REAL. RAW. RISING.

Two years ago, I had the worst scare of my life. I was packing the kids for burn camp when my left cheek went numb… then my arm… then my whole ‘left side of my body’. My face started drooping, I couldn’t say my own name, couldn’t speak. Within 30 minutes, I was completely paralyzed on my left side—from my eye socket to my foot.

My mom rushed me to the hospital. I sat in triage for 30 minutes before they finally wheeled me into a CT scan. My blood pressure was 194/113. My brain felt foggy and disconnected.

I remember looking at my mom and thinking, “this is it… I’m going to die at 37 years old.”

The doctor yelled for the team to move faster. Stroke. They gave me a TNK blocker. For a moment I thought it was helping—until it wasn’t.

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I’d Seen Pain Before, But Never Like This

I’ve spent countless hours in hospitals with my children. I have PTSD from it, though I didn’t realize it at the time. I’ve witnessed horrific procedures. I’ve watched people take their last breaths. I’ve held the hands of people I love as they passed.

But this time, it was me lying in the bed. Me fighting for my life.

The doctor called a code blue. Suddenly, the room was full—doctors, specialists, nurses—everyone imaginable. My tongue swelled. My face twisted. I couldn’t form a single word. I turned to see my husband’s face, and I cried.

All I could think was: I’m not ready. I have so much I still want to do.
I didn’t have a will. I didn’t say goodbye to my kids. I was terrified to leave my husband alone with our children, knowing he was still fragile in his own recovery.

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The Promise I Made

They rushed me to another hospital. Somewhere in the chaos, I made a promise to myself:

If I survive this, I will stop hiding behind fear, the “what ifs,” and the bullshit we tell ourselves to stay small.

Thankfully—I survived. But survival didn’t mean it was over.

I spent almost three months in a wheelchair. My kids, my husband, my mom had to care for me like I was incapable. I was too weak to hold my child’s birthday cake. Too unstable to stand in the shower without help. I lost my driver’s license.

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Rock Bottom

All of it pulled me into a deep depression. I felt like a burden. I lost friends. I had doctors who didn’t care. My life had always been hectic, but this… this was a whole new level of grief and isolation.

I’m forever grateful to the suicide hotline for answering when I was alone and done. They reminded me there was another path. That moment cracked something open inside me—it was my awakening. My calling.

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The Other Side

It hasn’t been an easy two years. F***, my life has never been easy. But I’m finally coming out the other side. My stroke became my blessing. My spiritual awakening.

This is my passion now—my mission—to help others see their true selves before they hit crisis, and to guide those already in rock bottom back to themselves.

I am resilient. I am strong. I carry wisdom, and I lead with my heart.

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Your Turn

Let’s use our life lessons—our lived experiences—to become the best versions of ourselves. Don’t let your past determine your future. Use it as fuel. Let it ignite you.

My healing journey has been messy and profound, and it will always continue. I’m growing, evolving, and learning. I say yes to new experiences because I want to feel. I want to try new things.

So, follow this journey—and say yes to something new. Something that scares you, excites you, or makes you feel alive. Maybe it’s a yoga class. A retreat. A plant medicine journey. A walk in nature. Getting naked in the wilderness. Finding a new community. Booking that photoshoot. Loving yourself. Setting boundaries. Speaking your truth. Or all of the above!

Because life is too short to wait for the “right time.” The time is now. Do It For You!

I’ve been where you are—lost, scared, unsure if I’d ever get back up. And I’m here to tell you… you can. You will. You are stronger than you think, and your future is so much bigger than your past.

Take time to smell the flowers. Love your beautiful self—body, mind, and soul. Dance like no one is watching… because you are always watching.

Thankfully, it was a TIA and I recovered fully. It took me three months in a wheelchair and a lot of emotional work to get here. I’m grateful for the blessing and the lessons—it changed me in all the ways I needed.

This is who I am. Shelley Cormier!
REAL. RAW. RISING.

“Say yes to the thing that scares you, excites you, or sets your soul on fire—because you were never meant to live half-alive.” – Shelley