Stories of Hope AZ

Survivor of 6 spinal tumors, and a brain tumor and has lost over 125 pounds - Erin Powell

Meet Erin Powell, she is a survivor of 6 spinal tumors, and a brain tumor and has lost over 125 pounds.
Her journey lead her down a dark path of depression and overeating getting to the weight of 298 pounds.

Life through the eyes of a 10 year living with Scoliosis.... Meet Jax

Life through the eyes of a 10 year living with Scoliosis.... Meet Jax

 

YT pasted version description: Meet, Jax and her mother Angel Vargas Fuchs, (Girl With a Curve). The journey of living with Scoliosis 

Jax is a very active, positive, and outgoing 10-year-old, a passionate performer, dancer, community actress, and award-winning vocalist.
The day before Thanksgiving 2022, Jax was officially diagnosed with Scoliosis.

Follow Jax's journey on Instagram: @girl_with_a_curve 
^{Mar 22, 2023}

Getting U.S. Veterans Back on Their Feet - Jennifer Z Gewarges

“Serving Those Who Served”

Meet Jennifer Z Gewarges, the Executive Director for U.S. Vets -Phoenix (United States Veterans Initiative), a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization helping our veterans get back on their feet in the safe place they call home. 

US Vets- Phoenix provides multiple programs helping our veterans with education, job training/placement, learning basic survival skills, helping assist in identifying their personal triggers, PTSD, sexual trauma, and more. 

www.usvets.org/phoenix
Email: Jgewarges@usvets.org

Studio sponsor: The Motivated Mind Group
(Your local global creative agency based in downtown Chandler, Az)

^{Mar 10, 2023}

Healing Through Art After Loss - Jodie Walton

Meet Jodie Walton, tragically Jodi lost her son David on July 25th, 2019 while working for the DOT in Horry S.C. David was filling a pothole with his coworker when a box truck came through unable to stop, hitting the stopped cars, injuring several, and unfortunately killing Jodi’s son and his coworker.
 
Jodi found therapy and healing by painting rocks with messages and words of love, hope, and designs of comfort. Today her rocks are found all over the globe because people have placed her rocks of comfort and healing along their travels. Recently Jodi connected with Phoenix, Ronald McDonald House Charities sharing David's Rocks of love, inspiration, and encouragement with the families who are at a home away from home.

Studio sponsor: The Motivated Mind Group, your global creative agency based in downtown Chandler, AZ

”The Monster Within Me” a documentary living with Lyme Disease - Elena Zajac

In October 2022, at the Show Low Film Festival and at the January 2023 Chandler International Film Festival I had the privilege of meeting Director Tony Sylvia, his wife, Producer Frances Cecilia, and Elena Zajac. 

Together they made the documentary, "The Monster Inside Me". A documentary about two families from two different parts of the continent on a journey having Lyme Disease, the misdiagnosis, trials, and struggles of understanding and getting on a healing journey. 

To learn more visit: 
http://www.themonsterinsideme.com

^{Mar 16, 2023}

Adam and Andrea Bevell - Blind by age 30 (Retinitis Pigmentosa)

At age 14 Adam went for a routine eye exam to get contacts before entering high school. After being poked and prodded for over a year Adam and his mother were told Adam would lose his eyesight permanently within 4years due to the prognosis of Retinitis Pigmentosa. Adam beat the odds over the 4 years but soon his childhood and young adulthood would be forever changed as he began to slowly lose his eyesight and by age of 30 Adam became completely blind.

^{Mar 7, 2023}

Tamara Chmielewski - Burn Survivor

" Beauty is skin deep" Meet Tami Chmielewski Chmielewski, she is one of the strongest women I have met and interviewed on Stories of Hope

 

A short two-day weekend getaway turned into 63 days in the hospital, most of which were in the ICU Burn Unit. Returning home to Arizona on the 64th day. Her body was burned at 38% with 3rd degree burns from her chest down to her feet.

 

5 months later, hour by hour, day by day Tamara battles to get back to where she once was and has accepted this is her new norm. She is a beautiful person inside and out and in this interview, she talks about the truths she faces every day but also the blessings she receives. 

 

You can follow her journey of recovery on Instagram at TamiChm.   Very inspiring!

 

Thank you Tamara for trusting me with being vulnerable to sharing your journey. 

 

Studio sponsor: The Motivated Mind Group, A global creative agency based in downtown Chandler, AZ

^{Original release date: Mar 1, 2023}

Journey of Strange Love and Finding Identity - Crystal King

Meet Crystal King, and we talk about her journey of Strange Love and finding her identity. 

 

Crystal is the result of her parents being swingers/wife-swapping in the ’70s. Not knowing anything different about who her parents were growing up, she was told who her biological father was at the age of 12 after the man she always thought to be her father had passed away. 

 

Crystal proudly stands in her identity and success today but it took her until she was 40 to understand who she is and who she chooses to be. Her life was far from easy, but with many years of therapy, forgiveness, and self-help programs she finds peace and love in herself.