The Light of Life

Roxanne is returning to the podcast! You may remember Roxanne from "Spirits and The Afterlife with Roxanne" from September 2023. Roxanne shares what her four near death experiences were like. Her first one she nearly fell off a cliff. The last three she nearly bled to death. Roxanne shares what death experiences are like and how you enter the middle world, and afterlife.

Amy Wang-Hiller returns to the podcast!! You may remember Amy from "Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Disabilities, and Ableism with Amy" back in February 2023. Amy shares how with the help of physical therapy her mobility has begun to improve. She also shares uplifting advice to not compare yourself with anyone else because we are all on our own journey. Amy and Naomi both describe how managing energy is so important for people with chronic illnesses, and how to avoid burnout. Amy also shares a collaboration she is working on that she will announce soon to hopefully give musicians a chance at affordable...

"You just said something the entire world needs to hear! PTSD is a physical injury to the brain." Teresa went through a lot of trauma in her life. At only 3 years old, she witnessed two family members try to kill each other with hairbrushes. At 10 years old, she was told an Anti-Semitic comment and envisioned for decades about a green tank driving by. She shares that to this day, she still has nightmares of a green tank. Teresa also shares how she lost her brother, who passed away from a drug overdose. Teresa has treatment resistant depression and does...

Eileen developed vocal dysphonia at 60 years old, one year before she was planning to retire. Unfortunately, her profession involved her singing voice and she needed to retire a year early because of dysphonia. Eileen shares botox injections in her vocal chords was part of her treatment, along with speech therapy. Eileen also brings awareness to a website where you can find dysphonia doctors in your state who want to help with your case.

Eileen's website: dysphonia.org

Jenny is a nurse who has worked in the emergency room and for the last 30 years worked in hospice. Jenny shares the harsh realities of how difficult it can be, not only physically, but also emotionally. She shares it's important to remember that in hospice care, you are doing your best to make the patients feel comfortable.

Jenny's website: jennylytle.com

Fitz Koehler is returning to the podcast!! You may remember Fitz from "A Remarkable Cancer Story and Fitness Advice with Fitz" from March 2023 on The Light of Life! Fitz returns to share what her life is like currently and how to improve your quality of life.

Fitz's website: fitzness.com

John has a son with nonverbal autism. John shares the challenges there are to take care of one with a serious disability. His advice is to seek out support and community to connect with people you can relate to. John shares this has helped him and his family a lot.

John's website: johnfela.com

Chad went through a turbulent time when his liver failed due to multiple chronic illnesses. He shares how difficult it was to wait while on the transplant list because his doctors said he could go at any day. Facing death, Chad realized how precious life is and to not dwell or fear death, since it is inevitable for everybody.

You can find Chad's book, "Beyond the Darkness" on Amazon.

Michael is returning to the podcast!! You may remember Michael from "Pectus Excavatum" back in May last year. Today, he is discussing another story. Michael had the first symptoms of appendicitis right before he was going to perform an operation on a dog. (Michael is a veterinarian.) He was in a lot of pain and informed his boss. His boss said, "You need to go to the emergency room. I guarantee you that is appendicitis." Michael is eternally grateful - if he did not leave work when he did he could've died. Michael also discusses the agony and frustration...

Abby struggled for seven years with an eating disorder in her teens. She mentions a lot of factors played into her disorder, including not having the greatest home life, having a tense relationship with her father, and being diagnosed with a medical condition that made her need to temporarily control her diet. Abby mentions a lot of cases revolve around feeling the need to control something in the person's life, and most of the time, it ends up being food. Abby also bravely shares how body dysmorphia can make it hard for someone to be willing to recover. She...

"Schizophrenia is quite possibly the most misunderstood mental illness ever." - Dale Walsh

Today's guest is Dale, who is 100% recovered from Schizophrenia. He discusses how it's not just hallucinations - there's also delusions. Nothing particularly causes it, and most people don't make it to 50 years old, much less 50 years in recovery - which Dale is.

Dale bravely shares he was found incompetent and forced to get help. Deep in his delusions, he could not convince himself why he needed help. Eventually, 20 years later, after 10 hospitalizations and taken involuntary to psych wards...

Daniel discusses various topics about biology and how to live a healthy life. He also brings awareness to medicine and technology improving lives as it is being advanced every day.

Lauren was only 10 years old when she was rushed to the emergency room after complaining of not feeling well and having difficulty breathing. It was discovered her kidneys shut down and her lungs were filling with blood. Her lungs managed to be saved but her kidneys could not. Lauren was put on the list for a kidney transplant. Endless appointments, blood draws, and scans. In May 2015, she got the call. A pair of kidneys were being airlifted to her local hospital just for her. She is grateful to have had a smooth recovery and no rejection. Lauren shares although...

WARNING: **This episode contains details of violence.**

Imagine being 13 years old and having to call the police on one of your parents. Erik came from a broken home and called the police on his stepfather because he was hitting his mother. Years later, Erik spiraled into a drug addiction that nearly took his life. He learned along the way, your past doesn't define and you can turn your life around. Erik is living proof you can turn your life around!

"I was suffering from a spinal cord injury and I was labeled as a drug addict." Brian shares his story of his experience in the emergency room and how he was treated. He wasn't listened to at all and dismissed. Naomi and Brian both share the importance of second opinions (why Naomi's even here today.) Brian asks an eye opening question to Naomi, "Are you still angry about the situation?" Naomi says she's not angry, however, she knows she cannot trust just any hospital ever again. Brian understands completely, as his experience has also made him not be able...

Cameron works in the medical field as an EMT. An EMT is an emergency medical technician. Cameron also shares his experience studying orthopedics in medical school. He hopes to one day eventually become a surgeon.

PJ shares his story living with the heart condition Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. PJ and Naomi are friends from PACE. PJ mentions the Adult Congenital Heart Association is wonderful support for everyone across the country with congenital heart defects. PJ also bravely opens up about PTSD and how even being inside a hospital is difficult for him. PJ and Naomi both share about their nightmares over the years (very common symptom of PTSD) and Naomi says her biggest PTSD symptom today is not being able to tolerate the sight of blood.

Appendicitis is quite common for a lot of people. Natalie bravely shares her story with appendicitis and emergency surgery. Natalie was in a lot of pain one night and throwing up constantly. She went to the emergency room in the morning only to discover her appendix was severely inflamed. The only treatment for appendicitis is to have the appendix taken out in an operation. Natalie had the operation immediately. Once she came out of anesthesia, she felt a lot better and was no longer in agonizing pain. Natalie gives helpful advice to anyone who is about to have an...

"It's your life. Nobody else's life. It's your story. Nobody else's story."

Aisha discusses how important it is to appreciate your life. To focus on the things you have rather than the things you don't have. Don't take everything for granted, you never know what can change.

In 1970, Ken Kunken became quadriplegic after suffering a serious spinal cord injury. This left him completely paralyzed. Ken became a district attorney and was the first quadriplegic to graduate from Cornell University in New York. Due to his new challenges, Ken realized he was unable to get around in public places. It was 1971, before any accommodations for people with disabilities were made publicly. Ken had the once in a lifetime opportunity to testify to Senator Kennedy on why we need public places to be accessible for everybody. Ken Kunken is one of the reasons why we have The Americans...

At two different moments in her life, Nancy survived cancer and alcoholism. Nancy shares how she got sober after attempting to take her life. Nancy also shares how she began helping others through equus coaching. (Horses.)

Nancy's website for women struggling with anything related to mental health (depression, anxiety, PTSD, eating disorders, alcohol/drug abuse, etc.): sherecovers.org

Max lost his vision in college. Max describes his most difficult challenges unable to see. He also encourages everyone to find their community of people who have similar disabilities as you do.

Katherine shares her story surviving stage 3 Breast Cancer. Katherine also shares the truth about forgiveness.

"Forgiveness is NOT you acknowledging that what the person did is okay. What forgiveness truly is is letting go of the past for YOU to be at peace."

Wise words, and a very important life lesson.

Sarah was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at 15 years old. Sarah describes her years living with diabetes was a constant battle because she couldn't stand poking herself with a needle to pump insulin into her system. Unfortunately, this is very dangerous for people with diabetes and she was told her heart attack 20 years later was due to extremely high BLOOD SUGAR. Wait... HIGH BLOOD SUGAR can cause a HEART ATTACK?? You mainly think heart attacks are caused by high cholesterol or high levels of stress, No wonder they always say, "Too much of anything is bad for you."

"The first thing people need to know is, whatever you're struggling with whether it is depression or another mental health issue, is that: It is NOT your fault." Wise words from this week's guest, Kenji. Kenji bravely shares his story battling depression and even shares at one point he was ready to give up. Kenji and Naomi have attended the same culinary school in college and Kenji shares school saved his life from the infamous 2020 pandemic.

"The first thing people need to know is, whatever you're struggling with whether it is depression or another mental health issue, is that: It is NOT your fault." Wise words from this week's guest, Kenji. Kenji bravely shares his story battling depression and even shares at one point he was ready to give up. Kenji and Naomi have attended the same culinary school in college and Kenji shares school saved his life from the infamous 2020 pandemic.

