So It Begins
This has been a long time coming. I would say that I’m surprised that it took so long for us to make this happen - especially since it’s been percolating in our heads for years. But I also know that I’m not very good at asking for help. Ask my parents. Even now, I feel this responsibility to provide content or value to anyone supporting us when no one has asked for it. Sure, some people may want it or even need it. But those that know Shaina know that she may be the person MOST deserving of this help.
Shaina is the type of person that lights up any room that she enters - even virtually. Her infectious smile and confident stride (even in a wheelchair) turns heads. I could tell you how beautiful she is but I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves and I can’t really take credit for that, even though I’ve tried. People gravitate to her. Even if she tries to find some corner at a party to just chill out in, people find their way to her and tell her everything. I mean everything! They must know how trustworthy and understanding she is. I know she makes me feel like the only person in the room sometimes and I know she does that for other people too. Babies smile at her at the grocery stores and little kids attach themselves to her. She doesn’t ask for any of it but we have come to understand why. I don’t know if it’s the law of attraction or any of that but we know that where Shaina goes a crowd will follow. Just watch what happens when we pull into a business or restaurant.
A quick selfie at our friend’s Mardi Gras party before Shaina attracted a crowd
For her friends, Shaina has offered professional level advice and health guidance for years. Even when we have sought and found specialists to help our her health issues, many times those doctors tell Shaina that she should get into the health coaching business. So she has! Why deny people the opportunity to access a good thing simply because we don’t like to “sell ourselves.” That was a hard lesson to learn and the reason that we’ve created the platform to share our story and health journey.
It also explains why we haven’t asked for help from friends, family, and colleagues over the years. While we have become less shy and private about the medical struggles that Shaina has gone through, we didn’t let on how much of a financial stress the search for answers have been. We’re grateful to Shaina’s mom and stepfather for all of her support over the years and to my parents for their support as well. Most other people don’t really know or never bothered to ask more questions about what was happening. Those that did, we can count on - let’s say - two hands. Those relationships have meant the world to us and we will be honoring them in our own special way.
So, I think that’s all I’ll say for now. I need to make us dinner and do our final preparations for a busy week of parades and charity events. I’m sure you’ll see the pics.