I was 21 years old, a senior at James Madison University, when everything changed. Up until then, I thought I had a solid handle on wellness. I was active in the gym, playing intramural sports, and doing my best to eat healthy—at least by college standards. I felt like I was doing all the right things, which is why it took me so long to fully accept that something might actually be wrong.
Looking back, the signs were there. Over about a year, I was losing weight without trying. My appetite started to fade, and simple things, like walking up a flight of stairs, left me completely out of breath. I also had this persistent, full-body itch that I couldn’t explain. At the time, I brushed it off. College life is busy, stressful, and not exactly known for great sleep or nutrition. I figured it was just part of the grind.
It wasn’t until I went for a blood test, thinking I might have mono because I was so exhausted all the time, that things finally came into focus. My calcium levels were dangerously high, which raised a major red flag. That led to more testing, and eventually, my diagnosis: stage 4 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
Oddly enough, my first reaction wasn’t panic—it was validation. For nearly two years, I had felt like something was off. I had seen multiple doctors, and nothing had been flagged. One even told me I was probably just overdoing it with caffeine or alcohol. So when I finally got a real answer, it confirmed what I had been feeling all along. It taught me one of the most important lessons of my life: listen to your body and advocate for yourself.
From there, everything moved quickly. I had to leave school and begin treatment—six months of chemotherapy followed by three months of radiation. It wasn’t easy, but it brought my family closer than ever. There were small moments of light in a really heavy time, like finally convincing my parents to let us get a dog, which I still consider one of our best decisions.
Through it all, I stayed focused on the fact that Hodgkin’s Lymphoma is treatable and often curable. My doctors and support system were incredibly encouraging, and I leaned into that. I took it one day at a time. Because my cancer was so advanced, they don’t really use the word “cured," they say “treated.” Even now, the only lasting effect is that my lung function is around 60 to 70 percent due to everything my body went through. But I’ve learned to live with that, and honestly, I don’t take a single day of good health for granted.
After treatment, my perspective on wellness shifted. I became much more intentional about what I put into my body, focusing on natural, whole foods. I also discovered something that would become a huge part of my life: sauna therapy. I started using the sauna during treatment and continued afterward, initially to help rebuild my cardio strength. The more I used it, the more I became fascinated by its benefits. I delved deep into the research, and it became a real passion.
Along the way, I explored other holistic practices too—massage, breathwork, red light therapy, and cold plunging. The combination of sauna and cold exposure became especially powerful for me, not just physically, but mentally. It helped me manage stress, improve my energy, and feel balanced. Tools like these became part of my daily routine, and I saw firsthand how impactful they could be.
That passion ultimately led me to start Drip Sauna Plunge. What began as a personal journey turned into something much bigger. Today, the most rewarding part of what I do is helping other people feel better. We see everyone from athletes to seniors, people recovering from injuries, dealing with chronic conditions, or simply looking to improve their sleep and mental clarity.
For me, it all comes back to that moment at 21, when my body forced me to pay attention. Everything I’ve built since then is rooted in that experience. And if there’s one thing I hope people take away from my story, it’s this: don’t ignore what your body is trying to tell you. It might just change your life.
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