere. But here’s what I’ve realized about grief: it isn’t something to run from or push away. It’s something to lean into and honor. Because really, grief is a reflection of the deep love we’ve been fortunate enough to experience, and that’s something to cherish—not resent.

Lately, I’ve been giving myself space to process it all, especially the grief, and embracing the emotions as they come. It’s not easy, but I’ve learned that healing doesn’t come from avoiding the pain—it comes from sitting with it and letting it move through you. It’s uncomfortable, and at times, it feels overwhelming, but that’s where the healing begins. You can’t move through what you refuse to feel. And let’s be real—grief teaches us truths we never wanted to learn.

Loss has a way of slowing you down. It strips away the distractions and reminds you to care for yourself in ways you didn’t even realize you needed to. This isn’t about getting over it or rushing through it—it’s about being present with the messiness, the sorrow, the moments where you feel like you’re falling apart. Grief gives us space we never asked for, but in that space, we find a deeper connection to ourselves and to those we’ve lost.

So here’s a little reminder: it’s okay not to have it all together all the time. Healing isn’t a neat, straight line—it’s different for every one of us. We’re all figuring it out as we go, riding the waves, finding our own pace. And that’s perfectly okay.

Living with Neuropathy: COVID’s Lingering Impact

Remember when I said earlier that I thought I’d be fine after COVID? Well, I was wrong. Not long after recovering, I started noticing this intense tingling and numbness in my hands and feet. It’s the weirdest sensation—like being poked by a million tiny needles all day long. It’s painful, relentless, unpredictable, and super uncomfortable.

At first, I figured it would just stop, kind of like how headaches or back pain go away after you recover from COVID. But no, it’s been over two months, and it’s still happening every single day—which is beyond frustrating.

I’ve seen a couple of different holistic doctors, and what they’ve shared with me is that it’s possible the virus attacked my nervous system, causing me to develop peripheral neuropathy.

Peripheral neuropathy happens when the nerves that are located outside of the brain and spinal cord (peripheral nerves) are damaged.

I’ve seen a neurologist, and right now, I’m just waiting for all the test results to come back. I’ll be seeing the neurologist again in November. All prayers and good vibes are welcomed!

Moving Forward with Grace

So yeah, life lately has been wild, to say the least. But here’s the thing—I’m not letting it bring me down. Instead, it’s pushing me to grow and dive even deeper into my holistic wellness journey. 

I’ve seen a lot of progress since the neuropathy started, which tells me the steps I’m taking to heal are working. It’s encouraging, but I know there’s still more work to do. I’m taking it day by day, keeping an open mind, and staying committed to my wellness goals. And honestly, I’m trusting in God’s plan for me. I believe every step on this journey is serving a purpose and is part of something bigger.

Balancing Healing & Motherhood 

Through it all, my role as a mom and wife has remained at the center of everything. Our kids are my entire world, and protecting our little bubble of peace has felt even more important as I focus on healing. Balancing healing with the responsibilities of motherhood has been challenging, to say the least, but it’s also shown me where my energy truly needs to be right now. While I might not be as active on social media as I used to be, I’m still here—just really trying to focus on creating a balance that supports my family, my healing, and the work I love.

The Road to Healing

Right now, my main focus is on regulating my nervous system, managing stress, and healing any potential nerve damage. I’m in full student mode—diving deep into research, soaking up knowledge about neuropathy, and open to trying anything that might help me feel better. 

There’s so much more I want to share, but I’ll save that for my newsletter and future posts. For now, I just wanted to check in and let you know where I’ve been. Thank you for taking the time to read this. I’ve always been real and open with you, especially about my health, and I didn’t want another month to pass without sharing what’s been happening.

The Importance of Listening to Our Bodies

This experience has been a powerful reminder of something we all know but sometimes forget: we must listen to our bodies. I’m grateful that mine is sending me signals to slow down and make the necessary changes. Things could be so much worse, and my heart goes out to anyone else suffering from neuropathy. It’s truly the worst thing I’ve ever experienced. It’s silent, and the healing journey can be long (maybe even forever). I can only imagine how many people are navigating this path in silence or feel like their only option is to rely on nerve pills or painkillers. If sharing my journey can bring even a little awareness to what others are going through, then being vulnerable in this way is absolutely worth it.

If any of you have gone through something similar—or know someone who has—I would love to hear from you. Your stories, advice, or even just your support would mean the world to me.

Thank You for Being Here

Thank you so much for your patience. I know it’s been a minute since my last update, but I hope this helps you understand where I’ve been. I’m deeply grateful for each and every one of you in this community, and I’m excited to be back on this journey together.

Sending all my love,
Xo, Chelsea