From Mud

In this episode, I want to spotlight #kidneycancerawareness  by sharing some #evidencebased information about risk associated with #cancer in general and #kidneycancer specifically. Alongside this information, I share about our own #cancerstory and the early signs of Justin's #rarecancer - non-clear renal cell carcinoma with Rhabdoid features/differentiation. I also share my own insights as a #healtheducator on #healthylifestyle approaches to prevent and #fightcancer including a diet rich in #plantbasedfoods / high in #fiber as well as avoiding known and probable carcinogens. That and of course learn more about your own risk of cancer including getting genetic testing done to know what you might be at higher risk for. 

#widow #widowmom #widowjourney #loveofmylife #sadlovestory #storytime #healthcoach #healthcoaching #healthandwellness #griefandloss #griefjourney #cancerprevention #healthyeating #cancersucks #kidneycancerawarenessmonth

Conflict is a normal part of any close relationship. Whether it is your romantic partnership/marriage, a close friendship, a siblingship, or any other close or working relationship--we all would benefit from being able to face conflict head on in healthy ways. 

In this video I share about my personal journey in how I've learned to resolve conflict effectively in my personal life--starting from my observations of conflict and the lack of resolution I witnessed growing up with an abusive alcoholic dad, to my early 20's when I started realizing how whenever conflict would arise, I often became defensive and was unable to take accountability in those moments, to marrying my soul mate and late husband and how we figured it out together. At the end of this audio podcast, I share the framework Justin and I came up with that helped us keep our relationship healthy and helped us resolve conflict without being as apprehensive to face it when issues did (inevitably) arise. 

#relationships #marriage #love #friendship #conflictresolution #resolvingconflicts #respect #parenting #griefandloss #widow #widowjourney #widowmom #healthandwellness #healthy #alcoholism #adultchildrenofalcoholics #acoa #adultchildofabuse #cancerstories #cancer #kidneycancer #kidneycancerawareness 

I share about my own journey having little support after losing my husband to #kidneycancer, raising small children as a #widowmom and compare that to how it is now after moving from Phoenix, AZ to #portlandoregon and gaining a lot more support for me and the kids. I also include a little bit of info I found about how evidence shows that when we feel like we have good social supports around us, we have better #healthandwellness outcomes. I wrap it up with a little #gratitude #mindfulness #meditation 

Join me and I'd love to hear from you on how having support or a lack of support is affecting or has affected your quality of life and #wellness! 

#widow #widowjourney #grief #griefandloss #cancersucks #cancerstories #kidneycancerawareness #healthcoach #healtheducator #evidencebased #thevillage #millenials #millenialmom #parenting #resilience #lifeishard 

iamfrommud.com
IG: @_from_mud_
Podcast: Apple Podcast

Enjoy this awesome Interview with Botanist and Herbalist Jasmine of Triple Gem Herbs! She shares w/ us some great insights on how to use herbs medicinally such as which herbs and how to use them to manage stress. 

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Also find me on instagram: @_from_mud_
website: iamfrommud.com

Find Jasmine here:
Instagram: @triplegemherbs
triplegemherbs.com

In this episode I share what life was like for me as a new widow in the immediate aftermath of losing my husband. I share about how I prepared my 3 and 1 year old ahead of time as well as when I had to tell them the news of their dad's passing, what helped us in our initial mourning period, and I talk about an unexpected loss in that the people closest to us--my in-laws began distancing from my children and I when we needed them most --and how I coped with it all. 

In this episode I pull from over 13 years of experience as a clinical and community health educator and share insights on what stress is, what it means to actually manage/relieve stress and tons of practical tips that you can apply immediately. I also threw in a 10 min. body scan meditation at the end. Enjoy!

Bonus: I have the meditation uploaded separately on YouTube as well.  

In this first podcast episode after my first series, I dive right into helping you achieve your health goals for 2026! We will discuss the ways I have helped countless clients over the past 13.5 years to achieve their health and wellness goals by setting SMART, Mini goals. You got this!

!!!CONTENT WARNING!!! This episode contains vivid detail of being with someone in their final moments dying from cancer. This may be very upsetting content to listen to. Please consult with your therapist or supports if this becomes too upsetting to hear.

This is the 6th and final episode in my premier series where I tell the tale (in great detail) of our family’s experience when my husband, Justin, was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive kidney cancer, his two-year battle fighting cancer, and how we navigated our life with our toddler plus me being pregnant/giving birth during Justin’s battle with cancer.This episode picks up in May/June 2024 and will walk you through the cascade of health events that led to Justin's quick turn for the worst and how we walked through his final 6 weeks of life as a family. Please continue with care. 

This is the fifth episode in my premier series where I tell the tale (in great detail) of our family’s experience when my husband, Justin, was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive kidney cancer, his two-year battle fighting cancer, and how we navigated our life with our toddler plus me being pregnant/giving birth during Justin’s battle with cancer.

This episode picks up in November 2023 after Justin did his 3 month scans. The scans had positive results. This treatment was working. He continued to improve over the next several months so this is a happy times episode. I go through all the fun we accomplished in the next 9 months including a trip with our toddlers to Mexico.

This is the fourth episode in my premier series where I tell the tale (in great detail) of our family’s experience when my husband, Justin, was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive kidney cancer, his two-year battle fighting cancer, and how we navigated our life with our toddler plus me being pregnant/giving birth during Justin’s battle with cancer.

In this episode I share more about our 1st year after cancer diagnosis including our first holiday season after diagnosis, preparing and welcoming in our baby girl, enjoying good times as a family of 4 until about July 2023 when we endured our next major hit from cancer when the second treatment stopped working and the cancer caused several fractures in Justin's spine leading to a slew of other issues and our toughest battle against the cancer beast yet.