In part one of this two-part conversation, Dr. Erin Faules sits down with storyteller and autoimmune survivor Courtney Runyon to explore what it means to heal in the face of uncertainty. Diagnosed with CIDP, a rare autoimmune disease that left her temporarily paralyzed from the neck down, Courtney shares the realities of navigating the medical system when clear answers are scarce. They discuss the importance of mindset, self-advocacy, and the physiological toll of chronic empathy—while also holding space for humor, joy, and post-traumatic growth. Topics include:

• How paralysis reshaped Courtney’s understanding of health and identity
• The role of mindset and nervous system regulation in recovery
• Why self-advocacy is non-negotiable in complex illness
• The double-edged sword of chronic empathy and its link to inflammation
• Finding humor and meaning in the most unexpected moments

Stay tuned for part two next week.