The story I’ve never told

Three years ago, almost to the date, life as I knew it changed forever.  Not only had our happy little family gone from 3 – 4 and I was in the early stages of wrangling a newborn, I received a phone call that shook my bones beyond that which I’d ever known.  My son was diagnosed with a genetic condition, Cystic Fibrosis (CF).  I haven’t really shared much here about my son Geordie and his journey with (CF).  I have shared a little of my own personal challenges through my courses and speaking gigs and today I’m here, to share this story with you.

We never wanted Geordie to be “the kid with CF,” and we made a very conscious decision to not allow CF to penetrate our every thought.  We wanted Geordie to simply be Geordie, a thriving little man who knew no hurdles too big to overcome.  There was a time after his diagnosis I found myself in a dark hole, wishing for somebody to come along and pull me out.  It was all consuming.  I cried a lot.  I was so afraid of the future.  I didn’t want Geordie to suffer and I sure as heck didn’t want to lose him.  At the same time I found myself cautious in allowing me to love him more, as if, that could too be over in an instant and I didn’t want to have my heart ripped out. Thankfully, all very temporary thoughts.

One morning (actually just 4 days after his diagnosis) I woke up and had a weird revelation, like a moment of ‘insanity’ or whatever it was.  I remember whispeing to myself “you’ve got this Nat,” and each and every time that day, undeserving thoughts around Geordie and the uncertain future popped up like a spooky jack in the box, I repeated my mantra – “Nat, you’ve got this.”  Something amazing began to happen.  I believed.  The more I told myself I was in control and I “had this,” the more evidence I found.  At first it was hope that I discovered.  Even letting that little glimmer manifest proved powerful.  So I kept on.  Soon enough, I began trusting my gut instinct toward decisions we were making around Geordie.  I can not tell you how freeing it is when you begin to trust your inner voice.  It was as if, at least for moments, I allowed the weight to be lifted from my heart.  Eventually, I gained courage.  I stopped battling in my mind between what I was being told to do that didn’t feel innately right and went with what I felt, with all my being was the best choice.  And so I continued on, all the while Geordie began to thrive.

Over the course of the first year of Geordie’s life, I wavered between these feelings, some times uplifting and other times like I was dragging my heart on the ground behind me, as if a very heavy weight.  But more and more, I saw evidence of how my mindset was influencing both his health and my families attitude toward Geordie.  When Geordie got sick, whilst at first it was petrifying, I continued to focus on his ‘wellness’ rather than the illness.  What continued to happen, now in hindsight wasn’t luck or chance – we were creating our own reality through our beliefs and thoughts.  I saw evidence every single day that my mind was shaping our journey.  I saw proof that we could manipulate the future.  We began living a miracle.

Prior to this I didn’t know a whole lot about neuroplasticity.  Neuroplasticity in a nut shell is the science around how the brain changes it’s response to illness and function based on our environment, thoughts, feelings and beliefs.  I was blown away!  I didn’t need proof that my thoughts and feelings were influencing my life – I got that much.  But it was such a beautiful life lesson for me to live, to be able to pass this information with evidence on to my patients and readers.

Throughout this experience (which I am ever so grateful for each and every day for so very many reasons) I realised that only I could take charge of my own life.  It was up to me.  To think that somebody was going to come along like a knight in shining armour and ‘save’ me from myself was not only ambitious but probably not actually going to help the situation, because I was truly the only person who could do that.  If life needs to be changed, sitting around expecting a miracle without groundwork or effort isn’t likely – we ourselves need to make the necessary changes, because those changes start on the inside – within our own minds.

I now, almost by default apply this to every part of my life.  I ask myself regularly “what am I choosing?”  Am I choosing fear or am I choosing whatever the opposite may be to take me to where I really want to go.  Of course I’m human, and sometimes I find myself choosing fear.  It is in these moments that I need to pull myself out of the choice and simply choose again.  But mostly, by following my intuition, and allowing it to guide me through my choices, no matter how tough, it’s never let me down.  Never.  What I find the most comforting now is that I’ve seen how my mindset propels us.  Geordie is, a healthy 3 year old who is thriving.  Genetically he can’t not ever have CF, it’s like being born with red hair or having an olive complexion.  You can’t change it.  What Geordie can do however is thrive under the circumstances.  To me, this is the definition of healing and wellness.  Thriving with what you’ve got, not what you don’t have.  I’m regularly asked if PCOS or endometriosis can be healed.  I ask, whats the definition of healing?  To me, it’s thriving without evidence of illness.  Doesn’t necessarily mean that the condition is gone, it means that it isn’t getting in the way or impacting your bodies ability to blossom, because it’s either well under control or your body is working within it’s ability at a top notch level.  In some instances, especially lifestyle conditions (and things like PCOS, endometriosis, hormone imbalance and infertility) are most often related to lifestyle, these conditions I believe are treatable often to the point of full recovery.  Other more permanent challenges, whilst they can’t ever be gone, they don’t have to always impose such an issue.

