Celebrating Joy in the Ordinary

The Story Behind The Joy Journal

In November of 2023, my health started to unravel. I battled an array of symptoms that did not make any sense. I devoted the next chapter of my life to understanding my symptoms, doctors appointments, and reclaiming my health.

For about a year, I was able to keep my symptoms at bay with holistic remedies, and I became passionate about using natural medicine. I went from being nearly bedridden in 2023 to walking ten miles a day (on vacation) in the summer of 2025. However, this past July, horrible migraines set in. These migraines persisted for four weeks without any relief.

The Diagnosis That Led to Healing

When symptoms like double vision, vertigo, nausea, and numbness appeared, I went to the emergency room. The double vision gave the doctors a scare, and they quickly took me for a CT scan. I assumed that I would soon leave the ER with migraine and nausea medication. To my surprise, I was diagnosed with a benign brain tumor and cyst. You can imagine the shock surrounding this diagnosis.

The CT scan also revealed that I had swelling and spinal fluid in my brain, so I was admitted to the ICU. On August 12, 2025, three days after diagnosis, I underwent a Suboccipital Craniotomy. The procedure was successful, and both cyst and tumor were removed! Pathology reports later confirmed that my tumor was not cancerous.

Turning Pain into Purpose

My diagnosis was traumatic and unexpected, but I finally understood what had been happening inside my body. I had been (unknowingly) navigating the symptoms of a brain tumor for years. Throughout this chapter, I hoped that the pain I lived through could someday be used for something meaningful, and I chose to believe that my health would return.

Long before doctors discovered my tumor, I dreamed of creating a platform to support other people's health journeys. Believing that my story could serve a greater purpose gave me a reason to fight every day for my health. The day I was diagnosed with a brain tumor, I knew I could not wait any longer to start The Joyful Ordinary.

To be on the other side of this journey is something I will never take for granted. It is something I have fought for—for so long. My intention for this platform is to share the practices that have helped me heal and nourish my body, before and after diagnosis. I hope it inspires you to do the same. <3