As a wellness coach, educator, and parent of two wonderful children, I understand firsthand how difficult it can be to prioritize your health while balancing the demands of everyday life. My passion for wellness was shaped through both personal experience and my background in education and public health.
About six years ago, I found myself driving to the emergency room with intense chest pain, heart palpitations, and uncontrollable chills. After several hours of testing, I was discharged with normal lab work and an unremarkable EKG. I was simply told to follow up with my primary care physician because there was nothing more the emergency room could do.
But I knew something wasn't right.
These weren't normal symptoms for a healthy 30-year-old woman.
As time went on, those frightening episodes became more frequent. I experienced countless sleepless nights wondering what was happening to my body, and at one point, I even began fainting during these episodes, which bled into my classroom. Each new symptom left me with more questions than answers.
Over the next several years, I visited countless doctors, searched for answers, and immersed myself in research. Along the way, I also began connecting the dots between my current health struggles and experiences from earlier in life, realizing that health is often influenced by far more than what we're experiencing today.
Eventually, I was diagnosed with Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS).
While receiving those diagnoses was overwhelming, it also brought hope. For the first time, I had direction. I finally understood what my body was struggling with, and I could begin focusing on supporting it rather than simply chasing symptoms.
Although conventional treatment options were available, I chose a different path. I respectfully declined long-term pharmaceutical management and committed to addressing the lifestyle factors within my control. While MCAS and POTS currently have no known cure, I continue working toward remission by supporting my body's natural resilience through nutrition, stress management, sleep, movement, and other foundational wellness practices.
That journey transformed the way I view health.
Today, you'll often find me in the gym lifting weights, on the mats practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (a playful white belt), chasing after my two children, or continuing to expand my knowledge of functional wellness.
I still experience stressful seasons—because life doesn't stop—but I've learned how to support my body instead of constantly fighting against it. While my journey isn't over, it has shown me that our bodies are remarkably resilient when we consistently build strong foundations.
I believe that if I can improve just 1% each day, those small changes eventually lead to extraordinary transformation. That mindset is at the heart of everything I do at Rootera Wellness.
I earned my Master's Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, where I focused on integrating Public Health and Education with an emphasis on childhood obesity. Much of my undergraduate coursework also centered on pre-nursing sciences, giving me a strong foundation in human physiology and the powerful relationship between nutrition, lifestyle, and overall health.
As both a public and private school educator, I saw many families struggling with the same challenges I experienced—trying to improve their health while feeling overwhelmed by conflicting information and unrealistic expectations.
I realized that lasting wellness doesn't come from quick fixes or chasing the latest health trend. It comes from building a strong foundation through consistent, sustainable habits.
Today, I am a Functional Diagnostic Nutrition® (FDN) Practitioner, which allows me to help clients identify hidden stressors and restore balance through a holistic, root-cause approach to wellness.
That vision inspired me to create Rootera Wellness.
Rootera Wellness exists to help individuals and families build healthier lives through practical, sustainable lifestyle changes rooted in education, encouragement, and personalized support. Whether you're looking to improve your nutrition, restore healthy habits, or take a deeper dive into functional wellness, my goal is to help you create lasting change—one step at a time.
Because true wellness isn't about perfection. It's about building a strong foundation that allows your body to thrive.