What happens when a medical doctor suddenly becomes a patient? Michael is a medical doctor working in the emergency room. He shares heartbreaking yet inspiring stories about triumphing after intense hospital stays and long doctor hours.

"Never give up." Fierce says to everyone listening. "No matter how hard it may be, never give up."

Fierce survived a terrifying brain aneurysm. She needed to relearn how to walk. How it happened is haunting. Fierce was watching TV at home with her boyfriend. It was just like any other day. Suddenly, Fierce sees on the wall numbers that spell out "911". Nothing was happening, but she told her boyfriend, "Call 911!" Her boyfriend calls 911, and still nothing is happening. But Fierce then pointed to her head and blacked out.

Fierce's story of perseverance, strength, and...

Joel and Naomi have a significant thing in common: Both have had open heart surgery! Joel shares his experience with having been diagnosed with CHD until adulthood. He began receiving symptoms at the age of 16 but was not officially diagnosed until a mind-blowing 26!

Shadi is a hospital doctor that has worked in the Intensive Care Unit, Emergency Room, and General Hospital. Shadi shares how overwhelming it is for doctors and how even doctors can develop PTSD from patients having medical complications. Naomi never realized how true that is. Shadi asks Naomi about her experience and Naomi drops MAJOR BOMBSHELLS about how she didn't develop PTSD until 2 years later and how her perspective has ENTIRELY CHANGED ON HER COMFORT CARE SITUATION.

Jeff discusses how meditation benefits your every day life. He says even if you just take 20 minutes a day to meditate, you will be much less stressed. He also mentions the 5 Regulations to meditate successfully.

Jeff also mentions you can order his book, The Yielding Warrior, for FREE!

Jeff's website: theyieldingwarrior.com/book

Daniel's website: danielpackard.com

Naomi went under anesthesia last week. This was the first medical procedure she's had in almost 7 years. Naomi opens up about her feelings of the hospital and surgery. She surprisingly acknowledges how desensitized she is and wonders if there is anyone else out there who feels the same way.

Naomi shares her experience of her cauterization from last week and going under anesthesia again. Naomi shares an epiphany of how the hospital no longer scares her, and how normal the operating room seems to her. She mentions she was not scared for this procedure, even though she was aware of the risks. Not being scared is something a lot of people would not be able to believe, but it's true - Naomi is incredibly desensitized to the environment of the hospital, the operating room, and what to expect when admitted.

James and Naomi are friends from the CHD community. James was born with the heart condition Tetralogy of Fallot, which consists of a defect in each chamber of the heart. 4 different defects. James discusses his experience in the hospital after his open heart surgeries and how he became involved in the CHD community. James also encourages everyone to take care of your mental health and bravely opens up about his struggle with PTSD.

Disclaimer: If you have medical conditions, please stick to Western, modern day medicine. If we are born with a defect, there is nothing we can do in Eastern to "heal" us. We need to keep our prescription medications, we need hospitals and technology.

Francisco shares what chiropractors do to help patients relieve back pain and joint pain,

Michael was born with Pectus Excavatum. Pectus Excavatum is an encaved chest where the two chest cavity bones were indented. Michael shares how difficult it was to breathe and the pain he was in prior to his surgery. The surgery to fix his chest involved pushing out the chest cavity bones to properly align with the ribcage. Michael shares he can no longer feel the middle of his chest because of the operation. Naomi reveals she can't either. They both conclude it's due to the cartilage that needs to be ripped off to open/pull forward the two chest...

It's no secret that doctors who work in hospitals are insanely overworked. So many lead to burn out and dangerously high levels of stress. Ethan is an attorney/agent for doctors in the medical field, helping them maintain a schedule so that they can take care of their patients, but in addition, take care of THEMSELVES. Ethan also shares the cold hard truth: Doctors are SUFFERING, financially and mentally. He shares a heartbreaking story about a doctor who called him asking for a lawyer. She stated, "I'm so burnt out, I'm so stressed out. My salary has JUST BEEN...

Breast cancer, emergency heart transplant, bitter divorce, and your child dying.

Just one of these alone would be traumatizing to go through on its own, but Laura went through all four of these tragedies within... ONE YEAR.

Yes, one YEAR.

Maybe it is time to take a step back and reflect on how good we really have it. Laura's resilience is unfathomable. Her strength is admirable.

Naomi personally believes it is a full-blown miracle Laura was able to keep her SANITY.

If Laura can learn to cope and heal...

Roman shares his story.