My Story

Hello, and thank you so much for being here.
I’m truly glad we’ve found each other.
I want to share a bit of my story: how I found healing, and why I’m so passionate about holistic health and helping others reclaim their own.

For as long as I can remember, I struggled with illness. Throughout my childhood, I battled severe asthma, chronic bronchitis, and pneumonia. As I got older, my lungs improved, but I was still often unwell. In my early twenties, my health took a steep decline. I was living with daily unrelenting pain and and was eventually diagnosed with interstitial cystitis (IC), a painful bladder condition, along with a long list of chronic health issues: digestive problems, gut disorders, chronic fatigue, autoimmune issues, and endometriosis. I also experienced complex hormonal imbalances, including the loss of my menstrual cycle, pelvic pain, and pain during intimacy (symptoms that were often dismissed or misunderstood in conventional care).

I saw countless doctors, tried endless medications, and underwent multiple procedures, but nothing helped. My symptoms only worsened, and I grew more and more discouraged. I fell into a deep depression and began questioning whether life was worth living if it meant feeling this way forever.

Just as I was preparing for another invasive procedure, I stumbled across a woman’s blog who had healed her IC naturally. She credited her breakthrough to a functional lab test called Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA). That was my turning point. It gave me hope and proof that another path existed. I found a functional practitioner, ran the right labs, and began uncovering the root causes of my illness- gut dysbiosis, SIBO, candida, mold toxicity, impaired detox pathways, food sensitivities (even to things like lettuce!), and a deep toxic burden from heavy metals.

I changed my diet, started targeted supplementation, went through a detox process, healed my gut, and worked with a variety of holistic practitioners. Slowly but surely, I began to heal. With time, I reversed every single diagnosis I was once given. I finally got to experience what it felt like to live pain-free, in a body that felt like mine again.

This transformation inspired me so deeply that I decided to study this field and became certified as a Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner (FDN-P) and a Board Certified Functional Health Coach. I knew I had to help others find the same hope and healing that I had found. Supporting others on their journey back to health is not just my passion, it’s my purpose.

But my healing journey didn’t end there.

At 32, I was diagnosed with stage 2 metaplastic breast carcinoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer. It felt like a betrayal after all the progress I’d made. At the time, I was working in a high-end restaurant, completely burnt out and disconnected from the lifestyle I knew my body needed. I quit my job and started over, reminding myself of the healing path I had walked before. I chose to approach cancer as naturally as possible, going forward with surgery and radiation, but declining chemotherapy and instead trusting the body’s innate wisdom to heal. I supported myself through detoxification, nourishment, deep rest, as well as spiritual and emotional healing. Within the year, I was declared cancer-free. There is no visible cancer in my body today.

Coming face to face with my own mortality taught me a lot. Most importantly, it taught me that I’m not going to waste this life. I’ve chosen to turn my pain into purpose, and I know that everything I went through has equipped me to be a guide and a light for others.

I tell you this not just to share, but to be transparent: I live what I teach. I’m not just someone who talks about healing, I’m walking it every day. I’ve gone through the depths so that I can stand here now and hold space for you with full integrity. I was able to heal because I took ownership of my health, with the guidance of practitioners who helped me reconnect to the body’s incredible ability to heal itself. That’s what I want to offer you.

Conventional medicine often tells us there’s no known cause and no cure for chronic illness; that our only option is to manage symptoms with medication. But I’m here to tell you: that’s not the only way. The body knows how to heal when given the right support. Good health, joy, and remission from disease are not only possible- it is your natural state of being and your birthright.

I became the coach I needed when I was sick, scared, and searching for answers. I do this work for women like you- women who are tired, struggling, in pain, and ready for something different. I do this work so you don’t have to spend years stuck, going in circles. I do this work to help you reclaim your power, rebuild your strength, and start living life again.

Today, my work continues to evolve. In addition to being an FDN-P, I am currently studying to become an Advanced Integrative Metabolic (AIM) Specialist through the Metabolic Terrain Institute, specializing in metabolic oncology. This training equips me to guide women in preventing cancer, supporting those navigating treatment, and helping survivors reduce their risk of recurrence; through a terrain-based, holistic lens.

Alongside my love for holistic health and earth medicine, I have always carried a deep passion for music festivals. The sense of community, connection, and joy I feel at these gatherings makes me feel fully alive. That energy of celebration and togetherness has become a cornerstone of my vision for Alegría Wellness Collective. Alegría was born out of a desire to weave together the science of healing, the medicine of nature, and the spirit of community; to create a sanctuary where people can heal their bodies, reconnect with their spirit, and rediscover joy. What began as my personal healing path has grown into a movement: a vision of healing that is personal, communal, and celebratory.

If you choose to work with me, we’ll take a deep dive into your unique health story. We’ll uncover the root causes and bring your body back into balance naturally, gently, and with intention. What you’re experiencing isn’t a life sentence or an end all diagnosis. It’s a signal. Your body is calling for support, not suppression. Your pain is asking you to take the first step onto the healing path and what you will find is a lifetime of health and deep fulfillment from the knowing that you already have what it takes to live with joy and vitality.

Thank you for allowing me to be part of your story.
Let’s heal together.

With love,
Stephanie