Having graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, and then having later received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Duquesne University, my education and career paths are diverse, accented by a nomadic life as a military spouse for a period of years and a vast array of life experiences that have shaped a very unique perspective on how we as women should be addressing our own health and wellness throughout of our lives.

My entire life has been a dynamic education in sociology, psychology, human behavior and what pushes people to make the decisions they do in life. Born into a military family, I’ve lived in Michigan, my parents’ home state for most of my life. My upbringing was filled with all the natural world had to offer and my life and learning has always been guided by a mother who had great respect for and understanding of Mother Nature, her raw power and all that she can provide. It is where my scientific and botanical education originates, and where my interests in therapy from the natural world are rooted.

Since nursing school I have focused heavily on psychology and women’s health and have spent the bulk of my adult life engrossed in reading, understanding and disseminating scientific research. Having been married to a United States Marine, and having lived a military lifestyle, including suffering from health issues due to contaminant exposure on different military installations and during my own fetal development, my insight into military medicine and the health struggles of those in today’s military guide much of my focus. A greater understanding of the challenges spouses and dependents face in regards to their health and wellness has been influential in shaping how I see the future of health and wellness in our world. The breadth of my life’s journey has provided me the opportunity to learn beyond my educational specialties, creating a more diverse appreciation for and greater understanding of the struggles and challenges others face. 

Very much a product of my cumulative lived experiences, like most I am heavily influenced by my own health and wellness challenges, not the least of which is a traumatic brain injury (TBI). After surviving a devastating and life-altering auto accident, I’ve spent more than 3 decades on my own TBI journey with no roadmap, knowing very little of what would lie ahead, and instead learning along the way, persevering with some astounding internal fortitude, and aided by a mother who sacrificed everyday of my life for me while she was on this earth. The lessons have been many, the journey long, and my greatest wish is to be the one for others, knowledgeable in health and wellness, that never existed for me. My hope is to let my trials and tribulations, study and knowledge be the stepping stones for others so that they may have a more peaceful existence as they learn to live with their new self, the post-TBI self that is ever-evolving and constantly changing. For women with traumatic brain injuries especially, my focus is rooted in finding solutions and healing in therapies and approaches so that the words “there’s nothing we can do” or “you’re just going to have to learn to live with it” are never heard again. No single approach to health and wellness is comprised of every available and possible treatment and as such a mosaic inclusionary approach of diverse health and wellness knowledge and application is the future of healthcare and a well-lived life. There is still much to be learned and understood about the human condition and successful ways of addressing imbalances and wellness goals is very individualized. 

Like myself, you may simply find your journey is destined to be off the beaten path, and it is my sincere hope that my travels may help light your way. Medical hemp and cannabis may be some of the tools that turn out to be difference makers for you. There is far more to be discovered than what is currently known about hemp and cannabis and new research, new discoveries and new knowledge will eventually fill the pages of the future’s scientific and medical textbooks. One must remember, the Endocannabinoid System (ECS) was only discovered in the mid 1990s, which means there is a lot of research on the horizon. We are only in the infancy of understanding how our own Endocannabinoid Systems work, but the horizon is glowing with promise.

Like so many of you, on any given day it is hard to see and understand some of the tiny miracles around every corner, but remember there are always, ALWAYS alternative approaches to research; “there’s nothing else we can do” is not a viable answer in my world! There will always be a road less travelled in any health and wellness journey, and for many a TBI survivor, there will always be roads that you will forge on your own. The key to a happier and more peaceful existence on the other side of a head injury, or any health challenge is in drawing from a diverse knowledge base in order to create the health and wellness foundation that works for you. 

It is said when you are born, you are a snowflake, and a TBI is just a remodeled snowflake, brimming with new ways of doing things and unique ways of seeing the world. So while there are all the disadvantages everyone else sees, there are a million little advantages that come from that remodel. It takes resiliency and perseverance, internal fortitude and trust in your intuition, along with a little bit of guidance along the way to help you to learn to understand yourself, this new you. There will good days and bad, but there are lessons in it all and your TBI just might be the protective shield that saves your soul some day. Whether a TBI or some other health challenge, it behooves every individual to become their own health advocate and it is with that ideology that PyrCanna hopes to become your partner in your journey. 

As with everything committed to the page, that which is written here is meant to move you as much as it is meant to remind me of what I have survived. After over 3 decades, I still have more than my fair share of bad days defined by my injuries, but I cannot call my stories tragedies if others benefit from that which I have survived. So it is with that firm belief that I strive to provide others with the knowledge gained so that they may benefit from my lived experiences. Hopefully it serves as a launching point in helping you find your own path to better days.

These are just a few of the aspects and experiences that have driven the development of PyrCanna. We operate from an ideology rooted in Cartesian theory, deconstructing health and wellness issues and therapies (and the rest of life if need be) in order to build a strong foundational understanding of the Mind-Body-Soul connection in your life. Our goals are to help you build a foundation of health and wellness based on sound principles and scientific fact, helping you to understand why things happen in order to build a future filled with better health and optimum wellness. 

Jill Christine
Founder of PyrCanna