My Mother is a true inspiration and proof that you are never too old or too sick to heal. It’s actually a miracle that we my sisters and I even exist. She has not led an easy life. As a child she was diagnosed with Epilepsy which at that time in history was believed to be equivalent to leprosy and a mental illness. She was not told why she kept passing out. In fact, you were not allowed to get a marriage certificate with this diagnosis. 

Little did we know that this was an autoimmune disease.  I didn’t know this until I studied functional medicine. If you have one autoimmune disease you are likely to get another within 5 years. Mom has also had part of her thyroid removed due to an autoimmune disease of her thyroid called Graves disease. She now has macular degeneration, also an autoimmune disease. Mom has also had a stroke and a heart attack.

Despite all of this Mom always has a big smile on her face and lives independently. Today she is 89 years old. 

Last year when the pandemic hit and Mom was quarantined to her apartment, we witnessed her decline physically, mentally, and emotionally. Isolation and loneliness are tremendous stressors, felt by so many this past year. Mom came to live first with my sister then with me.  She was in chronic pain, barely able to walk, was depressed, and overweight. Her blood pressure was bottoming out, most likely due to low cortisol and over medication. 

We were able to provide Mom with an autoimmune diet, supplementation for nutrients depleted from her medications and some physical therapy. After just 4 months we were able to eliminate the need for 5 of her medications and she released a significant amount of weight. She was able to return to her apartment last fall when the quarantine was over.

She has been able to sustain her new diet and supplementation on her own and has released a total of 65 pounds. She walks daily with neighbors and is even now going to the gym to work out! I never thought my Mother would become a “gym rat”! 

Who knew the power of diet and targeted supplementation?!

Today, Mom still has her beautiful smile. She is grateful for her life every day as we are so grateful to have her as the matriarch of our family. 

Please know that you are never too old or too sick to heal. If you are not happy with where you are in life then make a commitment to change.

If you want things to change, then you need to…..change!

What areas in your life do you want to improve? Are you ready to commit to making small simple steps and simple solutions?  Let me know if you would like some support.

Here is Mom celebrating her 89th birthday looking younger and healthier than ever!  Also pictured is my daughter and twin sister. 

With Love & Gratitude,

Lisa Jackson