If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by managing your medical condition or unsure if you’re “allowed” to explore options beyond what your doctor prescribes, you’re not alone.
I’ve spent my entire life in healthcare, from bedside nursing to health coaching to designing wellness programs. I thought I understood how to manage illness. I thought I had the tools.
But nothing prepared me for being on the other side of a devastating diagnosis.
Walking through that journey with my husband opened my eyes in a new way. When traditional care didn’t have all the answers, we found ourselves exploring paths I hadn’t previously considered as healthcare, like spending time in nature, acupuncture, plant medicine, and other complementary options.
It wasn’t about choosing sides. It was about asking:
✨ What might bring comfort? What might help—safely and gently?
✨Where can I find trustworthy information? Who can I believe? Will this fit in with our schedule?
✨Is this new thing helping or creating more hassles?
✨Does this new thing help to reach our health goal and support the quality of life we want?
A PATH Forward
What I discovered surprised me, and now I’ve created a framework to help you find your PATH
✨ Personalized Care (what you want in your treatment plan)
✨ Awareness and Alignment (Finding what can help and fitting it into your plan)
✨ Transformation (getting results or moving when you need to)
✨ Health and Empowerment (regaining the feeling that you control your health)
We began simply
We started by going outside and looking at our tiny garden. Just 10 minutes of looking at our flowers and breathing the fresh air. That small step helped lift some of the heaviness of depression. It was a start. A glimmer. A choice we could make that grew into a longer walk every day. I knew it was working when I was in a meeting and he came over and put Post-its on my computer to let me know it was time for our walk.
From there, we started researching integrative methods. We looked for practices with strong evidence, and we checked in with how each one felt as he tried them. We gave ourselves permission to be curious—and to try what resonated and what gave quick results. If something didn’t work, we moved on to something else.
When opioids led to more stomach issues, we moved to gentler cannabis medicine to control pain and the side effects of chemotherapy. As symptoms developed, we looked for new solutions, that’s where acupuncture and Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) came in. We did what worked for us and improved the quality of our daily life.
That experience changed me—not just personally, but professionally.
Now, I’m more open. More curious. More supportive of the people who want to step outside the standard script and explore what else might help.
Don't worry about expectations, conventions, or what others think you should do.
Just find what works—gently, safely, and with care.
If this resonates, I’d love to connect. You deserve support that honors your journey, your body, and your wisdom.
With care,
Cheri Sacks, RN, CDCES
Your Neighbor the Nurse
