April 29, 2026
I Told My Daughter She Could Go | Jody Hudson | 059
What would you do in your daughter’s final moments?
After years of battling a mysterious illness that was later diagnosed as Lyme disease, Jody Hudson found herself standing beside her 22-year-old daughter’s bed faced with a challenging direction.
In this deeply emotional and faith-filled conversation, Jody shares the moment she felt prompted to do something no parent ever wants to do—give her daughter permission to let go. What happened next changed her faith forever and revealed a perspective on grief, God, and purpose that will stay with you long after this episode ends.
But this story doesn’t begin there.
From a childhood marked by instability, to divorce and financial collapse, to a decade-long fight to save her daughter from Lyme disease —Jody’s journey is one of pain, resilience, and ultimately, purpose.
You’ll also hear:
• The real impact of Lyme disease and why it’s often misdiagnosed
• The emotional toll of watching a child suffer—and not being able to fix it
• A powerful moment where Jody cried out to God in anger… and what happened next
• The meaning behind the bluebird that appeared every day at 3PM
• How she turned unimaginable loss into a mission to help others
This is more than a story about loss.
It’s a story about faith in the darkest moments—and what it looks like to keep showing up anyway.
👉 Learn more about Jody’s work and her foundation:
https://alexhudsonlymefoundation.org
👉 Get her book My Promise to Alex https://www.amazon.com/My-Promise-Alex-Jody-Hudson/dp/B09RM8WP5N
When You Look Links
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@WhenYouLookShow
Be a Guest https://www.whenyoulook.com/beaguest
Website https://www.whenyoulook.com/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/whenyoulookshow/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/whenyoulookshow/
Chapters
0:33 - Meet Jody Hudson
3:03 - Jody's Daughter, Alex
6:43 - Not Defined By Your Past
12:46 - Raw Moments With God
18:42 - Lyme Disease
25:05 - Coincidence or God?
26:30 - How Has Your Life Changed?
29:31 - Jody's Contact Info
1
00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:04,280
I just felt like God nudging on
me, saying you need to let her
2
00:00:04,280 --> 00:00:07,080
go.
And so in that moment, I told
3
00:00:07,080 --> 00:00:10,320
her, I said, you know, Alex, I
want you to be pain free.
4
00:00:10,360 --> 00:00:12,520
I'm giving you permission.
You can go, it's OK.
5
00:00:12,520 --> 00:00:17,440
And she lifted up her head and
she opened up her eyes and she
6
00:00:17,440 --> 00:00:21,720
had this big, big smile,
beautiful smile on her face.
7
00:00:22,520 --> 00:00:25,960
And she gasped.
Welcome to When you Look where
8
00:00:26,040 --> 00:00:29,960
ordinary people share their
extraordinary experiences and
9
00:00:29,960 --> 00:00:32,240
you get to decide was it
coincidence?
10
00:00:32,439 --> 00:00:37,080
Or God, Jodie, thanks so much
for being on When You Look.
11
00:00:37,080 --> 00:00:39,200
Really delighted to have you on
the show.
12
00:00:39,520 --> 00:00:43,360
I am super jazzed to be on the
show and to be talking to your
13
00:00:43,360 --> 00:00:47,200
listeners about my story.
Yeah, well, we're delighted to
14
00:00:47,200 --> 00:00:51,160
have you and really interested
in hearing exactly that, your
15
00:00:51,160 --> 00:00:53,840
story.
But before we get there, tell us
16
00:00:53,840 --> 00:00:55,680
a little bit about yourself.
Sure.
17
00:00:55,920 --> 00:00:59,960
So I am a speaker, author,
advocate.
18
00:01:00,840 --> 00:01:06,520
I worked in the nonprofit field
for about 18 years and I
19
00:01:06,520 --> 00:01:10,720
thoroughly enjoyed that, which
has kind of led me to what I do
20
00:01:10,720 --> 00:01:14,680
now with Alex's foundation.
