Thriving Through COVID-19: Our Story of Healing

In May of 2020 COVID-19 infected our family. It moved its way into our house and I sat frozen. I sat frozen from the time that we learned about COVID-19 coming to the United States. I sat frozen not knowing what to expect. What would happen if it actually came into our home? My husband with his diabetes? Me and my daughters all have auto-immune diseases. Our whole family has a compromised immune system. Along with the unknowns, the news from social media and the press fed my greatest fears. Honestly I started to wonder what would happen if I became a single parent, or what would happen if I left my family because of COVID-19.

We isolated and rarely left the house for over seven weeks and then I watched my husband, the one I love dearest, grow exhausted and eventually stop eating. Something was not right. Thursday before Mother’s Day I felt the urge to have him tested. My mind told me it was his blood sugar and blood pressure causing the issues but, my soul urged me to have him tested for COVID-19. I reached out to one of my closest friends and mentors who was another functional medicine practitioner as well. She suggested going to the free testing center in our county and we proceeded to try to schedule an appointment. They only saw 500 people a day; only right? After three failed days I wondered if God was telling us not to test for COVID-19 and yet deep in my heart, I knew that we must get the test.

On Mother’s Day we called our local hospital and they added his name to the list. At 12 pm on Mother’s Day he drove himself for a PCR test. I prayed deeply that he would survive the trip with his exhaustion and fatigue. On Monday evening, my phone rang. I didn’t know the number but I picked it up anyway and it was the Infectious Disease Department of Cook County informing us of a positive COVID result. My fear was now a reality. We began to scrub our home. Cleaning door knobs, light switches, windowsills, floors, couches, blankets and more. For two hours straight we disinfected and we banished our protector and provider to live in the basement.

Tuesday I woke up and immediately called my mentor and asked what she would do. She connected me to the greatest doctor we could have had. We were on the phone later that day with an immediate plan, a way forward, our own journey to health. We were being overnighted supplements and nutraceuticals. I then called a friend of mine who lives with a chronic condition and asked if she had any extra bone broth. It was delivered to our door that night. Our healing had begun. A day and a half after starting the protocol, the recovery was noticeable and he was back to work.

After all the stress and confusion, our story had a happy ending. I share with you how we brought healing to our home during COVID-19, and I encourage you to find a functional medicine doctor or practitioner to guide your family too. For you to do the research to truly understand the virus and not live in fear. And most importantly, to listen to what your gut is telling you at all times.

Our path to health:

Starting in February our family increased our vitamin intake. I removed most of the processed food, including gluten-free items, from our home and increased our produce box order from 1 to 4 boxes a week. We ensured we had vitamin D3, Zinc, Liposomal Vitamin C every day. I began to make bone broth again and include in our meals when making supper for the family. I put Lillie and myself on daily collagen and colostrum for our gut health. I mixed up vinegar and essential oil spray bottles for misting the furniture and door handles at home. We were regularly diffusing clove and lemon oils in our home and adding oregano to our foot bottoms. These oils helped bolster our immune systems. Especially our innate immune system which can stop the virus from taking residency in your body. Personally, I also started a regimen of hot baths to induce a sauna-like sweat 4 times a week and used a neti pot to rinse my nose out regularly. We continued to eat our gluten free, limited dairy diet while increasing our veggie intake.

Once the virus was confirmed our protocol included aggressive dosages of:

Vitamin D3 with K2
Glutathione
Vitamin A
Zinc
Vitamin C
Probiotics
NAC
Magnesium Glycinate
Hydration Electrolyte Powder

Breakfast started with lemon water and bone broth, followed by raw juice or smoothies. We ate veggies as a base for lunch and a regular meal for supper with limited grain and extra veggies. We increased our time outside up to 8 hours a day. I even set up our camping kitchen in the garage to encourage our family to stay outside in the sun. This brought open air, grounding from the bare feet and naturally produced vitamin D3 from the sun light.

I am also grateful for Dr. Tom O’Bryan’s YouTube series “Coffee with Dr. Tom” which reinforced my decisions and our journey to health. His most recent Episode 13, has diminished any fear that remained. I am ready to return to me. Ready to return to helping others have a life and a body they love, ready to help others boost their immune system and ready to help eliminate the fear of COVID-19.

These are the resources we used:

Link to Full Scripts – https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/thriveclean

Link to Just Thrive Probiotic – https://justthrivehealth.com/

Link to our NA Chicago Bone Broth Recipe – https://www.nachicago.com/2020/01/31/295299/beneficial-bone-and-mineral-broths

Link to YouTube Coffee with Dr. Tom Series – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzlefeGh3JA-Nm0jtf9iYoQ

Link to Tiffany’s YouTube video on Vitamin D3 – https://youtu.be/CAMCW6CE0NE

Link to coaching with Tiffany – https://gfmomcertified.com/product-category/coaching/

Link to UltaLabs Covid Test – https://www.ultalabtests.com/thriveclean/Shop/Items/Item/COVID-19-Antibody-IgG-Immunoassay?q=Mg%3D%3D