Jenny is a nurse who has worked in the emergency room and for the last 30 years worked in hospice. Jenny shares the harsh realities of how difficult it can be, not only physically, but also emotionally. She shares it's important to remember that in hospice care, you are doing your best to make the patients feel comfortable.

Jenny's website: jennylytle.com

Fitz Koehler is returning to the podcast!! You may remember Fitz from "A Remarkable Cancer Story and Fitness Advice with Fitz" from March 2023 on The Light of Life! Fitz returns to share what her life is like currently and how to improve your quality of life.

Fitz's website: fitzness.com

John has a son with nonverbal autism. John shares the challenges there are to take care of one with a serious disability. His advice is to seek out support and community to connect with people you can relate to. John shares this has helped him and his family a lot.

John's website: johnfela.com

Chad went through a turbulent time when his liver failed due to multiple chronic illnesses. He shares how difficult it was to wait while on the transplant list because his doctors said he could go at any day. Facing death, Chad realized how precious life is and to not dwell or fear death, since it is inevitable for everybody.

You can find Chad's book, "Beyond the Darkness" on Amazon.

Michael is returning to the podcast!! You may remember Michael from "Pectus Excavatum" back in May last year. Today, he is discussing another story. Michael had the first symptoms of appendicitis right before he was going to perform an operation on a dog. (Michael is a veterinarian.) He was in a lot of pain and informed his boss. His boss said, "You need to go to the emergency room. I guarantee you that is appendicitis." Michael is eternally grateful - if he did not leave work when he did he could've died. Michael also discusses the agony and frustration it indeed is when you wait for your emergency surgery for 13 HOURS.

Abby struggled for seven years with an eating disorder in her teens. She mentions a lot of factors played into her disorder, including not having the greatest home life, having a tense relationship with her father, and being diagnosed with a medical condition that made her need to temporarily control her diet. Abby mentions a lot of cases revolve around feeling the need to control something in the person's life, and most of the time, it ends up being food. Abby also bravely shares how body dysmorphia can make it hard for someone to be willing to recover. She says her advice is to put sticky notes on mirrors telling yourself you are worthy no matter what.

"Schizophrenia is quite possibly the most misunderstood mental illness ever." - Dale Walsh

Today's guest is Dale, who is 100% recovered from Schizophrenia. He discusses how it's not just hallucinations - there's also delusions. Nothing particularly causes it, and most people don't make it to 50 years old, much less 50 years in recovery - which Dale is.

Dale bravely shares he was found incompetent and forced to get help. Deep in his delusions, he could not convince himself why he needed help. Eventually, 20 years later, after 10 hospitalizations and taken involuntary to psych wards, he wanted to recover on his own.

Dale's advice to people who know someone with Schizophrenia - Be patient with them. It's hard to understand. Dale's advice to those struggling - take your medications.

Thank you so much Dale, this was incredibly eye opening.

Daniel discusses various topics about biology and how to live a healthy life. He also brings awareness to medicine and technology improving lives as it is being advanced every day.

Lauren was only 10 years old when she was rushed to the emergency room after complaining of not feeling well and having difficulty breathing. It was discovered her kidneys shut down and her lungs were filling with blood. Her lungs managed to be saved but her kidneys could not. Lauren was put on the list for a kidney transplant. Endless appointments, blood draws, and scans. In May 2015, she got the call. A pair of kidneys were being airlifted to her local hospital just for her. She is grateful to have had a smooth recovery and no rejection. Lauren shares although it was so long ago, she still needs to manage her kidneys every day with blood draws and medications.

WARNING: **This episode contains details of violence.**

Imagine being 13 years old and having to call the police on one of your parents. Erik came from a broken home and called the police on his stepfather because he was hitting his mother. Years later, Erik spiraled into a drug addiction that nearly took his life. He learned along the way, your past doesn't define and you can turn your life around. Erik is living proof you can turn your life around!