I started a nonprofit
21
00:01:14,880 --> 00:01:17,080
foundation, Alex Hudson Lyme
Foundation.
22
00:01:17,440 --> 00:01:23,680
So I work on advocating for Lyme
patients, creating awareness.
23
00:01:24,040 --> 00:01:28,160
And then also in my spare time,
I talk about my book that came
24
00:01:28,160 --> 00:01:32,920
out in 2022 and really has taken
off on Angel wings and has
25
00:01:32,920 --> 00:01:38,520
become a bestseller and won best
memoir with the Christian Indie
26
00:01:38,840 --> 00:01:43,040
Book Awards.
So just amazed at what God has
27
00:01:43,040 --> 00:01:46,280
done in my life and is
continuing to do in my life.
28
00:01:46,600 --> 00:01:49,880
And now I'm being a guest on
podcast shows.
29
00:01:50,040 --> 00:01:53,200
So you just never know.
Yeah, indeed.
30
00:01:53,760 --> 00:01:57,840
And we're really excited to hear
about what God is doing in your
31
00:01:57,840 --> 00:02:01,480
life, particularly because
there's a lot of tragedy not
32
00:02:01,480 --> 00:02:07,280
only for you, you know, prior to
Alex, but with and through Alex.
33
00:02:07,280 --> 00:02:10,440
But before we get to that, you
mentioned your book, it's called
34
00:02:10,440 --> 00:02:12,800
My Promise to Alex.
If you didn't actually mention
35
00:02:12,800 --> 00:02:16,520
the title, we'll make sure that
we link to that in the show
36
00:02:16,520 --> 00:02:18,960
description.
But but start to get into your
37
00:02:18,960 --> 00:02:21,240
stories already.
Tell us a little bit about where
38
00:02:21,240 --> 00:02:24,960
things start, how they progress,
and how it all unfolds.
39
00:02:25,120 --> 00:02:27,840
My gosh, so my stories within a
story.
40
00:02:27,840 --> 00:02:30,480
So I'm literally going to take
it back to when I was born
41
00:02:30,480 --> 00:02:35,040
because I was born to a single
mother who couldn't care for me,
42
00:02:35,040 --> 00:02:41,280
so she placed me in foster care.
I was eventually adopted, but
43
00:02:41,280 --> 00:02:45,600
the unfortunate thing about that
was I was brought into a family
44
00:02:45,600 --> 00:02:48,880
where both parents were battling
from alcoholism.
45
00:02:49,400 --> 00:02:53,360
So I tell people I spent most of
my childhood trying to forget
46
00:02:53,360 --> 00:02:57,640
about my childhood.
And then Fast forward to 2011,
47
00:02:57,880 --> 00:03:02,560
where after 20 years of
marriage, I became divorced,
48
00:03:02,920 --> 00:03:07,840
bankrupt, and also during that
same period of time, that is
49
00:03:07,840 --> 00:03:12,680
when I was trying to help my
daughter Alex figure out what
50
00:03:12,680 --> 00:03:17,240
was going on with her medical
mystery, where she had been
51
00:03:17,240 --> 00:03:19,880
battling this for about 10
years.
52
00:03:20,800 --> 00:03:25,440
Eventually we got the right
diagnosis in 2017, but
53
00:03:25,440 --> 00:03:27,680
unfortunately we just couldn't
get a leg up on it.
54
00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:32,920
And then we lost her March 24th
of 2018 at 22 years old.
55
00:03:33,320 --> 00:03:38,080
So God definitely, you know, has
been with me through this
56
00:03:38,080 --> 00:03:42,600
journey.
It has not been all great,
57
00:03:42,640 --> 00:03:47,600
obviously, but what I want
people to really take away from
58
00:03:47,600 --> 00:03:54,000
our conversation today is that
no matter what goes on in your
59
00:03:54,000 --> 00:03:59,240
life, I think it's so important
to continue to remember your why
60
00:03:59,600 --> 00:04:01,920
and how you are showing up every
day.
