How homemade washcloths changed my day…

Last week I met up with a former client. 

And as our visit was wrapping up, she handed me a gift that was so much more than it seemed.

Two beautiful, handmade washcloths that she had crocheted herself.

At first glance, they look like simple, yet beautiful washcloths.

But to me, they meant so much more.

You see, this woman has rheumatoid arthritis.

Before we worked together, her symptoms had become so limiting that she had stopped spending time with a favorite hobby – quilting and crocheting.

The pain and stiffness in her hands and wrists had become too much.

So she stopped.

Not because she wanted to. Because she felt she had to.

And I know how hard that can be to have to limit your life to fit inside the box of your disease. My own rheumatoid arthritis limited my life for years.

I remember planning my day around my joints. I remember giving up sports and physical activities I loved. I remember not having the energy to do the things that mattered most to me.

Chronic illness has a way of shrinking your world a little at a time.

Until one day you realize you've quietly given up pieces of yourself.

Maybe your world has gotten a little smaller, too.

Finding Her Way Back

But as this client of mine worked with us, as her health improved, she started feeling well enough to crochet again.

And now, years later, she is back doing something she loves enough to make gifts for others.

Including me.

As I held those washcloths in my hands, my heart was full of gratitude. Not because of the gift itself. But because of what it represented.

Seven Years Later

This week marks seven years since I opened Balanced Living Functional Medicine — a virtual functional medicine practice serving women across Ohio.

Leaving the security of my primary care practice to start my own business was one of the scariest decisions I've ever made.

But deep down, I knew this was where I was supposed to be.

If I could reclaim my own health, maybe I could help others reclaim theirs.

So I leaned in. I did the training. I built the website. I hired an incredible team. And I poured my heart into creating a practice centered around hope, partnership, and healing.

In many ways, it's become like my third child.

The Question That Changed Everything

Seven years of appointments.

Seven years of conversations.

Seven years of watching people discover they're capable of more than they thought possible.

Because what ultimately changed my life wasn't simply finding a different treatment.

It was discovering an entirely different way of thinking about health. That's the foundation of functional medicine — and it's what sets our approach apart from conventional care.

One that doesn't just ask,

"How do we manage disease?"

It asks,

"How do we help someone get their life back?"

That's the kind of medicine I want to practice.

And that's the kind of healing I hope every person gets to experience.

The Evidence in the Washcloths

And after seven years of doing this work, I've realized something important:

People don't come to us because they want perfect lab work, a longer supplement list or even because they want a diagnosis.

They come because they want their lives back.

They want the energy to travel, the ability to get down on the floor with their grandkids, the freedom to walk without pain and the confidence to make big plans again.

And even the chance to return to hobbies and passions that slowly disappeared as symptoms took over.

That's what those washcloths reminded me of.

They aren't really washcloths.

They represent a woman feeling like herself again.

They’re a reminder that our bodies are often capable of more than we've been led to believe.

They're evidence that healing isn't just about reducing symptoms.

It's about reclaiming the life that illness slowly took away.

Here's to What's Still Possible

As I celebrate seven years of Balanced Living, I'm incredibly grateful for every patient, client, member, coach, and team member who has been part of this journey. And I’m so grateful for those of you who follow me, take the time to read my emails and listen to the podcast. Thank you for trusting me.

And thank you for reminding me, again and again, why this work matters so much..

Here's to seven years—and to all the possibilities that still lie ahead. 💛 

What’s one thing you’d like to get back if your health improved?

With gratitude,

Dr. Emily

Ready to feel like yourself again? If you're an Ohio resident living with chronic symptoms — fatigue, joint pain, brain fog, or autoimmune conditions — our virtual functional medicine practice may be exactly what you've been looking for.

Learn more about the Health Begins Here program →

Want to keep reading? If you're living with an autoimmune condition, you might also enjoy Autoimmunity Is Reversible — where I share more about how we approach healing beyond symptom management.