My Story of Darkness and Light - Sharing Hope

Hello. I’m Christina Stefani.

Let me tell you a story—the story of my last couple of years, one of extreme heartache and despair, light, growth, love, and happy endings. Maybe it will be familiar to you. Perhaps you are on a similar road. 

My husband passed away in my arms on Christmas day, 2022. I found myself at the lowest point imaginable. I had been his only caregiver for many years. 

Grieving. Terrified. Broken. Sick. Exhausted. Weak. Alone.

When his health began failing several years earlier, nearly all of our family and friends dropped us like hot potatoes. So, I was alone and had no support system to rely on. 

And did I mention that I was nearly penniless? That, too. Salt in my wounds, right? 

Our entire savings was gone. Every penny was spent on medical bills. Turns out, in the American healthcare system, multiple strokes and all that comes with cardiac failure are incredibly expensive, even with “good” insurance.

My banker asked me,  “What are you doing for food?”

It was that bad. 

My accountant told me to quit and close our art business, which is my husband’s life work. It had been his joy and passion since 1967, and we had relished working side-by-side for our entire 20-year marriage. 

Physically, I was a mess:

• Skin cancer on my face
• Debilitating vertigo
• Thyroid issues, including eight nodules, one of which stuck out like a walnut on my neck
• Elevated cortisol and a myriad of stress-related symptoms 
• Bloated and rapidly gaining weight despite exercise and “healthy” eating
• Hair falling out in clumps

Not a pretty sight. 

My traditional medical doctor said I was “fine.” My bloodwork was within normal range, so there was nothing to pursue. “Unremarkable” was the word he used. 

Mentally, I wasn’t any better:

• Brain fog
• Depression
• Creativity was non-existent (I’m an artist, so that’s BAD)
• No attention span

I couldn't even look at a camera or a paintbrush. There was too much pain. Besides, my creativity was dried up, washed away by tears. 

I knew that to survive, I had to seek answers for myself. 

Somehow, I had to learn how to come alive again. I set out to discover for myself how to heal. Heal my body. Heal my mind. Heal my soul. Maybe even become creative again. 

It was either that or give up.

But I had promised my husband that I would take care of myself. It was one of the last things he asked me to do as he was taking his last breaths on this earth. I couldn't let him down. 

In the face of this immense loss, I had to find the strength to carry on.

So, I threw myself into learning everything I could. I was committed to my own growth and healing. 

Among others, I studied:

• Toxins and poisons in our food and homes
• Exercise
• Nutrition 
• Herbal remedies
• Natural skincare and cosmetics

I returned to school and earned accreditation as a skincare formulator specializing in natural and sustainable ingredients. 

I made a LOT of mistakes. The grief and physical symptoms seemed overwhelming at times. OK, most times. But slowly, ever so, things started to get better. 

Now, I’m not only a survivor; I'm thriving. And my hair came back! 

I'm sharing my journey and what I found out here in the hopes that it will help you. Pick and choose what works for you. If anything I went through can help and make your life brighter, it will all be worth it. 

Be beautiful, fearless, fit, & nourished. Be unstoppable.

My journey will help and inspire you. You’re not alone. There’s light at the end. It’s on the way.