Over the past 20 years as a holistic acupuncturist, I have been privileged to facilitate hundreds of people to overcome a variety of health conditions.
Among all the patients and clients, there’s a handful of them that single-handedly gave me that feeling of completion; that feeling of “I have done what I was put on this earth to do. I can die at peace now.”
My podcast guest today, Dr. Nicole O’Brien, may very well be on the top of that list!
What Nicole has taught me over the years of our time together, first in treatment sessions then later in our friendship, is the definition of determination, of purpose, of faith and pure love. ❤️
She’s an incredible example of what we can do in our Second Spring!
As you will hear in our conversation, Nicole’s case was complex. Her nervous system responded to the traumatic experience by leaving her with no voice, and intense upper body tightness (from trying to get any speech out when she could and overall stress of being a mom of 4, a busy doctor, etc etc).
We started with acupuncture sessions, then I added reflexology, cupping, acupressure, craniosacral therapy and eventually, I facilitated some very profound therapeutic hypnosis sessions.
With unbelievable patience and courage, Nicole worked at gaining her voice back gradually. I am thrilled to that she is back to talking and personally sharing her stories with us.
It is an understatement that I am so grateful to have Nicole on the Second Spring podcast!
Please enjoy and check out the show notes below to learn more about Nicole and her family’s life’s work in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Help spread the word by sharing this episode with anyone who can benefit from our conversation. I appreciate your support!
Dr. Nicole O’Brien is a critical care physician at Nationwide Children’s hospital in Columbus, Ohio. She’s also an Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine for the Ohio State University College of Medicine.
In 2015, Nicole received the Fulbright Africa Regional Research Program award to work in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. She’s also received several NIH grants for research related to neurologic diseases in remote regions of Africa.
Along with her husband Will O’Brien, Nicole founded Restore Elikia, a nonprofit organization that works to provide sustainable orphan care and community development in a remote region of the Congo.
Nicole is a mom of four children. She travels back and forth between Ohio and Africa. When stateside, she and her family call Bexley home.
Several years ago, Nicole and Will faced the unimaginable loss of their adopted children from the Congo. That experience both traumatized them (including losing the ability to speak for Nicole), and guided them to living the purpose they have shared all along.
Listen to their fascinating story of grit and determination, and how Nicole overcame her limitations despite all the challenges. At the end of the conversation, Nicole shares how she’s choosing to live fully and what she thinks we need to do to optimize our second chapter.
Check out Restore Elikia
Second Spring Podcast: Nicole O'Brien