Hey, I’m Susan.
Hi, my name is Susan, and I am a certified life coach with a background in social services. I also struggle with a chronic illness. I understand the difficulties people face living with chronic illness.
For years, I got lost in the darkness of my illness and finally found my way back to the light. I am passionate about helping others struggling with chronic illness to learn how to thrive and live meaningful lives.
Background
I worked in social services for over 10 years. While working in social services, I coordinated in-home services for people with physical disabilities. I have a wealth of knowledge of various conditions and the obstacles people face in getting the help they need.
My passion has always been advocacy and helping others.
I believe in having someone to help you navigate the medical system to ensure you get the best possible care.
Setting goals to live a fulfilling life that gives you purpose and meaning outside of your illness is essential. Despite having a chronic illness, you still can have a life filled with purpose and meaning.
If you are struggling to find your way out of the depths of your illness, I promise you there is hope. There is a light at the end of the tunnel.
Life can be beautiful if you work to balance your illness and living at the same time. That is where I come in. I can show you the tools and skills to create a meaningful life that gives you purpose each day.
My Story
On December 26, 2019, my intestines twisted themselves, and I needed emergency surgery. Unfortunately, there was a complication, and I was bleeding internally. Less than 12 hours later, I had emergency surgery number two. During that surgery, they took out my entire bowel to try to find the bleed. After that, I started to get sick.
It took me a year and a half for any doctor to take me seriously and run testing.
Once the test began, it became apparent that I was very sick. I was diagnosed with severe gastroparesis, delayed transit, colon dysmotility, pseudo-obstruction disorder, and no pelvic floor functioning.
By this point, I was extremely sick and ended up in the hospital and was later discharged on TPN. TPN is intravenous nutrition because the food was not able to move through me. I dealt with debilitating nausea, and all the local GI doctors refused to take my case because it was too complicated. That is how I ended up at the Cleveland Clinic, where I now see most of my specialists.
From December 2021 until April 2024, I had 30 hospital admissions, multiple surgeries, and now live with a permanent ileostomy. My ileostomy has given me my life back and allowed me to eat. I struggled to accept it. This is my second ileostomy. The first one was reversed because I couldn't handle it mentally. I now accept life with an ileostomy and am grateful for what it has done for me.
Through all those years, there has been a lot of pain and heartache—moments where I questioned my willingness to go on. I was almost put on hospice due to how sick I had gotten. That is the moment I fought my way out of the darkness into the light. I still struggle with my chronic illness, but I have learned to live with it. I have learned to manage it and find purpose and meaning each day.
Who I Am Outside of My Illness
I am married to a wonderful man who has shown me the true meaning of unconditional love. We live in Colorado with our dog, Gunner, who we spoil. I love to take walks, hike, and be outside. I find nature to be very therapeutic. I enjoy arts and crafts and working on puzzles. Now that I can eat, my husband and I enjoy date night and going to the movies.
I am an avid writer and blog a lot about my journey and journal daily. I love to travel and see new places. My husband and I play mini-golf a lot and are very competitive. I love cooking. I enjoy shopping, maybe a little too much.
I have a great sense of humor. I have an amazing group of friends and family. I am passionate about learning and am in the process of finishing up my psychology degree. Life has taught me to embrace the simple moments and enjoy being with the people you love.
Why Work With Me?
Do you need advocacy, help with getting back to living life, someone to talk to who understands, works on life skills, sets goals and implements them, or help with care coordination?
The idea of a chronic illness coach is to utilize my skills to help you in areas of your life where you need help the most.
I have a wealth of knowledge about chronic illnesses. Both through my own experience and my work experience. I know what it is like to live each day feeling like your body has betrayed you. I am passionate about helping people and have a lot of knowledge about resources to help ensure you are getting the best services possible.
Having been on both sides of the system I have knowledge of what it is like to be both a patient and a provider, which allows me to be a better advocate for my clients. It also gives me invaluable insight into how the medical system works.
I am passionate about researching to find the best possible solutions for my clients. I was able to get the care I needed through my own research. I believe the answers are out there you must know where to look for them and then advocate to receive them. That is not to say they are a cure, but there might be options out there you did not know existed. That is also how I was able to figure out how to manage my ileostomy because there are not many resources locally.
Also, I can help guide you in coming to terms with having a chronic illness. Once you can reach a place of acceptance, then you can move forward with creating a life worth living.
Free Initial consultation for 15 minutes.
During the initial consultation, we will discuss what you want from a life coach.
Packages
Individual Session
$99 per session or $349 for 4 sessions if paid in full upfront.
Group Package $99 monthly
The group meets weekly for an hour and will begin on January 8th. The group starts at 4 pm MST.
You will also be added to a Facebook group where you can interact with group members throughout the week to get support and I will be there to moderate and ensure that it is a safe forum.
You will also get free access to my blog. This is a great option for people who are looking to connect with others who have chronic illnesses.
The group will be capped at 10 people to ensure everyone has space to talk during the group and get to know one another.
Who Are My Typical Clients
I work with people of all ages and all types of chronic illnesses. Having worked as a service coordinator setting up in-home services for people with physical disabilities, I have experience with a multitude of chronic illnesses.
I have also done mental health case management and have a lot of experience in that area. I also work with parents and caregivers who have a loved one with a chronic illness.
It is tough to watch someone you care about struggle with a debilitating disease and not know how to help.
My Journey.
Below is a video describing my journey in more detail and gives you a little more insight into my struggles through a chronic illness
Contact Me
Disclaimer
I am not a therapist or looking to replace your therapist if you already have one. I believe that therapy is a critical component of dealing with chronic illnesses. I am here to guide you through the process of living life while also dealing with being sick.
