From tertiary hospital to rehab facility and nursing home, this is part 1 of a 2-part story, one of the hardest parts of my journey. 

There is always hope. Always. 

Journey of hope, faith and determination. 

 Much love and blessings,
Geri 

Support the show

https://www.HopeBlvd.org - Podcast episodes and more. 

https://www.GeriCarlson.com - Geri's story, About her, the services she provides, and more. To inquire about Geri's counseling or coaching services, go to the Contact page and leave her a message. 

https://Porphyria.org - Geri's type is Variegate Porphyria (VP), a subtype of Acute Hepatic Porphyria (AHP). Geri is an ambassador (advocate) for The United Porphyria Association. She also serves on the UPA's President's Council board. 

Note:  Transcript is lightly edited.

Geri Carlson, MA, MMin 

Journey of hope, faith and determination. 

There is always hope. Always. 

What is your life issue you're dealing with? 

What is Truth? 

"There is nothing more important than Truth." 
- Geri Carlson 

Support the show

https://www.HopeBlvd.org - Podcast episodes and more. 

https://www.GeriCarlson.com - Geri's story, About her, the services she provides, and more. To inquire about Geri's counseling or coaching services, go to the Contact page and leave her a message. 

https://Porphyria.org - Geri's type is Variegate Porphyria (VP), a subtype of Acute Hepatic Porphyria (AHP). Geri is an ambassador (advocate) for The United Porphyria Association. She also serves on the UPA's President's Council board. 

Note:  Transcript is lightly edited.

Geri Carlson, MA, MMin 

Journey of hope, faith and determination. 

There is always hope. Always. 

Thanks for listening, friends! 

[This episode may need to come with a disclaimer. If you're in a fragile place or think you may get triggered by hearing details of my journey in the hospital, feel free to skip this episode, Note: All stories are uplifting in the end.] 

Support the show

https://www.HopeBlvd.org - Podcast episodes and more. 

https://www.GeriCarlson.com - Geri's story, About her, the services she provides, and more. To inquire about Geri's counseling or coaching services, go to the Contact page and leave her a message. 

https://Porphyria.org - Geri's type is Variegate Porphyria (VP), a subtype of Acute Hepatic Porphyria (AHP). Geri is an ambassador (advocate) for The United Porphyria Association. She also serves on the UPA's President's Council board. 

Note:  Transcript is lightly edited.

Geri Carlson, MA, MMin 

Journey of hope, faith, and determination. 

There is always hope. Always. 

In this episode, I provide five things you can do right now when you're overwhelmed, stressed or burdened with various kinds of life's issues. I also offer a quote I often use that helps me stay focused. We can't always control our circumstances, but we do control our response to it. 

Also, how do we know the character of God? Life is hard sometimes, but learning more about God's character can help us persevere. Beauty comes from ashes, as you'll see in this episode. 

Support the show

https://www.HopeBlvd.org - Podcast episodes and more. 

https://www.GeriCarlson.com - Geri's story, About her, the services she provides, and more. To inquire about Geri's counseling or coaching services, go to the Contact page and leave her a message. 

https://Porphyria.org - Geri's type is Variegate Porphyria (VP), a subtype of Acute Hepatic Porphyria (AHP). Geri is an ambassador (advocate) for The United Porphyria Association. She also serves on the UPA's President's Council board. 

Note:  Transcript is lightly edited.

Geri Carlson, MA, MMin 

Keeping our focus is important for moving forward in...life.  In this episode of HOPE BLVD, Geri shares how she kept her focus while paralyzed in the hospital and at home, which also includes her life verse. Geri Carlson is known for sharing her message: There is always hope. Always. 

Join her as she discusses her journey of hope, faith, and determination. And see what her young granddaughter shared with her months before falling ill. 

Romans 15:13 (NKJV) --  "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

Philippians 4:8 (NASB) --  "Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute [admirable], if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things." 

(Also see Philippians 4:6-9) 

Support the show

https://www.HopeBlvd.org - Podcast episodes and more. 

https://www.GeriCarlson.com - Geri's story, About her, the services she provides, and more. To inquire about Geri's counseling or coaching services, go to the Contact page and leave her a message. 

https://Porphyria.org - Geri's type is Variegate Porphyria (VP), a subtype of Acute Hepatic Porphyria (AHP). Geri is an ambassador (advocate) for The United Porphyria Association. She also serves on the UPA's President's Council board. 

