09/02/2024
When I announced I would be stepping back this year to focus on my health I thought I would be focusing on beating and managing just one health crisis: LUPUS. But when things actually started to get worse after January instead of getting better, my care team started pushing for more answers. For any of you who have ever seen (or read) "Brain on Fire" by , you are familiar with the famous Dr. Najjar who essentially saves her life. In my search for doctors capable of diagnosing and treating rare, a-typical manifestations of certain illnesses, my medical files were sent all over- including Dr. Najjar. While he is not part of my current care team, I remember watching that movie and being told by the person watching it with me, " Wow, Bekah, Susannah is basically you." π
While I don't share Susannah's diagnosis, I have been finally diagnosed with Chronic Lyme, Babesiosis, Bartonellosis, and Fibromyalgia through the help of excellent physicians.
Let me be your personal PSA for tick-borne illnesses and the poster-child for how they often go misdiagnosed and untreated for years- even decades. The damage these illnesses have on personal, professional, and basically every aspect of your life is devastating - I know, I've lived it for nearly 14 years.
I owe my physical rehabilitation to amazing coaches like those at . is for all ages. Every person has a story behind their journey. We celebrate the journey, the grind, the effort, the challenges, the dedication, and sometimes just the simple fact that we managed to show up to the gym when we absolutely didn't want to. We show up for each other.
So, being able to volunteer with in Ft. Worth, TX, and now here in Birmingham, Alabama, for the Masters has been wonderful on so many levels. I've met so many incredible humans from around the planet.
Your girl may have been down, but she ain't out. I'll be looking to share more of my travels, projects, bakes, recipes from the books I've been working on, and foodie finds with you. I've missed you, my Hive fam. Here's to reconnecting π