Hey Fighters – It’s Liv
I’m grateful you’re here.
I didn’t build my life from perfect health or an easy road.
I built it from uncertainty, determination, and a belief that my story wasn’t over, even when it felt like everything was working against me.
I became a CHRONIC FIGHTER long before I had a name for it.
I didn’t grow up with the kind of health most people take for granted.
I grew up dealing with symptoms no one could explain and diagnoses that kept adding up.
I had to learn how to support myself on the days when even simple tasks felt impossible.
Now, I help young people living with chronic illness shift from just getting by to living with real purpose.
And one moment — in an airport of all places — proved that my illness didn’t get to decide what experiences I had.
Here’s what happened…
The Seizure at Gate C12
I’m sitting in the Minneapolis airport food court, eating Chick-fil-A fries (they’re gluten-free, such a treat for me!). My nine family members around me — we’re heading to Hawaii for a dream vacation.
And then it hits...
A wave of dizziness so strong my vision blurs.
I know exactly what’s coming.
I text my mom and sneak away quietly, hoping no one else notices.
I lock myself in a bathroom stall and sit on the floor as a non-epileptic seizure takes over.
My mom finds me minutes later — calm but terrified in that way only a mom can be. She knows the drill. It has to run its course. And she knows I always get myself somewhere safe when I feel it coming.
We weren’t sure if we’d make the flight.
But I knew this, even in that moment:
Missing the flight because of a seizure was better than missing the entire trip out of fear.
Because that’s been the pattern my entire life:
My symptoms had a way of crashing the moments I cared about most.
Chronic Illness Doesn’t Take a Vacation
I did make that flight.
And I did have an amazing trip.
But it wasn’t effortless the way it was for everyone else.
I had to fuel constantly.
Hydrate like it was my job.
Pace myself so I wouldn’t crash.
Regulate my nervous system — yes, even on vacation. And most of all, remind myself how lucky I was to be there… instead of feeling sorry for myself that it was harder for me.
The Struggles No One Saw
My body had been unpredictable my entire life.
On the outside, I looked like every other kid sprinting across the playground.
But inside?
My body didn’t function like it should.
Some mornings I woke up doubled over with stomach pain, unable to eat.
Other days dizziness hit so fast I had to grab my dresser so I wouldn’t fall.
Migraines took me out for days — shades down, sunglasses on, ice cap strapped to my head (quite a look!).
I missed weeks of school at a time and watched the pile of makeup work grow — along with the anxiety that came with it.
Kids teased me when I finally returned.
To go to sleepovers without thinking twice.
To eat birthday cake instead of the GoGo Squeeze my mom packed just in case.
(That was the best you could do, Mom??)
People saw an outgoing, silly girl.
They didn’t see the kid crying before school from symptoms no doctor could explain.
Doctors, teachers, and coaches along the way questioned what i could accomplish, but that only motivated me even more.
"People with chronic illness don't fake being sick.
They fake being well."
Against All Odds
Fast-forward.
My first college soccer game.
Heat rising off the turf.
My teammates cheering.
My name announced in the starting lineup as a freshman.
And then…with 7 minutes left in the game…
That goal.
The only goal of the game.
For a split second, the world went silent.
Then there was such a rush — teammates mobbing me, coaches yelling, the whole crowd on their feet - it was a big moment for me.
All of those doctors’ warnings, classmates’ jokes, coaches who didn’t think I was capable or strong enough.
This moment was proof:
The fighter in me would always win. And it’s what got me here.
But that didn’t mean life suddenly got easy.
How I Learned to
Fight smarter not harder
I survived that season — and the next — because I was a fighter in how I cared for my body:
Sleep. Fuel. Hydration. Routine. Mindset. Repeat.
Every tiny, intentional choice that kept me moving forward.
Even though there were some days I was just going through the motions and surviving.
Even though there were times when I had to go back home.
Times when symptoms would get worse, or new symptoms would arise.
Moments when it felt like everything was falling apart AGAIN.
But there was always one tiny spark — a stubborn little voice saying: “I’m not giving in.”
So I rebuilt — slowly. Every time.
One morning routine I could actually do. One short walk on a day I could stand.
One moment of calm in a stormy body.
Little by little, I pieced myself back together.
And That’s When I Realized Something Huge
I had unintentionally created a method.
For years, I lived in a body that didn’t behave the way it was supposed to — navigating symptoms, setbacks, and doctors who never saw the full picture.
Over time, I learned how to better understand my body, adapt to challenges, respond to symptoms without fear, and find peace in the present while still giving myself room to grow.
The lessons I learned along the way eventually became the foundation of everything we teach at The Chronic Fighter.
Built around five Fighter Fundamentals, The Chronic Fighter Method is a compassionate, realistic approach to navigating chronic illness and building a meaningful life alongside it.
Learn More About the Fighter Fundamentals →
Becoming Your Own FIGHTER
At its core, this method is everything I wish someone had handed me when I was younger. Now, it's how I get to help the next generation of Fighters.
A chronic fighter isn't someone who pretends to be cured or simply pushes harder.
It's someone who discovers strength, identity, and possibility within their current reality and learns how to build a meaningful life from exactly where they are.
Ready to learn how to work with your body so you can finally live your life again?
Book Your Free Discovery Session →A Mother–Daughter Mission
The Chronic Fighter didn’t start as a business. It began with a family’s personal experience. Liv has been navigating chronic illness her entire life, and Missy has walked every step beside her as a parent, supporter, and advocate.
Together, they built The Chronic Fighter to empower young people and their families.
Liv — Founder & Lead Coach
Missy
Co-Founder & Client Coordinator
Missy is the behind-the-scenes half of The Chronic Fighter. She handles client onboarding, scheduling, communication, payments, and day-to-day operations. As a parent who walked this path with Liv, she understands the confusion, overwhelm, and helplessness parents feel — and is here to support you just as Liv supports your child.
