The Strength of Curiosity
The year was 1984. Shortly after I had our second child, I noticed a small lump in my neck. At first, I barely thought about it, but my husband John grew increasingly more concerned. He asked a friend who was a doctor if he thought it was something to look into. After feeling it, he told my husband, “I think you should get this checked out. The sooner, the better.”
We were part of a large HMO, so getting an appointment took time. When I finally saw the doctor, I seemed like a healthy young woman. They ran the usual tests, and over the course of 9 months the lump was diagnosed as a simple goiter, a relatively benign swelling of the thyroid gland. But something didn’t sit right. The lump seemed to grow and harden, and I knew my body was sending me signals I couldn’t ignore.
Listening to Instincts
Seeking guidance, we consulted our doctor friend again, who suggested we see his personal physician. After reviewing my tests and examining my neck, he recommended repeating some tests and even offered to speak directly with my HMO doctor. A month later, when I relayed this to my doctor, his response shocked me: “I do not repeat tests just to repeat tests.” He refused to speak with the consulting doctor and basically said the changes that I mentioned were not real and it was all in my head.
That was the last straw. I filed a formal complaint with the HMO supervisor, and a new doctor was assigned. It took another month, but finally, I sat down with a physician who examined my neck and left the room without saying a word. I prayed silently, “Lord, please help him to see what he needs to see.” God answered that simple prayer.
The doctor explained he had escalated my case and arranged for me to see an endocrinologist in just three days—almost unbelievable after the many months of waiting. Dr. Marine, the endocrinologist, was kind and professional. After examining my neck, he immediately performed a needle biopsy and scheduled a surgical consultation noting he was 99% certain the lump was malignant. Within two weeks, I underwent a near-total thyroidectomy.
Resilience in the Face of Pain
This experience taught me the importance of self-advocacy, but it also planted a seed that would grow years later. When I first heard Pete Egoscue say, “No one knows your body better than you,” it resonated deeply. At first, learning posture alignment exercises was completely foreign. I barely knew how to engage my muscles or even notice them. I started doing the exercises every morning with my husband, who had also started learning posture alignment therapy. I began to notice interesting changes in my body. One day as I found myself running to get the mail truck as I forgot to put it out for pick up, I realized my feet were actually lifting up instead of my usual shuffle. Running actually felt good! It made me aware of the untapped potential in my own body.
What truly convinced me, though, was relief from chronic neck pain I had suffered for nearly 20 years. It was part of my daily life. It felt like I lived on ibuprofen. One day while painting the ceiling of our kitchen, a severe nerve pain flare-up began shooting down my arm. I couldn’t sleep for three days and could not sit, stand, or lay down without excruciating pain. When my husband returned from a travel clinic he guided me through a few posture correction exercises he had just been trained in. It proved to be an intense 20-30 minutes as my body struggled with seemingly simple exercise. I was nauseated, sweating, and shaking. After that challenging ordeal, the nerve pain was gone, and I slept soundly through the night. I could hardly believe it. That experience was life-changing.
A Journey of Purpose
Our journey to Phoenix began with our own search for pain relief and healing. At the chronic pain clinic where John worked in California, we became disillusioned watching patients choose morphine pumps, painkillers, and risky procedures rather than listen to what their bodies were trying to tell them. One patient in particular had made remarkable progress through simple exercises, yet he chose to move forward with a morphine pump instead.
For years, I myself had been caught in a cycle of endless physical therapy, chiropractic adjustments, craniosacral work, acupuncture and pain medication. Then I personally experienced remarkable results from addressing my own posture misalignments. I can’t even remember the last time I needed pain meds now. Pain still visits occasionally, but I’ve learned how to respond—what to do, and when to ask for help.
The transformation was life-changing. It ignited a passion in both of us to help others discover that same freedom. Learning how they, too, can live pain-free and think differently about pain when it does arise.
That realization became our turning point. We wanted to work with people who were ready to take a more holistic, empowering approach to their health, people willing to participate in their own healing. So we followed where the path led, moving to Phoenix to open our own posture alignment clinic. It was a leap of faith but one rooted in resilience, compassion, and a deep trust that we could help countless others in their journey as well.
The Gift of Listening to Your Body
When it comes to listening to my body, I continue to learn, grow, and sometimes even stumble. But my body always reminds me when I need to care for it. My journey has taught me some valuable lessons: that resilience is born from listening to our inner voice, compassion for others begins with how we treat ourselves, and healing starts when we begin to trust the signals our body sends.
We are fearfully and wonderfully made. When we honor that truth, we can uncover just how resilient we truly are.
I hope my story inspires you to reflect on your own relationship with your body. Is your body trying to tell you something? Have you been pushing through pain or putting off getting help? Don’t ignore the signals. Posture alignment coaching changed my life for the better and taught me how to truly trust my instincts for the good of my own health.
Discover how posture alignment coaching can help you find relief, restore balance, and trust your body again.
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