The Miracle in the Mess: Finding Grace in the Hardest Places and Beauty in My Broken Parts
The real story behind my scars, setbacks, and why I still call myself one of the luckiest girls alive- and how it all led me to build a business helping creators thrive online.
People often tell me I have the worst luck.
“You’ve been through so much,” they say. “I don’t know how you do it.”
And they’re not wrong- I’ve faced battles that most people can’t imagine.
But here’s what they don’t know:
I’ve also seen miracles.
I’ve walked again- twice.
I’ve built a life, a business, a purpose.
And I’ve been carried through it all by the most extraordinary people.
So no. I’m not unlucky.
I’m one damn lucky gal.
Born Into Battle
I was born with an autoimmune disease- one that’s followed me every single day of my life. By the time I turned 18, I had already undergone more than 20 major surgeries, including operations on my skull to treat a bone infection.
Hospitals were more familiar to me than playgrounds.
I knew how to read a medication label before I knew how to do long division.
But I kept going. I got used to being “the sick kid.”
That was just my normal.
And then, everything changed.
The Coma
In 2011, I got very sick, very fast. We didn’t know what was happening at first- just that my body was crashing. What we later discovered was that I had contracted West Nile virus, which triggered ARDS- Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.
Most people don’t survive ARDS.
It causes full-body organ failure. It put me in a coma.
My family was told I had no chance. They read me my last rites.
That was supposed to be the end of my story. But somehow- it wasn’t.
The Vision
While in the coma, I remember something that has stayed with me ever since. A vivid, peaceful moment.
Two figures stood beside me.
On my left was my Grandpa Jack, who passed away when my father was just a teenager.
On my right was my Great-Grandma Honor, who helped raise my dad and who I was incredibly close with growing up.
They were smiling. They didn’t speak. They were just there- calm, constant, protective.
I didn’t tell anyone about it until over a year later. I was still recovering, trying to make sense of a blank year in my life. I casually mentioned it to my mom one morning while she was making breakfast. “Isn’t it weird?” I said. “I can still see Grandpa Jack on my left and Grandma Honor on my right. They were with me.”
She dropped what she was doing. Her face turned white.
She explained that during the worst of my illness- when things were at their bleakest- my dad had quietly slipped out of the ICU and into the hospital chapel. My father is not religious. But that night, he prayed to his father and his grandma to protect me.
He never told anyone. Not even my mom until much later on.
But somehow…I saw them.
That moment wasn’t just a memory.
It was a miracle.
Relearning Life
When I woke up from the coma, I wasn’t just weak. I was broken.
I couldn’t feel anything from the chest down.
I had suffered a brain injury. My muscles had completely atrophied.
I had to relearn everything- reading, speaking, doing math, walking.
It took four years of rehab and therapy.
And I did it.
I didn’t just walk- I even ran a little. I traveled. I danced. I started dreaming again.
I thought the hardest chapter of my life was over.
But I was wrong.
The Second Collapse
In 2020, I woke up in unimaginable pain. I couldn’t move my left leg.
An MRI revealed that two vertebrae had completely crumbled and were crushing my spinal cord. The surgeon told me the bone fragments were like “shards of glass tangled in nerves.” It took him over 8 hours in surgery to remove them.
And here’s the gut-wrenching part:
The damage was caused by learning to walk the first time.
The very thing I fought so hard to reclaim?
It broke me again.
To make matters worse, this was all happening during the height of the COVID pandemic. I went into emergency surgery alone- no family allowed.
When I woke up, I heard those same words again:
“You may never walk again.”
But they’d told me that before.
And I’d proved them wrong.
What Even Is Normal?
There was a time when I craved normal.
I grieved what I couldn’t have- especially when I learned I wouldn’t be able to have children. I felt less than. Like I wasn’t a “real woman.” Like I was missing something fundamental.
But over time, I stopped feeling broken.
Today, I’m the proud dog mom to Dude- my service/therapy dog. He is my assistant, my shadow, my emotional support system. And he’s with me always.
I’m also “Aunt Katie” to the most loving nieces, a nephew, and even a chosen nephew. They love me fiercely. I show up for them the way my family showed up for me.
As my therapist once said:
“Katie, will you stop trying to be normal?
Normal is just a setting on a washing machine.”
She was right.
Losing Care, Gaining Fire
Under Trump’s presidency, my life got harder.
My access to life-saving infusions- which cost $13,000/month- was cut.
My physical therapy sessions were taken away.
I overheard a medical aide use the slur “lib-tard” in front of me.
And the president of the United States mocked a disabled person on national TV.
I don’t usually talk politics. But when the most vulnerable among us are under attack, silence becomes complicity.
So here’s my truth:
I am disabled.
I am chronically ill.
And I am not going to apologize for using my platform to speak up.
Finding Community Online
When I started using Instagram, I wasn’t trying to become an influencer.
I was looking for people like me.
I found the chronic illness community. The spoonie warriors. The people who truly understood. And I started showing up- sharing my story, my truth, my heart.
And something beautiful happened:
My audience grew.
Not because I was “perfect”. But because I was real.
That’s when I realized I could turn this into something bigger.
Turning Pain Into Purpose
I never set out to be an “influencer.” But through sharing my journey, I began getting brand deals, sponsorships, and growth.
What really lit me up, though? The strategy. The coaching. The behind-the-scenes work.
I dork out over algorithms. I love building pitch decks. I found my calling not just in the spotlight- but behind it, helping others grow.
Today, I run a boutique influencer agency with a team of three.
We represent:
– Creators with millions of followers
– Reality show stars
– Dogfluencers (yep, really)
– And amazing micro creators brands love
I teach, coach, and guide other creators toward their own wins.
Why I Do This
People always say, “Know your why.”
Well, here’s mine:
I do this because I know what it’s like to feel invisible.
Because I fought for my life more times than I can count.
Because I’ve been underestimated, written off, and dismissed.
Because I’ve walked through hell-twice- and came out stronger.
Because I believe your story, your voice, your truth matters.
And I want you to believe it too.
So- Am I Unlucky?
Let’s recap:
✅ Born with a chronic illness
✅ Over 20 surgeries
✅ A coma
✅ A spinal collapse
✅ Infertility
✅ Political oppression
✅ Disability
✅ Night terrors
✅ Trauma
And yet?
✅ I’m alive
✅ I’m loved
✅ I’m building a business
✅ I’m showing up every day
✅ I’m Aunt Katie to the best kids
✅ I’m dog mom to Dude
✅ I’m surrounded by a tribe that shows up
✅ I’ve seen miracles
So am I unlucky?
Absolutely not.
I’m one damn lucky gal.
Last words:
If you’ve made it this far- thank you.
Thank you for seeing me. For hearing my story. For witnessing what it took to turn the mess into a miracle.
And if you’ve ever felt broken, behind, not enough, or like your dreams are out of reach?
Let this be proof: you can still build something beautiful.
You can still be soft and strong.
Brave and scared.
Broken and healing.
Because I’m not “normal.” I’m me. And I’ve grown to love the parts that almost broke me.
This is the “why” behind everything I do- coaching creators, managing talent, teaching social media strategy, and building real human connection online.
Because it’s not just about followers.
It’s about purpose. It’s about people.
It’s about helping others rise- especially those who’ve been counted out.
If you’re a creator looking for support, encouragement, or someone to walk beside you while you build your vision- I’m here.
You are not alone. You are not broken. And you are more capable than you know.
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