Thank you! And oh my gosh I’m so excited to follow you on strava because your updates are hilarious and fantastic! 🤠

Also PRed my 10K & 10mi today (which was a huge surprise)!

Other than my seizure disorder, I’m getting settled in with lots of long, brisk fall walks, weekend adventures, coffee shop hopping and digging back into my research!

I’m so sorry that this is happening 😭 it’s so disheartening. I’ve had to be so adamant and advocate for myself in this entire process (including sobbing on the phone). It already isn’t easy to navigate life in general, but to seek care? Ugh

❤️❤️

I also post to raise awareness of those who are navigating graduate school, academia, research with disabilities. We are here fighting to exist in these spaces and do good work and for ourselves every day.

My disorder has drastically altered my life in many ways. It’s validating to have my medical team say I’m handling it so well despite experiencing this with no care or treatment.

I hope my story shows that trauma does not just impact you mentally (PTSD, anxiety, depression), but also physically 2/2

Developing a new chronic illness during grad school was not on my bingo card.

I’m about to hit the year mark of when my seizures started and it STILL feels new

Colonization continues to have profound generational impacts on my Mexicano/Tejano side in many ways ranging from modern conservative/ religious norms to unearthing our Indigenous roots that were taken from our ancestors. It’s very nuanced. Makes the emphasis on listening that much more imperative.

It starts with everyone, too! For example (below)

Thank you, Gary. I really appreciate you.