With nearly 30 years in health care, Cheryl is a practicing Nurse Practitioner affiliated with the University of Manitoba. Her career has taken her from rural southern Manitoba to remote northern communities, across hospitals and care teams in Manitoba and Ontario, and to roles around the world — though Canada has always called her home.

Cheryl carried a quiet conflict: a deep sense of calling to nursing alongside a slow, hidden burnout. She did what so many health care providers do — worked harder, masked the toll, and pushed through toxicity at home and at work while telling herself she could handle anything. It took her body forcing her to stop before she finally understood what "self-care" and "work-life balance" actually required: not more effort, but alignment with her own purpose and values.