Healthy & Whole with Nicole

Stress took my hair🧑‍🦲, but it gave me something invaluable in return. Let me show you what I learned.

As a 2x cancer survivor who recently faced cardiac arrest this March,❤️‍🩹 I’ve learned a thing or two about stress. And let me tell you, this cardiac event? It has been THE MOST DIFFICULT challenge of my life (and for Dave as a caregiver too)…more so than both rounds of cancer, if you can believe it!

The hair loss you might notice?🧑‍🦲It’s not from chemo (thankfully, I’ve been in remission since my last treatment in April 2023). Nope, it’s from the INTENSE stress after my cardiac arrest. Talk about a wake-up call!

But here’s the silver lining 🩶: I had this “aha” moment. I’ve realized that cancer happened FOR me, not TO me. It showed me how to be resilient, find balance, and just how crucial daily routines are for keeping stress in check.

Now, I’m on a mission to share what I’ve learned. Because let’s face it, keeping up with a healthy lifestyle when you’re always on the go is HARD.

That’s why I’ve created the 5-Day Stress Less Routines Reboot Challenge, and it’s kicking off in my Facebook group on Monday, July 22.

For five days, we’re going to focus on YOU. I’ll show you practical, easy-to-implement habits that can fit into even the busiest of schedules. These are the exact strategies that are helping me find more balance and manage stress, and now I’m excited to share them with you!

And I won’t just be cheering you on from the sidelines - I’ll be right there with you, taking part in the challenge too. Together, we’ll work towards finding that sweet spot of balance and stress relief we all deserve.🥰

Ready to join me? The 5-Day Stress Less Routines Reboot Challenge is open for enrollment. Just comment or DM me STRESSLESS, and I’ll send you the link to sign up. Let’s do this together!

It’s hard to believe it’s been two months since my last update! Many of you have reached out for news, so here it is.👇

For those who missed my last update, I went into cardiac arrest on 3/22, requiring CPR and a ventilator for two days. The past weeks have been challenging, but I’ve been steadily recovering at home since 4/30.

My strength has significantly improved 💪. I can now walk short distances, though I still need a wheelchair for longer trips. My independence is gradually returning, which is a huge relief.

Currently, I’m managing Graft vs. Host Disease (GVHD), where my body is reacting to the donated stem cells. This has caused various symptoms, including dry skin, rashes, mouth sores, and blurred vision. To manage these, I’m on a strict regimen of steroids, anti-rejection medications, and blood thinners, while monitoring my sodium, sugar, and Vitamin K intake.

On the bright side, my heart has almost fully recovered, now operating at 50% (with the avg person being 55-70%), and my kidney function has also recovered. 🙌

My current focus is on rebuilding my strength through walking and movement, improving my nutrition, and managing stress. Each day involves physical therapy, a monitored diet, and relaxation techniques to keep my stress in check.

We have many reasons to celebrate 🎉 and are moving in the right direction. Thank you for your continued support, thoughts, and messages. They mean the world to us and keep us going! 🫶

Hello Facebook fam! Yesterday was my 43rd birthday 🥳 I wish I had a better birthday story to share with you, but instead it’s time for an important health update. I’m back in the hospital due to dangerously low blood sugar levels. But the story doesn’t begin there.

On 4/11 I should have been celebrating my one-year anniversary of my 2nd stem-cell transplant. Instead I’m going through yet another health challenge.

On Friday 3/22, we went to the ER as I was unable to breathe. They immediately got me into a room as my oxygen level was extremely dangerously low.

They tried multiple breathing devices that wouldn’t work. I went into cardiac arrest and they had to perform CPR on me 3 separate times (9 min).

I was then placed on a ventilator for 2 days which was the worst thing I’ve ever experienced. I basically felt like I was being choked for 2 days!

I was in the ICU for 1 week and was quickly (too quickly) discharged home on Saturday 3/30. They had thought I’d be walking by now after that incident, but I’ve remained extremely weak and fatigued and unable to do anything on my own.

I’ve been extremely lucky to have Dave home with me during this time…he’s been doing absolutely EVERYTHING!!

Hydration and nutrition have been a major challenge as I’m on a very strict cardiac diet which is low sodium and low sugar, which means I can’t have any outside food because of the sodium/sugar content. But I’m also supposed to watch my liquid intake because my body has been retaining fluids. Trying to find the right balance has been extremely challenging and just makes healing even more difficult.

During my time at home between hospital stays, we also were working with home health care and had physical therapy, occupational therapy, lab draws, and nurses who were all coming to our home to help.

But like I said I’m now back in the hospital which is exactly where I need to be, getting around the clock care. Not sure how long I’m in for.

Sorry to drop such a heavy bomb on you like this, but I felt like an honest update was needed. I really don’t have a lot of definitive answers as to what exactly happened but I’m sure things will begin to unfold with time.

If you're an ambitious, career-focused woman, you know that your professional success can sometimes come at the expense of your personal well-being.

You're caught in a never-ending cycle of juggling work deadlines, family responsibilities, and endless to-dos, leaving you stressed and overwhelmed.

Feeling like you're always on, always running to catch up, but somehow, self-care and 'me time' just don't make it onto the to-do list.

You often tell yourself, "I'll focus on my health someday," but that day never seems to come, does it? It's a cycle fueled by a lack of time, energy, and motivation, and breaking free feels nearly impossible, leading to eventually giving up on your wellness goals altogether.

But what if there's a way to break the cycle? A way to reclaim your time, reignite your motivation, and restore balance to your life?

My experience led me to the significant realization that proper planning, mastering your mindset, and building a solid support system are not just the keys but the transformative steps to overcoming stress, elevating your health, and achieving work-life harmony. Let’s dive into the 3 elements. ➡️

That’s exactly the vibe we’re going for in our new FREE Community Facebook Group: Balanced Work/Life Wellness for Women. 💖

It’s a place I’ve created for us busy professionals to talk wellness, self-care, and balancing our ambitious professional lives with that much-needed personal downtime.

And joining is totally free. So, take a sec to head to the link in my bio. I’m super excited to welcome you into our little corner of the internet where we can unwind, share, and support each other in all things wellness and career. Can’t wait to see you there!

You know how important it is to surround yourself with the right kind of women? The ones who get your struggles, celebrate your wins, and remind you to take a breath and care for yourself?

That’s exactly the vibe we’re going for in our new FREE Community Facebook Group: Balanced Work/Life Wellness for Women. 💖

It’s a place I’ve created for us busy professionals to talk wellness, self-care, and balancing our ambitious professional lives with that much-needed personal downtime.

And joining is totally free. So, take a sec to head to the link in my bio. I’m super excited to welcome you into our little corner of the internet where we can unwind, share, and support each other in all things wellness and career. Can’t wait to see you there!