Note:  Transcript is lightly edited.

Geri Carlson, MA, MMin 

Recovering from paralysis and surviving porphyria, Geri Carlson shares her message of hope. There is always hope. 

A journey of hope, faith, and determination. 

Givlaari:  https://www.alnylam.com 

Geri's book (2007):  https://IStandAmazed.com 

Support the show

https://www.HopeBlvd.org - Podcast episodes and more. 

https://www.GeriCarlson.com - Geri's story, About her, the services she provides, and more. To inquire about Geri's counseling or coaching services, go to the Contact page and leave her a message. 

https://Porphyria.org - Geri's type is Variegate Porphyria (VP), a subtype of Acute Hepatic Porphyria (AHP). Geri is an ambassador (advocate) for The United Porphyria Association. She also serves on the UPA's President's Council board. 

Note:  Transcript is lightly edited.

Geri Carlson, MA, MMin 

Thanks for listening! 

If you like what you hear, please give a thumbs up. And share!  :) 

The Goodness Of God
CeCe Winans
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y81yIo1_3o8 

Automatic negative thoughts (ANTs) 
Dr. Henry Cloud
Clinical Psychologist & Author 
https://youtu.be/1OwV1rleITg?si=FR88AU79aSoClMts 

Scriptures: 

"...and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."  (Philippians 4:7, NKJV)

"We are destroying arguments and all arrogance raised against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,..."  (2 Corinthians 5:10, NASB).

"...Weeping may endure for a night,
But joy comes in the morning."  (Psalm 30:5, NKJV) 

Support the show

https://www.HopeBlvd.org - Podcast episodes and more. 

https://www.GeriCarlson.com - Geri's story, About her, the services she provides, and more. To inquire about Geri's counseling or coaching services, go to the Contact page and leave her a message. 

https://Porphyria.org - Geri's type is Variegate Porphyria (VP), a subtype of Acute Hepatic Porphyria (AHP). Geri is an ambassador (advocate) for The United Porphyria Association. She also serves on the UPA's President's Council board. 

Note:  Transcript is lightly edited.

Geri Carlson, MA, MMin 

There is always hope. Always.

Persevering through near death and paralysis, preparing my mind for lengthy hospital stays and pain and suffering was vitally important.

Also, my dying orchid seemed to have some strong determination of its own. And my beautiful friend helped me and my orchid move forward.

Talk to God. 

Matthew 7:7  “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you."

Episode 02 

Support the show

https://www.HopeBlvd.org - Podcast episodes and more. 

https://www.GeriCarlson.com - Geri's story, About her, the services she provides, and more. To inquire about Geri's counseling or coaching services, go to the Contact page and leave her a message. 

https://Porphyria.org - Geri's type is Variegate Porphyria (VP), a subtype of Acute Hepatic Porphyria (AHP). Geri is an ambassador (advocate) for The United Porphyria Association. She also serves on the UPA's President's Council board. 

Note:  Transcript is lightly edited.

Geri Carlson, MA, MMin 

I suddenly became paralyzed from the neck down and nobody knew why. I spent 8 months in the hospital. I was a medical mystery. After exhaustive research from a tertiary hospital, I learned I have a genetic rare blood disorder called Porphyria. My type is called Variegate Porphyria, a form of Acute Hepatic Porphyria. Symptoms during an attack for me begin with excruciating abdominal pain, neurological issues and nausea.

I had one setback after another. I was admitted to ICU multiple times, with near-death experiences. I was told there was no hope. My family was told to prepare to say goodbye to me. I couldn't be more grateful for them and their unyielding love and support! They were finally able to bring me home.

I was paralyzed for nearly a year and had to relearn everything all over again. I still have some residual issues, but I remain determined.

Life is hard for all of us sometimes. As my journey unfolds, I'm sharing my story, discussing how I continued to persevere, and to show that there is always hope.

Support the show

https://www.HopeBlvd.org - Podcast episodes and more. 

https://www.GeriCarlson.com - Geri's story, About her, the services she provides, and more. To inquire about Geri's counseling or coaching services, go to the Contact page and leave her a message. 

https://Porphyria.org - Geri's type is Variegate Porphyria (VP), a subtype of Acute Hepatic Porphyria (AHP). Geri is an ambassador (advocate) for The United Porphyria Association. She also serves on the UPA's President's Council board. 

Note:  Transcript is lightly edited.

Geri Carlson, MA, MMin