EP.30 - Melissa Johnston - "Be Gentle With Yourself"

In this deeply personal episode, we sit down with a remarkable guest, Melissa Johnston, who shares her courageous journey of being diagnosed with Colitis and the transformative lessons she learned along the way. Melissa, like all our guests, shares a story about strength, empowerment and healing.  Join us as she opens up about the importance of self-advocacy and the heartbreaking experiences she faced as a new mother.Melissa’s story begins with the life-altering diagnosis of Colitis, a chronic inflammatory bowel disease. Through her raw and honest account, she highlights the significance of being proactive and staying on top of her health, emphasizing the critical role of self-advocacy in the face of a challenging healthcare system.As a new mother, Melissa experienced the profound grief and loss of not being able to fully immerse herself in the joy and bonding of first-time parenthood. In and out of hospitals during her child's first year, she navigated the complexities of managing her condition while juggling the demands of motherhood with her loving, and supportive husband. Despite the hardships, Melissa radiates gratitude for being here, cherishing the gift of life even as she carries an ostomy bag. Her determination to not let her circumstances define her, fuels her desire to show up fully, embracing every moment, including wearing a bikini at the beach.Throughout this powerful episode, Melissa offers invaluable insights on resilience, self-advocacy, and finding strength in the face of adversity. Her story serves as a source of inspiration and hope for those navigating similar challenges within our health care system. Join us on this compelling journey as we explore the triumphs, heartaches, and ultimate resilience of our guest. Socials:Instagram@melissaraecreative@smellmel06Support the showIf you like what you hear please click on "subscribe" or "follow" -  It's free and you will get notified when the newest episodes are posted!  Check us out on Instagram, X, and YouTube @mfupodcast. Give feedback, middle finger recommendations as well as random thoughts to [email protected]. Thank you for listening!In the spirit of reconciliation, we acknowledge that we live, work and play on the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Kainai, Piikani), the Tsuut’ina, the Îyâxe Nakoda Nations, the Métis Nation (Region 3), and all people who make their homes in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta.