Three Fairy Godmothers

Debra, Brenda and Derenda.

Those are my three fairy godmothers.

Each of them has been gifted to my life.

Each at time when they were desperately needed.

Each when I was uncertain as to how I could continue as I was.

Debra is a psychiatric nurse practionner with jet black hair and kind blue eyes.  She likes to ride horses and has a flock of chickens.

She took a detailed life history and said "Have you ever thought you might have PTSD?"

Actually, despite the fact that I am a licensed clinical psychologist and work with trauma victims, the idea hadn't occured to me.  After all, the difficult experiences I've gone through are nothing compared to most of my clients.  I thought depression explained everything. But the recognition of my experiences opened up a new understanding that lead to growth and healing.

Brenda entered my life when I needed a my own therapist.

Brenda is a licensed clinical social worker.  She also had kind eyes but hers are brown.  She has her office in a Victorian style house surrounded by beautiful gardens.  

She took a detailed life history and asked "Do you think maybe you are doing too much?"

Work was overwhelming and I had a lot of child clients who where victims of trauma.  My extended family had a lot of needs.  I had trouble setting boundaries.  Again, the recognition of my experiences opened up a new understanding that lead to growth and healing.

Derenda is a naturopathic doctor.  She was named after her mom's best friend.  Her kind eyes are accompanied by gentle hands.  Derenda is a gardener and an herbalist.  Plants and people thrive under her care.

She took a detailed life history and said "I think you have a genetic mutation that causes you body to lack an important enzyme.  It is called methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase or MTHFR."

I'd been tired since 6th grade and medical providers had never been able to identify the problem or suggest a treatment.  I went 25 years needing at least 10 hours of sleep every night and still experiencing fatigue.  

Getting an injection of the enzyme once a week was like having a light turned on in a dark house.  

Derenda has also recently diagnosed me with chronic Lyme disease (which I wrote about here).  I expect that when treatment is done it will be like having all the lights turned on in a dark house. 

As with my first two fairy godmothers, the recognition of my experiences opened up a new understanding that lead to growth and healing.   

These three women have helped me reach, and continue to grow towards, contentment and peace.  That is way more valuable than a pair of glass slippers.