Meet Ellen.

Meet Ellen. Mother of four, math teacher turned cyberdefense project manager, and lifelong athlete. 

But what you may not know is Ellen’s fourth pregnancy was a very challenging one, nearly taking her life, and setting her on a path wrought with serious health challenges. Ellen fought back hard, though, from these setbacks–ranging from daily self-catheterization to extreme pain management–and was able to reach the best shape of her life a few years ago. Until things took a sudden turn for the worst again…    

“A few years ago, I had a very sudden carotid artery dissection with a major TIA and permanent nerve damage in my face, followed by doctors discovering benign tumors and scar tissue entangling my organs that lead to a second major abdominal surgery and an oophorectomy from the trauma associated with sudden surgical menopause. The menopause was the hardest mental and emotional healing I would encounter in my life. There was a week where the hormone loss peaked that led to suicidal ideations. While I am stable now, I still do not feel like myself; I am still adjusting to the ‘new me.’”

Not everything about chronic health conditions is “bad,” though. There is a lot you can learn about yourself and your body through meeting it at its weakest points. 

“I have learned so much about myself and those close to me throughout this process. I have to listen to my body and trust my gut even when others do not agree with me, and you have to give yourself the grace you need during those harder moments. I won’t quit on myself. I have suffered through over a decade of major medical complications yet I still work, go to the gym, and show up for my family. I should have died on more than one occasion but I am still here and there has to be a reason for that. I wish people knew that despite all of my scars (both inside and out) and trauma, my body is my biggest joy and worth celebrating.”

Ellen, you are a badass for all you’ve achieved with GRIT + GRACE that even you, at times–let alone the medical community–didn’t think was possible. Watch Ellen’s story and comment below if you can relate to her journey.  We welcome community dialogue and reflection.

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This is one profile from a series of badass female athlete profiles. To learn more about the rest of the women and the series, visit the series home page here.