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A fall on a birthday changed everything—and sparked a plan that’s equal parts grit and vision. We open up about living with a hip 50% out of its socket, the decision to move forward with replacement surgery, and the systems we’re putting in place to make recovery sustainable. From pre-op countdowns and pain management to the day-by-day updates we’ll record after surgery, you’ll hear how structure, community, and honest storytelling turn fear into forward motion.

At the same time, we lay out a big academic move: stepping back from work through spring to pursue counseling at Grand Canyon University and reviving a path in fashion communications and styling at the Academy of Art. The cornerstone is inclusion—building disability-forward styling that respects braces and mobility aids, designs for seated wear, simplifies closures, and still looks sharp and personal. We talk about why counseling pairs with fashion: the goal is confidence, self-advocacy, and safety, delivered through practical design and empathetic care.

We also get candid about accessibility in higher education: requesting accommodations, managing timelines around PT and recovery, and navigating FAFSA and student loans without losing momentum. There’s no sugarcoating the friction between disability and college bureaucracy, but there’s also a clear strategy: backup plans, flexible formats, and firm boundaries. Community shows up in powerful ways—from aides and local friends to a hip replacement forum where support flows both directions.

If you’re navigating surgery, balancing school with disability, or curious about adaptive fashion and counseling as a combined path, this conversation offers a grounded map and real talk about the tradeoffs. Subscribe, share this with someone facing a big medical decision, and leave a review with your best recovery tips or accessibility wins—we’ll read our favorites on a future show.

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