When I met Diana, she was desperate for help and in search of compassionate providers who would encourage and support her as she worked towards regaining her health. When she came to GrassRoots, Diana hadn’t seen a doctor in 12 years. She had been hiding her struggles from everyone and knew a doctor would be able to pinpoint what was really going on. More than anything, she needed support on this journey.

Diana’s story has some twists and turns, but it’s not unlike many others we hear: When she went looking for answers, she was met with a barrage of appointments, tests and treatments plans, but none that treated the whole her. Seeking other options, she was most attracted to the holistic and nutrition-based solutions of Functional Medicine, as well as the supportive team we have at GrassRoots.

I hope sharing Diana’s story helps you see that there is always hope for healing!

How It All Started 

Diana knew she needed help long before she was willing to ask for it. She struggled with alcoholism and related health issues, yet she hid all of this from even her closest friends and family members.

After years of heavy drinking, she could not deny that her health was failing. Her hair was thinning, she dealt with severe acne, and experienced pains all over her body, including her abdomen and lungs.

In addition to these physical symptoms, years of isolation had led Diana to become desperately unhappy and lonely.

A Care Team to Support Her Journey

After years of denial, Diana’s alcoholism finally became too much for her to handle alone. Her family helped her find immediate medical care, and to her surprise she was treated with kindness rather than judgment.

This was a huge turning point for Diana. She realized there were so many people willing and equipped to help her that she began seeking out a team to come alongside her right away.

Diana started taking her health seriously and began working with specialists and undergoing testing before she found GrassRoots. She learned that she was very near to the threshold for a cirrhosis diagnosis and wanted to do all she could to reverse the damage that had been done to live longer for her children and make them proud of her.

Cirrhosis is an advanced form of liver disease characterized by significant scar tissue that inhibits proper liver function. The liver is an incredible organ that is able to repair and regenerate itself. However, repeated damage and the resulting scar tissue – whether from a chronic disease, lifestyle habits like alcohol abuse, or other causes – can cause irreversible health issues, and even death.

Diana was ready to make dramatic changes to prevent further damage to her liver. She had a newfound vision for her future and her health and needed a care team that would guide and support her in bringing it to fruition. In her search for answers and the right care team, Diana found GrassRoots Functional Medicine and the real work began.

With a focus on functional, homeopathic, nutritional solutions, Diana finally had hope that she could live a long and happy life, enjoying more health and time with her family.

A Personalized Program for Healing 

Alcohol abuse impacts the entire body. The liver is a powerhouse organ involved in digestion and absorption of nutrients, blood filtration, metabolism, detoxification, protein synthesis, and storage of vitamins and minerals. Damage to the liver, specifically from alcohol abuse, has been linked to autoimmune disorders, pneumonia, tuberculosis, HIV, Hepatitis B and C, other serious infections, and kidney disease. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, there is even evidence that alcohol can affect your white blood cells, brain cells, and DNA.

We knew that supporting Diana’s liver was a key strategy for her treatment plan. After evaluating her bloodwork, I recommended several supplements, as well as a strict paleo diet, all strategies that would provide her liver with the nutrients it needed without additional stressors as it healed.

After several months of consistently following her treatment plan, Diana’s health improved and she started feeling better than she had in years!

She has now lost 70 pounds, both her blood pressure and liver function tests are normal, and she has hope for continued healing.

Here’s what Diana had to say about her experience:

“Thanks to GrassRoots and Dr. Osgood, I have hope. I am healing. I followed their recommendations to the letter, and I could not believe that after so many years of alcohol abuse my body would recover – I feel fantastic. I feel I have many more years to live thanks to Dr. Osgood and the many loving, caring staff I have worked with at GrassRoots.”

Diana’s story is proof that there is always hope. To see how our team can support you in healing and along your health journey, check out our Adaptation Programs and book a free discovery call today.

How the Adaptation Program Can Help

In our Adaptation Program, we come alongside you to provide guidance, support, and accountability as we work together to restore your health.

We see our work with our patients as a partnership and truly want to see you succeed. As part of the program, you’ll learn how to address any and all issues you’re facing through lifestyle strategies, personalized nutrition and supplement recommendations, and access to our ever growing GrassRoots community.