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We celebrate nearing 2,500 podcast downloads as we continue sharing our journey with cerebral palsy and connecting with our audience in meaningful ways.

• Birthday reflections on becoming a better version of oneself mentally, physically, and spiritually
• Pursuing a communications degree rather than disabled ministry as a career path
• Updates on medical challenges including C. diff infection and upcoming minor surgeries
• Living with cerebral palsy means accepting good and bad days with resilience
• Finding joy in podcasting with a best friend despite physical limitations
• Plans for a special 40th birthday trip to connect with friends in person
• Importance of maintaining mental health while navigating chronic conditions
• Speaking publicly about disabilities to create awareness and understanding

Thank you for following our journey and supporting this podcast as we continue sharing our experiences with cerebral palsy.

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Welcome to A Winning Heart, where I explore the importance of maintaining a positive self-image while living with a disability and navigating the healthcare system.

• Rebranding the podcast to "A Winning Heart" for better memorability and visibility
• Developing a positive self-image while living with disabilities through intentional interactions
• Coping with C. difficile infection as a complication unrelated to cerebral palsy
• Understanding the basics of cerebral palsy as a lack of oxygen to the joints
• Managing multiple health conditions including CP, C. diff, osteoporosis, and asthma
• Becoming your own medical advocate when doctors don't believe disabled patients
• Preview of upcoming episodes on medical advocacy and understanding cerebral palsy

Join me after a brief hiatus for Season 21, where we'll dive deeper into medical advocacy and continue educating about cerebral palsy.

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Sometimes life takes an unexpected turn that forces you to completely reimagine your future. After being rushed to the hospital following what I thought was just a C. diff recurrence, I received the life-altering news that I now have pancolitis and am permanently colonized with C. diff bacteria.

This episode takes you through my medical journey and the profound decisions that followed. The unpredictable nature of chronic C. diff means traditional employment is no longer viable for me, leading to my official retirement from the workforce. But rather than viewing this as the end of something, I'm embracing new beginnings – pivoting to full-time content creation and returning to school in August to pursue an entirely unexpected degree program.

Throughout our conversation, I share how this health challenge has paradoxically brought clarity and gratitude into my life. There's a cryptic mention of something significant on the horizon involving "more wheels than I'd like to count" – a major life change necessitated by my condition but opening doors to new possibilities. The podcast will take a brief hiatus in July before returning in August with a streamlined format featuring just Danielle and myself.

For anyone facing chronic illness or unexpected life changes, this episode offers a candid look at adapting to new realities. Whether you choose to support the podcast financially or simply by listening and sharing, I'm grateful to have you along for this evolving journey. The path forward may not be what I expected, but I'm determined to make the most of every step.

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A winning situation: http://awinningsituation.weebly.com. A winning situation sponsor: https://melodyclouds.com. Please donate to A winning situation by going to Payment Venmo Win1195 at https://venmo.com/. Win Kelly Charles’ Books: https://www.amazon.com/Win-Kelly-Charles/e/B009VNJEKE/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1. Win Kelly Charles' MONAT: https://wincharles.mymonat.com. Flying Has Become Hell for Passengers with Wheelchairs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRntgEiTHIY. PodMatch: https://podmatch.com. Win Charles has given you an exclusive offer of $50 off of delicious chef-prepared meals: https://www.cookunity.com/referral?utm_campaign=wch3003078&utm_source=referral&utm_content=link&promo=wch3003078.

On A winning situation today (Monday, May 26, 2025), Best-Selling Author, Win C welcomes Kerie Logan. Kerie has helped people all over the globe live better lives and lives they love. She has been a human consciousness guide and empowerment strategist for over twenty years. In 2004, she was awarded the best coach of the year at the PCH Yearly Convention. To learn more about Kerie visit https://www.mastertheupperrooms.com/free-stuff/.

