When the Doula Needs a Village ❤️

Hello everyone. ❤️

I wanted to give everyone an update.

We recently found out that my lap band has slipped, and on August 5th I'll be having surgery to have it completely removed.

For those who don't know, a lap band is a type of weight loss surgery I had back in 2014. A silicone band is placed around the upper part of the stomach to create a small pouch, helping limit how much food can be eaten at one time and helping people feel full sooner.

📍 Diagram 1 shows where my lap band should be.

📍 Diagram 2 shows where mine has unfortunately slipped to.

Over the last several months, things have become harder than I realized. Eating has become painful and unpredictable. Food doesn't move through my stomach the way it should. Some days I can barely eat, and other days what I do eat comes right back up. I've spent months wondering why my body wasn't cooperating, and now I finally have my answer.

As scary as surgery can be, I'm honestly relieved. I'm more than ready to evict this little troublemaker from my body. I'm ready to stop hurting. I'm ready to eat without worrying about what will happen afterward.

Recovery, though, is going to slow me down for a while.

If you know me, you know I'm not very good at sitting still. I'm usually the one showing up with a meal, checking in on others, or helping families through one of the biggest moments of their lives. Asking for help doesn't come naturally to me.

But one of the biggest lessons birth work has taught me is that healing was never meant to happen alone. We all deserve a village, and sometimes we have to let our village love us the same way we've loved them.

So...I'm leaning on mine. ❤️

During recovery, I'd love some help taking one thing off my plate...while also literally helping put food on ours. Meadow and Dakota will still need to eat, even while Mom is parked on the couch healing. Dakota will be working from home while helping take care of me, so having meals already figured out would be one less thing for us to worry about.

I've created a Meal Train for our family. Whether it's a homemade dinner, a freezer meal, takeout, groceries, a restaurant gift card, or simply signing up for a day that works for you, every act of kindness will help carry us through this season.

If you're able to help, you can sign up here:

❤️ https://mealtrain.com/degqyl

And if you're not in a place to help financially or with a meal, I completely understand. Sharing this post, sending a message, saying a prayer, or simply keeping us in your thoughts means just as much.

Life has taught me that villages matter.

Thank you for loving us, checking on us, feeding us, encouraging us, and reminding me that it's okay to be the one receiving care for a change.

We love you all so much. ❤️