​My full story

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"They Said I’d Be Fragile for Life. I Decided to Prove Them Wrong."

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A Childhood Shaped by Fragility

When I was 10 years old, a car accident changed everything. I spent one week in an artificial coma with a cranial fracture and severe spinal trauma. When I finally woke up, the neurosurgeon told my parents:

“She will always be fragile. Avoid sports. Don’t expect advanced academic ability. Prepare for limitations.”

From then on, fragility became my identity. My parents, wanting to protect me, treated me as someone who shouldn’t push too hard or take risks.

 

I grew up believing I was weak, fragile, and unsafe in my own body.

 

The accident left permanent consequences:

• Weakened C7 and C8 vertebrae in my neck

• Fragile lumbar disks causing chronic back pain

• Shoulder asymmetry that altered my posture and gait

• A compensatory walk that weakened the left side of my body, laying the foundation for Freiberg’s disease, a painful and irreversible foot condition

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Timeline of limitations and how I responded

• Age 10: The Neurosurgeon’s prediction: “She will likely struggle academically. Keep your expectations low.”

• In my 20s, I left my home country to build a new future. I earned a PhD in Linguistics in France, proving that my mind and determination were stronger than anyone imagined and most importantly that I was not the prisoner of my body.

• In my 30s … The Chiropractor’s warning: “You should plan for spinal surgery and lifelong traction after to support your neck and back.”

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Defying the medical diagnosis and the odds...

• Even with chronic pain, I built a demanding career, moved to the United States, and helped build the foundations of a tech start-up with my husband by my side. He has been my rock, supporting my career moves, encouraging me when pain made things harder, and standing by me through every setback.

• I had my first child in my late 30s, and after pregnancy, I gained significant weight and felt disconnected from my body.  I loved being a mom, but I hated what I saw in the mirror and struggled with my identity as a mother and a professional.

• In my 40s: The Orthopedist’s verdict: “Your foot condition, Freiberg’s disease, is irreversible. Avoid sports completely and accept reduced mobility. Surgery is an option, but it’s high-risk and may not even solve everything.”

• I made a bold decision in my 40s: I went back to school for an MBA while pregnant with my second child. It was one of the hardest things I had ever done, juggling studies, a newborn, my career, and chronic pain. Once again, my husband stood with me, quietly carrying the weight when I needed it most so I could push forward. Then came my breaking point: a severe Freiberg’s flare-up on a business trip left me unable to walk. Alone and scared, I thought: “If I don’t take control now, my life will keep shrinking, and I won’t be able to keep up with my kids.”

 

Discovering Pilates and Strength Training

That moment pushed me to act. I discovered Pilates, and it resonated because Joseph Pilates himself built his method from a weak, sickly body. I saw my own story in his. Pilates gave me safe, controlled movement.

But I wanted more power and resilience for me and for my kids. I added strength training, carefully adapted for my injuries, and eventually combined it with Pilates.

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The result was transformative:

• I became stronger and more mobile,

• My pain decreased significantly,

• For the first time in decades, I trusted my body again.

 

Building “Strong Again”

This experience inspired me to earn certifications as a Wellness & Health Coach, a Pilates Instructor and other certifications in anti-inflammatory nutrition. I wanted to help other women, especially moms, who felt trapped in fragile, painful, or changing bodies.

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"Strong Again Method" was born, blending:

• Strength training + Pilates for safe, sustainable fitness

• Nutrition strategies for inflammation and recovery

• Mindset coaching for consistency and resilience

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Where I Am Now

I’m not pain-free, but I am stronger, more mobile, and more confident than ever. I no longer hide from the mirror. I see a woman who fought back, not just for herself, but for her kids and her family. And I see a woman who is incredibly grateful to have had a partner who believed in her even when she didn’t believe in herself.

 

A Personal Note to You

Is this you? Do you feel like your body is holding you back from living fully and being there for the people you love?

 

Let me help you ...

I’ll share exactly what worked for me to move from fragile and fearful to strong and confident.
Check out the Strong Again Programs to assess which one is the best for you. Take the first step. Come home to your body!

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And ask yourself this:

Do you want to keep living like a victim or be a fighter and take control of your life?

Because if I can do it, even after decades of pain, weight gain, pregnancies, self-doubt, eating disorders, depression and with the quiet support of someone who believed in me, so can you.

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