Today we’d like to introduce you to Kim McNeill.
Hi Kim, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I spent 20 years or so being met with shrugs by well-meaning doctors. I had a laundry list of ailments that I just knew had to be connected but no doctor could explain or cure me. In the Spring of 2022, I hit a breaking point. My nutritionist, with whom I had worked for years, saw my well-balanced daily food logs of around 1200 calories a day and saw the scale rising 1-2 pounds a week and hit the alarm: something really wasn’t adding up. In addition to the weight gain, I was swollen, had muscle and joint pain that prevented me from walking too far, was experiencing chronic migraines, enduring a wonky thyroid and hormone imbalances on top of Endometriosis pain and PCOS. I had developed sleep apnea, extreme sensitivity to hot or cold, my hair was falling out, and my sinus and allergy symptoms were out of control. My nutritionist referred me to an integrative medicine specialist. It was the first time a medical professional spent an hour listening to my long list of issues then looked me directly in the eye and committed to figuring it all out. I cried.
It took 4 months but I was diagnosed with Mold Toxicity. The way mold can attack every cell in the body – especially a body like mine that has trouble detoxing – explained every last issue I had been having for years. Finally! An answer! And a fix! But the road to health was about to get very bumpy.
Mold treatment is intense when you are as sick as I was. I had to quit a job I loved to focus on treatment full time. I created spreadsheets of schedules for my infrared sauna treatments, rebounding, red light therapy, epsom salt baths, prescriptions, and supplements. I did three months of anti fungal treatments which made me feel like I had the flu every day. I was exhausted constantly as I sent the mold kicking and screaming out of my cells.
I relied on my close friends and family for support. They showed up for me in ways that I will never be able to show adequate appreciation for. Still, mold treatment is a lonely journey. Some didn’t believe that Mold Toxicity was a thing. Others just didn’t understand how difficult or painful treatment could be. But my inner circle championed me and stuck with me through all the rough parts. Those deep and abiding relationships taught me so much.
Intense treatment took about nine months. At fourteen months, my integrative medicine specialist declared “we are done with the mold!” I cried again but this time, tears of joy. I started back to work slowly and with a new appreciation of taking care of my body. I used to have a “I’ll sleep when I’m dead” mentality and would exhaust my body for work priorities as well as social adventures. I’ve learned to slow down and take care of this one body I’ve got. I continue to take quite a few supplements that my body needs to function properly. I have continued with infrared sauna treatments 3-4 times a week. And I’m careful to avoid exposure to toxins in the environment since my body will always be bad at detoxing.
Today, I’m working from home as a nonprofit consultant and, at 45 years old, I can honestly say I feel the best I’ve ever felt in my adult life. Mold caused me to blow up my entire life, leave a job I loved, and spend tens of thousands of dollars on treatment. But I have learned lessons about myself and others that will carry me through the next 45 years. While I can’t say I’d be willing to go through it again, I’m so grateful for what I’ve learned and the life I have on the other side.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Mold treatment is not well understood and very expensive! Once I finally found a medical practitioner that would listen to me, believe me, and work to help me, funding all of the treatment was a huge challenge. Integrative medicine is often not covered by insurance and supplements are pricey. Add all of that on top of being out of work for 9 months. Mold treatment can be impossible for so many who aren’t able to find ways to manage the financial burden.
Additionally job hunting while going through treatment was impossible. My brain was not fully functioning during treatment so explaining a gap in my resume, without explaining my whole medical history, required a delicate dance.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m an Associate with moss+ross Consulting. We help nonprofits with fundraising, strategic planning, executive search, and more. I’m so proud to be associated with this special group of folks who love NC and do so much to contribute to the nonprofits in the area. I left a stellar 20 year career in youth ministry when I was diagnosed and was unsure where I would land once I moved through the difficulty of treatment. moss+ross has allowed me to explore new ways of serving others and it is incredibly fulfilling. I find that I get to learn and grow with each new nonprofit and I’m so lucky to be connected to more and more nonprofits in the triangle doing such good work for our community.
I also have my own coaching business – Coach Kim NC – https://coachkimnc.com. I completed Coaching training with Holmes Coaching Group in 2020 and offer coaching in leadership, decision making, health and wellness, chronic illness, and more.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I am generally risk-averse. I like to evaluate, plan, and prepare for everything. While I have a good gut sense that I trust, I prefer to weigh the pros and cons so that I can make the best decision about my next move. My experience with Mold Toxicity turned all of that on its head, at least for a time. I quit my job – a huge risk – with no plan except to endure mold treatment. I truly lived day by day for almost a year as I listened to my body and did what it said to do. After a year, I was more than ready to get back to making decisions based on what made sense versus how I felt each day. I did take some lessons from my risky days of treatment. While I still enjoy planning and preparing and evaluating all sides of a decision, I know that I’m capable of taking a big risk and landing on my feet!
Pricing:
- See https://coachkimnc.com for coaching pricing
Contact Info:
- Website: https://coachkimnc.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachkimnc
