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In this returning episode of Beyond My Diagnosis, Michele welcomes back Carolee Horner, functional nutritionist and health coach who specializes in working with people living with Parkinson’s disease and their care partners.

When Carolee first joined the show, the conversation focused on Parkinson’s as a whole body condition, the importance of gut and brain health, and why caregivers and care partners are essential to quality of life. This episode builds on that foundation and goes deeper into what it truly means to live well with Parkinson’s over the long term.

Michele and Carolee explore how Parkinson’s is not a single disease with a single solution, but a highly individual condition that requires curiosity, experimentation, and ongoing self advocacy. They discuss why medication alone is not enough, how environmental toxins play a role, and why lifestyle choices can dramatically influence progression and symptom burden.

In this episode, we discuss:
• Why Parkinson’s presents differently in every person
• The role of environmental toxins and gut health
• Why exercise is the most effective treatment for Parkinson’s
• How movement supports brain and body connection
• Why caregivers are better described as care partners
• How nutrition impacts fatigue, anxiety, constipation, and brain fog
• The importance of stress reduction and sleep in neurological health
• Why small changes lead to meaningful progress
• How coaching helps people implement changes that stick
• Why a diagnosis is not a death sentence, but a wake up call

This conversation is practical, hopeful, and deeply empowering for anyone living with Parkinson’s, supporting someone who is, or navigating any chronic neurological condition.

About Carolee:
Carolee Horner is a functional nutritionist and board-certified health and wellness coach who works with people living with Parkinson’s disease and their care partners. She focuses on gut and brain health strategies that support the whole family and help slow symptom progression using integrative, realistic approaches.

Carolee’s Links:
🌐 http://www.nutritionforpd.com
📘 https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095318119061

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In this returning episode of Beyond the Diagnosis, Michele welcomes back Loretta Donovan, leadership coach and healthcare strategist, for a deeper conversation on physical therapy as a powerful and often underutilized tool for chronic wellness.

In her previous appearance, Loretta and Michele explored the role mindset, personal responsibility, and proactive engagement play in shaping health outcomes. That conversation centered on the idea that while doctors treat disease, patients must actively participate in their own well-being. This episode builds directly on that foundation.

Together, they focus on physical therapy not just as a short term solution after injury or surgery, but as a long term strategy for maintaining strength, mobility, independence, and quality of life, especially for people living with chronic conditions.

In this conversation, Michele and Loretta discuss:

• Why physical therapy is valuable even without a recent injury
• How aging naturally changes muscle tone, balance, and mobility
• The role of physical therapy in managing chronic illness
• How surgery, accidents, and long term conditions affect the body over time
• Why home based exercises are just as important as clinical sessions
• The emotional and mental health benefits of staying physically active
• How physical therapy supports independence, dignity, and daily function
• Why patients must take an active role in their care to improve outcomes

This episode offers practical insight, relatable examples, and empowering reminders that movement, strength, and intentional self care are essential at every stage of life. Whether you are navigating chronic illness, recovering from surgery, or simply aging, this conversation reframes physical therapy as a foundational wellness practice rather than a last resort.

About Loretta:
Loretta Donovan is the President of iAttain and a Professional Fellow with the Institute of Coaching at McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School. She is a former Chief Learning Officer in healthcare and an educator who has guided leaders and clinicians for more than a decade. As a patient, mother, caregiver, and lifelong learner, Loretta brings deep empathy and perspective to conversations about healing, mindset, and resilience.

Loretta’s Links:
🌐 iAttain: https://about.me/iAttain
🌐 Appreciative Inquiry Consulting: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/48345/
🌐 ReInvive Coaching & Leadership: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13322073/

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In this episode of Beyond My Diagnosis, I’m joined by Emily Terrani, Director of Membership and Community Engagement at the Institute of Coaching and founder of Mind Growth Lab, for an honest conversation about living with an invisible chronic condition and building a life that supports well being.

Emily shares her experience being diagnosed with scoliosis at a young age and how chronic pain has shaped her approach to wellness, movement, and emotional health. We talk about the realities of managing pain that others cannot see, the emotional toll of long term discomfort, and why listening to your body matters more than following rigid rules.

