Hashimoto’s. A lifelong autoimmune disease that can’t even be treated until it’s too late. You can experience major weight gain, aching joints, insomnia, imbalanced hormone levels, and more.

My sister was diagnosed fall of 2025 after a long 8 months of major bodily changes and countless doctors’ appointments with zero answers. Watching her fall apart over the last year has been devastating. I think she would agree that getting diagnosed with something uncurable didn’t make anyone feel any better. Before I tell you her side of the story, I want you to understand that she has taken every single step with such bravery. Sometimes she took the steps crying, maybe she stomped and slammed a door behind her, but she took the damn step. Regardless of her diagnosis, Jaelyn is a force to be reckoned with. 

This all really started in January of 2025. The first appointment was made because of excruciating eye pain. As she would explain it, “it feels like microneedles constantly digging into my eyes”. She has light sensitivity so intense that she often wears sunglasses indoors. The pressure makes her eyes feel like they might pop out of her head. None of us can truly imagine what she feels daily, but the most devastating part of her eye pain is the fact that she has lost the ability to do most things. She can’t even read a book, and it makes her job difficult. So, when you see the final photo, please know that while she is tired of hurting, she wants to dig her eyes out so they can’t keep her from living her life anymore.

Jaelyn has been to at least 2 dozen doctors’ appointments in the last year. She has been disregarded and mistreated by the very people who vowed to heal the sick. Finding a doctor who was willing to run the right tests and listen was not as easy as it should have been. The relief of being heard was short-lived when she finally got her diagnosis. The main problem was the fact that all her symptoms were pre-Hashimoto’s. This led to the terrifying realization that if changes weren’t made, her thyroid dying was going to kill her. It was time to do everything we could to give her thyroid (and mind) a fighting chance.

3.5 months ago, she got sober. Sober from all the foods and ingredients that were making her sick. We started the Auto Immune Protocol (AIP) diet. It is a crazy restrictive lifestyle change that removes 90% of our dietary options. Learning to cook and maintain a healthy diet has been hard but rewarding. Finding the time to make 3 meals a day, every day, feels impossible. It’s an experience that makes you feel lonely when you can no longer enjoy all the things everyone else in your life does.

Sadly, there is no “out of the woods” for her, and yet Jae has become quite good at surviving where she is planted. She has lost over 30 lbs. She is going to the gym. She pushes herself every day. 

Don’t forget that it’s ok if your steps aren’t perfect. Whether your legs are shaky or you’re running, your journey is your own. Progress is beautiful and you too can achieve that goal today. 

Peace and Love,Ashley and Jaelyn