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A winning situation: http://awinningsituation.weebly.com. Check out Win's books at https://www.amazon.com/Win-Kelly-Charles/e/B009VNJEKE/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1538951782&sr=1-2-ent. Cactus Rose By Win: https://www.etsy.com/shop/CactusroseByWin. Check out Danielle’s books at https://www.amazon.com/stores/Danielle-Coulter/author/B00OFIOY3C?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true. Win’s Venmo: @Win1195 365 The lipstick coffee shop fundraiser: https://crowdfundr.com/12Gk66?ref=ab_9jzenTUwWNY9jzenTUwWNY. Be Tri For Us: http://www.betriforus.com. Ekso: https://youtu.be/QK-qsas8dqA?si=tCMZxvtP3io7QKQ7. Dan Can Shred:  https://www.dancanshred.com. Snowmass Angel: https://authorexperts.club/show-book/B01N7Q5I37. PodMatch: https://podmatch.com. Win Charles has given you an exclusive offer of $50 off of delicious chef-prepared meals: https://www.cookunity.com/referral?utm_campaign=wch3003078&utm_source=referral&utm_content=link&promo=wch3003078.

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The silence around mental health issues can be deafening, especially in church communities where people often struggle alone behind a mask of Sunday smiles. This raw, honest conversation breaks open the reality of depression and anxiety among congregation members, offering pastoral care teams crucial insights from someone who's lived this experience.

Depression doesn't always look like sadness—it manifests as withdrawal, lack of motivation, and difficulty participating in church life. "I had difficulty getting out of bed and I honestly thought it was part of cerebral palsy," our speaker reveals, highlighting how mental health symptoms are often misattributed to other conditions. For church leaders, recognizing these subtle signs means noticing when active members suddenly withdraw or when someone seems perpetually disengaged.

Anxiety creates different challenges, instilling fears around church activities many take for granted—approaching the communion rail, interacting after services, or simply being in crowded spaces. The speaker shares personal experiences with medical anxiety and social discomfort, while offering practical guidance for pastoral care teams. From utilizing Psychology Today to find appropriate mental health professionals to understanding medication interactions with communion wine, this conversation provides actionable steps for supporting parishioners through mental health challenges while maintaining appropriate boundaries and confidentiality.

Most powerfully, this discussion emphasizes that breaking the stigma around mental health in church settings isn't just about awareness—it's about creating spaces where people feel truly seen and supported "no matter what shape I'm in." By recognizing the invisible struggles many face, pastoral teams can ensure their churches become sanctuaries for the whole person, mind and spirit alike. Listen now to transform how your congregation approaches mental health care.

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A winning situation: http://awinningsituation.weebly.com. A winning situation sponsor: https://melodyclouds.com. Please donate to A winning situation by going to Payment Venmo Win1195 at https://venmo.com/. Win Kelly Charles’ Books: https://www.amazon.com/Win-Kelly-Charles/e/B009VNJEKE/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1. Win Kelly Charles' MONAT: https://wincharles.mymonat.com. Flying Has Become Hell for Passengers with Wheelchairs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRntgEiTHIY. PodMatch: https://podmatch.com. Win Charles has given you an exclusive offer of $50 off of delicious chef-prepared meals: https://www.cookunity.com/referral?utm_campaign=wch3003078&utm_source=referral&utm_content=link&promo=wch3003078.

On A winning situation today (Friday, May 23, 2025), Best-Selling Author, Win C welcomes Emily R. Taylor. Emily, a proud alumna of Arizona State University and the University of Arizona's James E. Rogers College of Law, has been a licensed attorney in Arizona since 2007. Her practice specializes in comprehensive estate planning and special needs planning, offering legal guidance with a personal touch. To learn more about Emily visit www.emilytaylorlaw.com.