This conversation also explores burnout, resilience, and how coaching tools can help people tolerate discomfort, make intentional choices, and care for their future selves.

In this episode, you will learn:
• What it is like to live with scoliosis and chronic pain from childhood
• Why invisible conditions are often misunderstood
• How stress and emotions can amplify physical pain
• Why consistency matters more than perfection in self care
• How small, sustainable habits support long term wellness
• The connection between mental health, physical pain, and burnout
• How coaching helps people tolerate discomfort and make change
• Why honoring your body is not the same as giving up

About Emily:
Emily Terrani is a coaching leader, researcher, and founder of Mind Growth Lab. Her work focuses on burnout, resilience, and helping people build well being across mental, emotional, and physical domains. She brings both professional expertise and lived experience to conversations about chronic conditions and quality of life.

Emily’s Links:
https://www.mind-growth-lab.com/
https://www.facebook.com/people/Mind-Growth-Lab/100095793840827/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-terrani-b8334034/
https://www.instagram.com/mind_growth_lab/reel/DDujneipUQQ/
https://www.tiktok.com/@mind_growth_lab
https://www.youtube.com/@Mind_Growth_Lab

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In this episode of Beyond My Diagnosis, I sit down with Dr. Frank Lalezar, a board-certified plastic surgeon who specializes in post-bariatric reconstructive surgery for people who have lost a significant amount of weight.

We talk openly about what happens after the scale stops moving, when excess skin, discomfort, rashes, and mobility issues remain despite incredible health improvements. Dr. Lalezar explains why reconstructive surgery is not about vanity, but about quality of life, function, confidence, and completing the journey people begin when they commit to bariatric surgery.

Drawing from my own experience losing 140 pounds, we discuss the emotional side of letting go of the body you once had, the importance of trust between patient and surgeon, and why this phase of care deserves just as much thought and intention as weight loss itself.

In this episode, you will learn:
• Why post-bariatric reconstruction is considered reconstructive, not cosmetic
• What a panniculectomy is and why it is often the first procedure patients choose
• How excess skin contributes to pain, rashes, infections, and mobility issues
• Why proportion and balance matter more than size
• The difference between lifts, reductions, and body contouring procedures
• How muscle repair and core strengthening factor into surgical outcomes
• Why compression garments are essential for healing and pain reduction
• How lifestyle habits affect long-term surgical results
• Why insurance may cover post-bariatric reconstructive surgery
• How to choose a surgeon you trust for such an intimate process

About Dr. Lalezar:
Dr. Frank Lalezar is a board-certified plastic surgeon in New York City who focuses on post-bariatric body contouring and breast reduction surgery, including procedures performed through insurance. His work helps patients complete their transformation after massive weight loss by restoring comfort, function, and confidence.

Learn more about Dr. Lalezar:
http://www.drlalezar.com
https://www.nybreastreduction.com
Instagram: @drfranklalezar
Instagram: @NYBreastReduction

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In this episode of Beyond My Diagnosis, I sit down with Catherine Chadwick, registered nurse, transformational life coach, and creator of The Art of Self Craftsmanship, for a deeply thoughtful conversation about responsibility, language, emotional intelligence, and what it truly means to live well with a chronic condition.

Catherine and I explore the idea that doctors treat medicine, but you are responsible for your life. We talk about how language shapes identity, why emotional awareness matters, and how curiosity can replace judgment when navigating health challenges.

This episode is an invitation to become a collaborative partner in your care, rather than handing your power away.

In this episode, you will learn:
• Why your life is your responsibility, even when managing illness
• How language impacts self-confidence and healing
• The difference between problems and challenges
• Why emotional intelligence matters in healthcare and leadership
• How curiosity helps interrupt negative thought loops
• What presence really means in daily life
• Why neuroplasticity gives hope at any age
• How to reframe limitations without denying reality

About Catherine:
Catherine Chadwick, BSN, RN, CLNC, NYCAPP, CLMC is a registered nurse, life mastery consultant, and applied positive psychology practitioner. She teaches people how to become more self-aware, emotionally intelligent, and empowered through predictable, repeatable systems for success and well-being.

Learn more about Catherine’s work here:
https://theartofselfcraftsmanship.org/

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In this episode of Beyond My Diagnosis, I welcome back Carolee Horner, functional nutritionist and health coach, to talk about Parkinson’s disease, gut health, inflammation, and how small, realistic nutrition changes can dramatically improve quality of life for both patients and caregivers.

