Live Well, It’s More Than Physical Healing

By Erica Tyner

“When I joined the Live Well program my personal goals were to lose weight, reduce my cholesterol and to feel better about myself physically. It is safe to say, that what I got was so much more,” commented Aaron Donnell a Live Well participant. During his first visit Aaron met with the team’s nurse practitioner, Jan Woesner. The two worked together to develop a plan to help him meet his goals. As Aaron expected, he would be meeting with a registered dietitian, Karen Ramey, and a fitness coach, Ryan Veness, on a regular basis. To his surprise Jan recommended that he also see Jessica Cowan, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, the program counselor. As a local pastor, Aaron frequently counsels’ others and thought it odd to have the roles reversed, but he complied with the recommendation of seeing all three providers throughout the 12-week program. 

Within his first few visits Aaron’s guard dropped as he could see the team genuinely cared for his well-being and believed in him. “Ryan worked around my injuries in the gym and showed me how to stay active and motivated even when going to the gym was not an option. Karen helped me rethink the way I saw food. I stopped eating for comfort and started eating to fuel the person I wanted to become. On the days I fell short of the plan, my team was there to lift me up and remind me that one bad day does not equate failure. They encouraged me to get back up and do better tomorrow.” In just a few short weeks Aaron noticed his body transforming. Weight was falling off, passing the plateaus he had come accustomed to battling, his cholesterol was dropping, and he found he was able to complete workouts he had once thought of as daunting. He was well on his way to meeting his physical health goals.  

While undergoing this physical transformation Aaron also began to see a change in his mental health. During his sessions with Jessica he found the strength to revisit past incidents of childhood abuse, traumas he had stowed away for many years. With Jessica’s guidance and his own dedication to himself, Aaron was able to sift through his past and gain a self-confidence he had never had before. “I know now that I am valued. I would have never said that before this program. As part of my profession I give of myself daily, I serve the needs of others, oftentimes, at the cost of neglecting my own needs. This program and this team of people helped me realize that it is okay to take care of myself. And I have found that I am now whole myself, and I can better serve my congregation.”  This realization is one that has been noticed not only by Aaron, but those in his personal and professional life. Those closest to him have seen his positivity grow, his self-worth expand, and his new-found confidence transform him into the leader God called him to be.  

Today Aaron is leading his congregation with a new-found sense of self. His weight and cholesterol have both dropped to healthy ranges, and he is happy with who he has become. “This team has become like family to me. I know I can call them whenever I need support. If it weren’t for them, the people behind the program, I know I would have quit.” This sentiment shared by Aaron is the common theme shared by of many of our Live Well participants. It is this unique team and their dedication to each patient that walks through their doors that makes this program so great. They have a “no judgment approach” to care, and their willingness to listen no matter the time of day all contribute to providing an exceptional patient experience.  

 ###

Erica Tyner, is Adventist Health Ukiah Valley‘s Marketing Account Manager.