Enhance Black Women’s Health

07/04/2026

Would you rather listen to a podcast or watch a YouTube video?

Or, for those into video podcasts, I guess, you can say both?!

07/03/2026

When I was a freshman in college, I unwisely let a classmate read my poetry, which he bluntly critiqued as immature. 😬

The fact that Substack, a platform where I openly share my writing with strangers, is one of my favorite apps is wild.

Even though I still cringe the moment I see a comment, I’ve grown much thicker skin over the years.

It’s not to say that criticism doesn’t bother me. It does.

I know that I’m not the same person I was in my freshman year of college.

And, like many things, the more I work at my writing, the better my writing becomes.

So, that’s why Substack is my current favorite app. What’s your fav?

07/02/2026

“It will be years before you go blind.”

Those were words I wasn’t expecting to come out of my ophthalmologist’s lips, but there I was sitting in the examination chair staring at him as if he had three heads.

I promise he actually had great bedside manner, but in this moment, he was just being blunt.

Months before, I had a moment when I actually did, for a moment, go blind.

Even though the darkness was temporary, his words made me realize this actually might not be a temporary situation.

So, when I talk about “unexplained symptoms,” I think there is a tendency to believe what you’re struggling with isn’t a big deal.

While my doctors were able to get me a diagnosis of RA and Sjögren’s, I’m a huge proponent of not waiting until you have a diagnosis to start investigating your symptoms.

If you feel like something isn’t right, like the day I walked into work and everything went black for a moment, you should absolutely see your doctor.

Maybe it’s nothing … not likely.

However, if it’s something, you deserve to know the truth. Even if that truth might be hard to stomach.

07/01/2026

For years I ignored my symptoms, because I was afraid that investigating futher would mean the end of my career.

During my time serving in the Marine Corps, I never wanted to be seen as weak.

Even though I had symptoms that I knew needed to be investigated, I chose to suffer in silence in hopes that if I worked 'hard enough,' the symptoms would go away.

If I just ate the 'right' foods and did the 'right' workouts, I could force my body to cooperate.

The harsh reality is that, contrary to what you might wish, your body is not a machine.

You are a whole person, and your symptoms are trying to tell you something.

Are you willing to listen?

If so, what are your symptoms telling you right now? To push through or to investigate?

06/30/2026

Have you ever felt that you were expected to be “the strong one” when what you really needed was support?

For women, especially Black women, I've seen the lead them to:

❌ Keep going even when they know they should stop.
❌ Keep smiling, although they are dealing with immense pain.
❌ Keep showing up regardless of how exhausted they might feel.
❌ Keep taking care of everyone else, even when no one has asked what they need.

What would it look like if, instead of being held to expectations that you were always strong, you were allowed to be weak?

I know that word, weak, might bring up something for you, because it does for me.

After years of being "the strong one," I want, NO, I demand the permission to be the one that...

✅ can stop.
✅ can seek relief from their pain.
✅ can take time to rest.
✅ can be taken care of.

Because the cost of being the "strong one" is high.

And, it's a cost I'm no longer willing to pay. Are you?

Strength shouldn't mean carrying everything alone

06/22/2026

Generations of women have been judged through a lens that was never created with our bodies in mind.

Today, I share a book that not only challenged the way I’ve measured health, but allowed me to better support clients on their health journeys.

Check it out and let me know what you think!

https://www.ebwhcommunity.com/p/the-black-woman-who-changed-how-i

06/20/2026

You deserve answers, not blame.

Answers to what's really driving your symptoms, rather than blame for not doing more of what you've already tried.

You're not to blame for your symptoms.

Even when you...Drank the wine.

Skipped the workout.

And, stayed up late watching the World Cup.

We should be able to enjoy life without our symptoms getting in the way.

Because we might HAVE an autoimmune disease or chronic illness.

But, we aren't OUR autoimmune disease or chronic illness.

That's something I remind myself all the time. If you needed that reminder too... you're welcome. 😉

06/19/2026

Healthcare advocacy saves lives in many ways.

I recently had the privilege to attend Partners In Health's "A Milestone in Maternal Care: Celebrating the Paul E. Farmer Maternal Center of Excellence (MCoE)" event in Boston.

As a former PIH'er, I always try to attend events because I deeply support what PIH is doing globally to make healthcare a human right.

Being able to hear the impact that the MCoE is making in Sierra Leone illustrates the power of healthcare advocacy.

PIH didn't just bring broader awareness to the terrifying statistic that Black women in Sierra Leone face a 1 in 74 lifetime risk of dying in childbirth.

They worked alongside Sierra Leone's Ministry of Health and Build Health International to create the MCoE to expand maternal services.

It's amazing to hear what they've accomplished so far. I hope it inspires more partnerships between governments and nonprofits to address the healthcare gaps we know still exist for many women globally.

Are there any other nonprofits you know doing great work to support women's health?

06/18/2026

Root causes matter because simply managing symptoms isn't a long-term strategy.

Yes, it can support those with autoimmune disease and chronic illness in the short-term.

But... in the long-term, we're ignoring the underlying reasons for disease and illness.

Just some food for thought. 🤷🏽‍♀️

06/17/2026

Symptoms are information, not character flaws.

I know it's tempting when you experience a flare-up to either:

➡️ Blame yourself... "I knew I shouldn't have drunk that wine!" 🍷➡️ Or, blame the plan... "Now I gotta try something else!" 😫

Before you start assigning blame, take a step back and put my favorite detective's (no, not Stabler, but) Columbo's hat on and ask yourself:

❓What seems to have happened before your flare-up?

❓Has this happened before, or is this the first time?

❓How might you use this information in the future?

Like Lieutenant Columbo did to solve cases pretty effortlessly, he didn't make assumptions.

He followed the evidence. You too can follow the evidence to discover what the root cause of your symptoms might be.

Now for the most important question. You already know mine, but who is your favorite TV detective?