Carolee shares why Parkinson’s found her, not the other way around, and how working with the Parkinson’s community shifted her perspective on neurological conditions, nutrition, and healing. We explore the powerful connection between the gut and the brain, why constipation is often an early symptom of Parkinson’s, and how food can either support or challenge the nervous system.

This conversation is practical, compassionate, and empowering, especially for anyone feeling overwhelmed by a diagnosis or unsure where to begin.

In this episode, you will learn:
• Why nutrition plays a critical role in Parkinson’s disease management
• How gut health and brain health are deeply connected
• What inflammation and oxidative stress mean for neurological conditions
• Why constipation is one of the most overlooked Parkinson’s symptoms
• How processed foods impact the nervous system
• The truth about protein, levodopa, and common nutrition myths
• Why small, sustainable changes work better than strict diets
• How caregivers and families can eat together without isolation

About Carolee:
Carolee Horner is a functional nutritionist and board-certified health and wellness coach who works with people living with Parkinson’s disease and their care partners. She focuses on gut and brain health strategies that support the whole family and help slow symptom progression using integrative, realistic approaches.

Carolee’s Links:
🌐 http://www.nutritionforpd.com
📘 https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095318119061

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In this episode of Beyond My Diagnosis, I sit down with Susan York, a seasoned healthcare and automotive consultant whose decades of experience inform her life’s newest chapter: supporting women leaders in discovering their voice, clarifying their vision, and translating intention into action.

Susan shares her journey through leadership, caregiving, reinvention, and the emotional and spiritual work of choosing a future aligned with personal truth. We explore the role of intuition, healing, resilience, and what it means to pivot later in life with courage and clarity.

Our conversation is thoughtful, tender, and rich with insight about the inner work required when healing intersects with personal growth.

In this episode, you will learn:
• How Susan shifted from decades of consulting to guiding women toward their personal vision
• Why alignment matters more than achievement in the next chapter of life
• How caregiving and life disruptions reshape identity and intention
• What it means to listen to your inner knowing when navigating transition
• Why women often silence their desires and how to reclaim them
• How quarterly women’s workshops help participants turn intention into real change
• The importance of community when rewriting your story

About Susan:
With more than three decades of consulting across healthcare, dentistry, and automotive leadership, Susan York now focuses on empowering women to move from intention to inspired action. She leads FutureWalk Network, a platform dedicated to vision-based workshops for women seeking clarity and momentum in their personal and professional lives.

Susan’s Link:
🔗 http://futurewalknetwork.com

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In this episode of Beyond My Diagnosis, I sit down with Anne M. Llewellyn, nurse leader, patient advocate, writer, and creator of Nurse Advocate. Anne brings more than forty years of clinical experience and a deeply personal journey through central nervous system lymphoma, brain tumor treatment, and rehabilitation.

We talk about the emotional shock of hearing “you have a brain tumor,” the critical role advocates play when patients cannot think clearly, and the importance of strong communication inside a healthcare system that is often chaotic and overwhelming. Anne generously shares what she learned working as a risk manager, why hospitals can be dangerous without proper oversight, and how patients and families can stay safer by asking questions, documenting care, and understanding care transitions.

This conversation is honest, powerful, and grounded in both professional expertise and lived experience.

In this episode, you will learn:
• How to advocate for yourself or a loved one when facing a serious diagnosis
• Why hospitals can be high-risk systems without informed patients and caregivers
• What Anne learned as a risk manager reviewing medical errors
• How she survived a central nervous system lymphoma diagnosis
• Why caregivers are essential when patients cannot comprehend care plans
• The importance of community, documentation, and speaking up
• What patients need most but rarely receive

About Anne:
Anne Llewellyn is a registered nurse, case manager, educator, and patient advocate. She is the founder of Nurse Advocate, where she supports patients and caregivers with education, resources, and insights learned from both her clinical and personal experiences. She lives in South Florida and continues to write, speak, and educate about patient safety, advocacy, and healthcare navigation.

Anne’s Links:
🌐 Website: https://nursesadvocates.com/
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nursingadvocates/