JoAnne’s Story

Success stories excite me! Why? Because it means that one more person who suffers with pain has learned how to live and thrive in spite of it. This is JoAnne’s story…

Living with pain for almost 30 years can more than define your life; it becomes life and, as JoAnne says, “I became my pain.” She was an OB/Gyn Nurse Practitioner who complied with medical directives, years of painful physical therapy and took lots of medications that made her life worse. She had to stop working.

In addition to dealing with her own pain, she was the 24/7 caregiver to her disabled husband, a service-connected Veteran. When her aging parents also required care, she recalls, “Wow! Did I feel trapped by circumstances and pain!” But now we’re ahead of the real story…

JoAnne’s daughter had referred her to pain-management coaching with Take Courage Coaching. She was a reluctant participant who knew all the reasons it wouldn’t help. Just two months into the program, she had to begin caring for her mid-90-year-old parents. What looked like an impossible set of circumstances – her pain and caring for a spouse and two parents – could have been the sum total of this story. But JoAnne had already learned she had choices and practical tools learned through coaching that would help her to thrive.

Taking care of others is truly admirable; taking care of ourselves allows us to do that. What JoAnne takes away from her time with TCC is how important it is to treat herself with compassion. She uses personalized pain-reducing tools like mindfulness, reframing and diaphragmatic breathing to slow down and allow her body to work more efficiently. She credits the program’s informative lessons, optional materials, phone calls with her coach and her group, and the fact that she “CHOSE to let this great program happen.”

JoAnne, and all TCC participants/graduates, we are thrilled to welcome you into our family and experience your transformation from suffering to thriving!