I want to wrap today up by asking – what are you choosing?

What choices are you making to propel yourself forward in wellness?  And finally, are you trusting your instinct to guide you?   These very questions will help bring your own wellness into reality.  If my experience with Geordie so far has taught me anything, it’s that we are all stronger than we often first think, and that we can influence our thought patterns in all areas of our lives.

10 Comments

  • January 26, 2015 By Naomi Lee 9:33 am

    Beautiful & inspiring Nat. This is one of the most articulate and powerful posts you’ve ever written. What a dynamic duo – Nat & Geordie – changing the world for the better x Naomi

  • January 26, 2015 By Emma 9:37 am

    Thanks for sharing such a beautiful story. Geordie has a wonderful future ahead of him with a fantastic mother to watch over him. Changing ones way of mentally approaching any kind of challenge in life is key in overcoming obstacles and hopefully your story will inspire others. I know that listening to my inner voice and having regular conversations with her has helped me in the past and I’m using it now to try and beat my fertility problems. All the best for your family Nat. Thank you again for sharing x

  • January 26, 2015 By Pru 10:35 am

    Hi Nat,
    My father has Cystic Fibrosis. He will be 67 this year. His sister and two of his cousins also had Cystic Fibrosis. They have sadly passed away. My father is on a trial drug at the moment which is showing great promise in improving his symptoms and quality of life. Although new treatments such as this have come too late for his sister and cousins. It helps me feel very hopeful for the future of children such as Geordie. A cure may be a long way off, but there is hope that he will have a long, happy and healthy life. Wishing you and your family every strength in dealing with Geordie’s condition. x

  • January 26, 2015 By Amanda Pusztai 12:49 pm

    Hi Nat
    Such a beautiful story for you to share with all of us. It has touched me personally because I too suffer with CF. I am 29 years old and am so very grateful for my good health. I come from a loving, supportive family and was raised to believe I can accomplish anything. I have never been “the kid with CF” and to be completely honest I very rearly think about my condition as such. I am who I am and just listen to what my body needs. I believe that my parents instilled everything I needed as a child to allow me to grow and blossum into the woman I am today. I am married to a beautiful, caring man and we have just recently embarked on our IVF journey to start a family of our own. With a mum like yourself, I can only imagine the endless possibilities for Geordie’s bright and healthy future xx

    • January 26, 2015 By Nat Kringoudis 1:13 pm

      Amanda – wishing you ALL the fertility vibes. “You’ve got this!” Well done lovely x

  • January 30, 2015 By Dannii Orawiec 3:23 pm

    Oh Nat, such beautiful heart-felt, honest words. Thank you. Thank you for sharing your story of Geordies journey, your journey, and that of choice.

    There were so many themes interlinked throughout your message that are vital to my own path, and all our paths. From neuroplasticity, to choosing your thoughts amd perceptions and re-choosing too. From fear to intuition to shaping Geordie’s identity and your definition of healing, thriving, possibility. From the power we all hold so amazingly in our hands, to the human condition – forgetting that power, and realising evidence of it again and practicing that trust in it.

    So beautiful Nat. Thank you for opening up to us your reality and how this has been a gift. What a treasure Geordie’s path has been for you, but also us. Wow.

    In gratitude,
    Dannii

  • January 30, 2015 By Anna Grillo 3:25 pm

    Thank you so much Nat for sharing this beautiful story. A decision was crippling me just moments before reading, and now I shook it off and said ‘Anna, you’ve got this!’ and feel so much better. Thank you for reminding us all we are in charge of our own destinies. And I’m so glad to hear how your little man is thriving. xx

    • February 5, 2015 By Nat Kringoudis 2:32 pm

      Bless you x

  • January 30, 2015 By Daniella 3:43 pm

    Congratulations Nat. I have been reading about neuroplasticity along with meditation/ yoga/mindfulness practices for many years. It is extremely difficult to put them into practice. Your story has inspired me to keep going and keep practicing.

  • August 23, 2016 By Alex 7:52 am

    You amaze me Nat, you always have and continue to be an inspiration to me, your beautiful family and all that know you! WOW Nat your strength is beyond measure! When i first heard about Geordie my very first thought was if anyone has got this Nat has(how’s that for intuition and reading your mind 😉 ) God only serves up life challenges to people that can handle them and you are here to teach us all to do it right and do it well. You are just simply AMAZEBALLS and i am blessed to know you. X

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