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A winning situation: http://awinningsituation.weebly.com. Check out Win's books at https://www.amazon.com/Win-Kelly-Charles/e/B009VNJEKE/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1538951782&sr=1-2-ent. Cactus Rose By Win: https://www.etsy.com/shop/CactusroseByWin. Check out Danielle’s books at https://www.amazon.com/stores/Danielle-Coulter/author/B00OFIOY3C?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true. Win’s Venmo: @Win1195 365 The lipstick coffee shop fundraiser: https://crowdfundr.com/12Gk66?ref=ab_9jzenTUwWNY9jzenTUwWNY. Be Tri For Us: http://www.betriforus.com. Ekso: https://youtu.be/QK-qsas8dqA?si=tCMZxvtP3io7QKQ7. Dan Can Shred:  https://www.dancanshred.com. Snowmass Angel: https://authorexperts.club/show-book/B01N7Q5I37. PodMatch: https://podmatch.com. Win Charles has given you an exclusive offer of $50 off of delicious chef-prepared meals: https://www.cookunity.com/referral?utm_campaign=wch3003078&utm_source=referral&utm_content=link&promo=wch3003078.

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Send us Fan Mail

A winning situation: http://awinningsituation.weebly.com. A winning situation sponsor: https://melodyclouds.com. Please donate to A winning situation by going to Payment Venmo Win1195 at https://venmo.com/. Win Kelly Charles’ Books: https://www.amazon.com/Win-Kelly-Charles/e/B009VNJEKE/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1. Win Kelly Charles' MONAT: https://wincharles.mymonat.com. Flying Has Become Hell for Passengers with Wheelchairs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRntgEiTHIY. PodMatch: https://podmatch.com. Win Charles has given you an exclusive offer of $50 off of delicious chef-prepared meals: https://www.cookunity.com/referral?utm_campaign=wch3003078&utm_source=referral&utm_content=link&promo=wch3003078.

On A winning situation today (Wednesday, May 14, 2025), Best-Selling Author, Win C welcomes Katherine Klimitas. Katherine is an artist, speaker, author. and graphic designer. Katherine have Osteogenesis Imperfecta, better known as Brittle Bone Disease. Katherine get around in an electric wheelchair. Katherine is 2 feet, 7 inches tall. And by age 10, Katherine had broken 500+ bones. But there was no way her parents and Katherine were going to let her disease dictate her happiness. Katherine’s parents influenced her the most. They made Katherine want to make something of herself, and Katherine was going to be happy doing it—end of story. During Katherine’s senior year at Loyola University, she started KAK Art & Designs. While Katherine’s services have changed since 2011, she have stayed focused on 2 key areas: 1) expanding Katherine’s reach and capabilities as a watercolor artist; and 2) motivating others to contribute to their communities. After owning her business for nearly a decade, what keeps me striving for something more? Katherine want her work to bring people joy. To learn more about Katherine visit www.urgems.com.

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A winning situation: http://awinningsituation.weebly.com. A winning situation sponsor: https://melodyclouds.com. Please donate to A winning situation by going to Payment Venmo Win1195 at https://venmo.com/. Win Kelly Charles’ Books: https://www.amazon.com/Win-Kelly-Charles/e/B009VNJEKE/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1. Win Kelly Charles' MONAT: https://wincharles.mymonat.com. Flying Has Become Hell for Passengers with Wheelchairs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRntgEiTHIY. PodMatch: https://podmatch.com.

On A winning situation today (Monday, April 28, 2025), Best-Selling Author, Win C welcomes Sara Freeman Smith. Sara is a blind inspirational speaker & author, former HR/Recruiting leader & Disability Advocate who defied the odds when she took her setback & turned it into her powerful comeback! She went from a   ‘Pity Party’ to a ‘Propel Party’ after suddenly losing her vision to regain her career growth through faith, passion and perseverance. She shares tools and steps in her inspirational self-help book, “Turning Stones into Gems – Learn how to find purpose in your life & career”, for others to reignite their passion & career growth while dispelling myths about hiring people with disabilities. To learn more about Sara visit www.urgems.com.

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