I saw many job listings for massage therapists needed at resorts, and I realized that I needed to pursue a certification to do the work I had always loved. When I returned to Kentucky, a friend who had recently graduated from the Lexington Healing Arts Academy (LHAA) gave me a massage as a birthday gift. It was the most amazing massage I had ever experienced, and I knew that I would need to go to the same school if I wanted to be able to return the favor. I enrolled at LHAA a few months later, and my life has never been the same! 

While in school, we broached the subject of hospice massage, and something lit up inside me at that moment. I didn’t know how to go about it then, but I knew I had a calling to give the gift of massage to this very special population. It took almost ten years, but eventually I learned how I could serve this community. I am thankful now that it took me so long to find my way to Bluegrass Care Navigators (BCN). My previous experience has provided me with the background necessary to facilitate different personalities and bodies. Over the past few years of doing this work, I have seen massage provide immeasurable benefit for patients, from the most basic results, like physical relief, to more deeply felt experiences, such as emotional acceptance of one's body and the need to be cared for.  I cannot fully express my gratitude for being able to provide massage to the folks who need it most, patients and caregivers alike. 

If I wanted to tell BCN team members one thing about massage, it would be that massage is so much more than just a way to treat physical pain. Massage is a way to connect with our patients and our own bodies both physically and emotionally. Massage provides a space for healing that is unlike any other modality. It is wordless and infinitely profound in the transformation that can take place in a gentle atmosphere of acceptance and support. Without a doubt, EVERYONE needs a massage! At least once in a lifetime - preferably, at least once a month!