61
00:04:02,360 --> 00:04:07,000
And I say that because I don't
want to be defined by what I
62
00:04:07,000 --> 00:04:11,000
just told you from my whole
upbringing and and what happened
63
00:04:11,000 --> 00:04:14,400
with with Alex.
It could have been very easy for
64
00:04:14,400 --> 00:04:17,880
me just to be this grief girl
and just sit in that darkness.
65
00:04:18,640 --> 00:04:25,000
But you know, for us to truly
shine our light to to others and
66
00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:28,960
really for others to see what
God is doing in our life, we
67
00:04:28,960 --> 00:04:32,280
still have to show up on those
days and those moments where
68
00:04:32,280 --> 00:04:35,840
it's really hard.
Because as we know, it's really
69
00:04:35,840 --> 00:04:40,640
easy for people to see God
shining through you when things
70
00:04:40,640 --> 00:04:44,280
are going great, when you get a
promotion, when you have a, you
71
00:04:44,280 --> 00:04:48,680
know, new baby, when you have,
you're going on vacation, you
72
00:04:48,680 --> 00:04:50,640
have all these wonderful things
happening.
73
00:04:51,000 --> 00:04:54,440
But how do you show up in those
real dark moments, those really
74
00:04:54,720 --> 00:04:58,440
hard struggles?
And that's really what I wanted
75
00:04:58,440 --> 00:05:01,920
people to see that through
everything that I've gone
76
00:05:01,920 --> 00:05:06,600
through and especially losing
out in 2018, that was not going
77
00:05:06,600 --> 00:05:09,120
to define me.
I really wanted people to still
78
00:05:09,120 --> 00:05:15,320
see the goodness and the light
that God was sharing through me
79
00:05:15,400 --> 00:05:18,440
and through my experiences and
through my walk.
80
00:05:19,600 --> 00:05:25,520
Yeah, well, Jodie, let's first
let's just pause and acknowledge
81
00:05:25,520 --> 00:05:29,000
the loss of Alice.
I am really sorry for the loss
82
00:05:29,000 --> 00:05:30,840
of the ducking daughter.
Thank you.
83
00:05:30,920 --> 00:05:36,000
I, I appreciate that, you know,
and, and when people say that to
84
00:05:36,000 --> 00:05:40,040
me, I acknowledge it and I, you
know, honor that.
85
00:05:40,440 --> 00:05:45,280
And then I also remind myself,
but Jodie, on the flip side, how
86
00:05:45,280 --> 00:05:49,120
lucky you were to have her for
22 years because so many people,
87
00:05:49,600 --> 00:05:51,320
you know, that might be
listening to the story.
88
00:05:51,320 --> 00:05:54,440
I've never had that opportunity
to have a child or to have that
89
00:05:54,440 --> 00:05:58,080
mother daughter relationship.
And so even though mine was cut
90
00:05:58,080 --> 00:06:02,160
short here on earth, guess what?
I'm going to see her again and
91
00:06:02,160 --> 00:06:04,280
it's going to go on forever and
ever.
92
00:06:04,640 --> 00:06:08,760
And even, you know, and, and I
write this in the book, even her
93
00:06:08,760 --> 00:06:15,840
death was such a, a beautiful
testimony to her faith and, and
94
00:06:15,840 --> 00:06:19,720
our faith and our relationship.
And she really left me with a
95
00:06:19,720 --> 00:06:24,360
parting gift, which really I
think allowed me to be able to
96
00:06:24,720 --> 00:06:27,680
continue to move forward.
And, and we can talk about that
97
00:06:27,680 --> 00:06:30,800
later.
But you know, it definitely is
98
00:06:31,120 --> 00:06:35,560
just God showing up in in those
moments and using whoever,
99
00:06:35,560 --> 00:06:40,600
whatever he can in those moments
just to say I've got you, girl.
100
00:06:42,200 --> 00:06:46,280
Yeah, wow.
Well, Jodie, I want to come back
101
00:06:46,280 --> 00:06:51,320
to the point that you were
making moments ago about not
102
00:06:51,320 --> 00:06:54,560
being defined essentially by
your past.
103
00:06:54,560 --> 00:06:57,440
I'm using that past term very
broadly, right?
104
00:06:58,720 --> 00:07:01,280
You were certainly talking more
specifically about grief and
105
00:07:01,280 --> 00:07:06,560
things like that, but then how
important it was for you to be
106
00:07:06,560 --> 00:07:09,640
showing up even in the tough
times, right?
107
00:07:10,600 --> 00:07:16,240
What was it, though, that got
you to that decision?
108
00:07:16,240 --> 00:07:20,640
Ultimately, that it was more
important to be showing up right
109
00:07:20,640 --> 00:07:26,440
and bringing God's light and
life into the world as opposed
110
00:07:26,440 --> 00:07:31,720
to being defined by the past.
I think that defining moment for
111
00:07:31,720 --> 00:07:36,680
me was that parting gift that
Alex left for me when she passed
112
00:07:36,680 --> 00:07:38,680
away that day.
I didn't know that she was going
113
00:07:38,680 --> 00:07:42,320
to be passing that that day.
And some of my girlfriends had
114
00:07:42,320 --> 00:07:46,480
come over and we were just
surrounding her bed and just
115
00:07:46,480 --> 00:07:50,480
sharing different beautiful
stories and and memories.
116
00:07:50,800 --> 00:07:55,920
And when it came my turn to say
something to Alex, like I, I
117
00:07:55,920 --> 00:08:00,000
just felt like God nudging on
me, saying you need to let her
118
00:08:00,000 --> 00:08:03,720
go, like she's not going to go
if, if she feels that you are
119
00:08:03,720 --> 00:08:08,400
still hanging on to her.
And so in that moment, I told
120
00:08:08,400 --> 00:08:13,440
her, I said, you know, Alex, I
go, I want you to be pain free.
121
00:08:13,680 --> 00:08:16,920
I want you to be able to play
with your dog again, buddy, who
122
00:08:16,920 --> 00:08:19,040
was up in heaven.
I was painting this really
123
00:08:19,040 --> 00:08:23,280
beautiful scene for her.
And I said, I I'm giving you
124
00:08:23,280 --> 00:08:24,280
permission.
You can go.
125
00:08:24,280 --> 00:08:26,120
It's OK.
I'm going to be OK.
126
00:08:26,720 --> 00:08:30,200
And in that moment, her head had
been laying on the pillow.
127
00:08:30,560 --> 00:08:35,440
And she lifted up her head and
she opened up her eyes and she
128
00:08:35,440 --> 00:08:39,840
had this big, big smile,
beautiful smile on her face.
129
00:08:40,520 --> 00:08:44,480
And she gasped.
And then she fell back on her
130
00:08:44,480 --> 00:08:50,160
pillow and she passed.
And in that moment, as I was
131
00:08:50,160 --> 00:08:55,840
giving her permission to leave,
she was showing me that where
132
00:08:55,840 --> 00:09:00,760
she was going and she was going
to be OK and that my life was
133
00:09:00,760 --> 00:09:02,880
not done and over.
There's still so much more that
134
00:09:02,880 --> 00:09:06,000
God wanted me to do.
So it was basically her
135
00:09:06,000 --> 00:09:10,400
transferring that baton to me
and for me to really carry on
136
00:09:10,400 --> 00:09:14,440
everything that she originally
wanted to do, which was start a
137
00:09:14,440 --> 00:09:18,760
nonprofit to help blind
patients, write a story, write a
138
00:09:18,760 --> 00:09:23,040
book about her faith testimony
and and her walk with Lyme
139
00:09:23,040 --> 00:09:25,960
disease.
So I think that really helped to
140
00:09:25,960 --> 00:09:32,160
propel me to feel like, OK, look
at everything that Alex has just
141
00:09:32,160 --> 00:09:35,440
done, especially in these last
couple of months where she never
142
00:09:35,440 --> 00:09:38,920
took any pain medication.
She always wanted to be so
143
00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:41,640
present with God and with her
journey.
144
00:09:42,040 --> 00:09:47,800
And it's that how can I sit here
in bed and wallow in my grief?
145
00:09:48,080 --> 00:09:52,160
Alex never did, right?
She showed me how to move
146
00:09:52,160 --> 00:09:56,320
forward.
And it just resonated so
147
00:09:56,320 --> 00:09:59,240
strongly with me that I couldn't
do that.
148
00:09:59,240 --> 00:10:03,440
I just, I could not sit back and
just sit in my grief.
149
00:10:03,720 --> 00:10:07,360
I had to do something with it.
And so that's why in the book,
150
00:10:07,360 --> 00:10:11,680
it says my promise to Alex, you
know, through pain, you know,
151
00:10:11,680 --> 00:10:14,720
comes purpose.
And I found my purpose.
152
00:10:14,800 --> 00:10:18,880
And, you know, I had a son.
I have a son who's two years
153
00:10:18,880 --> 00:10:23,280
older than Alex.
And so it was up to me to use
154
00:10:23,280 --> 00:10:29,320
this moment to show him how do
we survive those knocked down,
155
00:10:29,640 --> 00:10:35,160
gut wrenching, you know,
horrific experiences in life.
156
00:10:35,240 --> 00:10:39,000
Like I had to show him how mom
was going to be able to do that
157
00:10:39,000 --> 00:10:43,160
so he could do that himself.
And and also, you know, it was
158
00:10:43,160 --> 00:10:49,840
my whole relationship with God.
Like if I truly am a child of
159
00:10:49,840 --> 00:10:54,560
God and if I'm truly leaning
into this relationship, like I
160
00:10:54,560 --> 00:10:58,320
need to attach this to God and
use God to help propel me as
161
00:10:58,320 --> 00:11:02,200
well and have those
conversations with him and you
162
00:11:02,200 --> 00:11:05,440
know, those come to Jesus, talk,
so to speak, where it's like,
163
00:11:05,760 --> 00:11:08,040
you know, God, I'm so pissed off
right now.
164
00:11:08,040 --> 00:11:12,160
Like, how could you do this to
me and then work it out and then
165
00:11:12,160 --> 00:11:14,800
get on the same page and just
go.
166
00:11:15,120 --> 00:11:18,680
So it was a whole process.
It didn't happen overnight, but
167
00:11:18,680 --> 00:11:22,640
I definitely think, you know,
I'm very project based and I
168
00:11:22,640 --> 00:11:26,920
think it really helped setting
up her foundation, you know,
169
00:11:26,920 --> 00:11:31,680
putting all of that pain and
rawness into something that was
170
00:11:31,680 --> 00:11:35,120
meaningful.
And then God nudged on me to to
171
00:11:35,120 --> 00:11:38,880
write this book.
I'm a businesswoman, you know, I
172
00:11:38,880 --> 00:11:42,040
write grants, I write business
reports.
173
00:11:42,040 --> 00:11:44,000
I don't sit down in journal, I
don't sit.
174
00:11:44,000 --> 00:11:46,280
So this was so out of my comfort
zone.
175
00:11:46,680 --> 00:11:49,960
But that's how God uses you and
that's how God stretches your
176
00:11:49,960 --> 00:11:54,760
faith.
When you tiptoe into the waters,
177
00:11:54,960 --> 00:11:59,080
test it a little bit and it's OK
to retreat, but keep tiptoeing
178
00:11:59,080 --> 00:12:02,120
and and keep going further and
further because I promise you,
179
00:12:02,760 --> 00:12:06,160
in my case, there is something
beautiful at the end of that,
180
00:12:06,480 --> 00:12:10,480
which was this book that has
just taken off and has reached
181
00:12:10,480 --> 00:12:15,080
so many people.
And it's, you know, it honors
182
00:12:15,080 --> 00:12:18,480
Alex's story.
And it also helps to create this
183
00:12:18,480 --> 00:12:22,800
legacy.
And when it's written into, you
184
00:12:22,800 --> 00:12:25,600
know, print, your story is going
to be there forever.
185
00:12:26,000 --> 00:12:27,960
And that just means so much to
me.
186
00:12:29,880 --> 00:12:33,640
Yeah, Yeah, that's really good.
There are a couple things that
187
00:12:33,640 --> 00:12:38,560
you said there that I really
appreciated. 1, the duration and
188
00:12:38,560 --> 00:12:43,320
the durability, if you will, of
the story, Alex's story, because
189
00:12:43,320 --> 00:12:46,120
you put it in the print it
that's really, really wonderful.
190
00:12:46,640 --> 00:12:51,600
But you also talked about these,
what I'm going to describe as
191
00:12:51,600 --> 00:12:57,280
these very raw moments with God.
Tell us a little bit more about
192
00:12:57,280 --> 00:13:01,560
those because re And the, the
specific reason that I'm asking
193
00:13:01,560 --> 00:13:04,840
is that you, you talked about
praying and sharing your heart
194
00:13:04,840 --> 00:13:08,200
with God about like God, I'm
pissed about this, you know, and
195
00:13:08,600 --> 00:13:12,880
I have had a similar experience
where the more that I dumped my
196
00:13:12,880 --> 00:13:17,560
heart out in the fullest and
rawest sense, the more God meets
197
00:13:17,560 --> 00:13:18,440
me.
Yes.
198
00:13:19,200 --> 00:13:24,720
And I think that there are some
folks that were listening that
199
00:13:24,720 --> 00:13:30,320
are perhaps a little scared or
hesitant to dump it all out,
200
00:13:30,320 --> 00:13:33,520
even when it's really messy and
may even include some four
201
00:13:33,520 --> 00:13:37,800
letter words.
So tell us your experience.
202
00:13:38,400 --> 00:13:45,720
Yes, so there's one experience
that really got me the most and,
203
00:13:45,760 --> 00:13:47,360
and I write about it in the
book.
204
00:13:47,360 --> 00:13:52,040
It was in December and again,
Alex passed the next year in
205
00:13:52,040 --> 00:13:55,840
March.
So this was in December and I
206
00:13:55,840 --> 00:14:00,760
was just really having a hard
time with my relationship with
207
00:14:00,760 --> 00:14:04,760
God, with Alex.
We had spent, you know, this
208
00:14:04,760 --> 00:14:11,120
past year in 2017 over $100,000
just trying to get Alex better,
209
00:14:11,440 --> 00:14:15,400
you know, going to the best
facilities, the best doctors.
210
00:14:15,560 --> 00:14:17,240
And mind you, I didn't have this
money.
211
00:14:17,240 --> 00:14:20,360
I mean, I was selling her car.
I was like trying to do
212
00:14:20,360 --> 00:14:23,960
everything to come up with money
to help support this because a
213
00:14:23,960 --> 00:14:29,360
lot of times insurance does that
cover Lyme treatment or medical
214
00:14:29,360 --> 00:14:31,840
facilities and states.
So anyway, I was just really
215
00:14:31,840 --> 00:14:38,920
having a hard season, obviously,
and Alex was in the back master
216
00:14:38,920 --> 00:14:40,720
bedroom.
She had moved in back there.
217
00:14:41,200 --> 00:14:44,400
And I told her that I was going
to head out, just go to the
218
00:14:44,400 --> 00:14:46,680
grocery store really quick and I
was going to be back because I
219
00:14:46,680 --> 00:14:49,520
just knew, like, I just needed a
moment.
220
00:14:49,520 --> 00:14:52,720
And I don't know what else to
see this because I had to always
221
00:14:52,720 --> 00:14:56,320
be strong and put on, you know,
the strong face for her.
222
00:14:56,800 --> 00:15:00,880
So I took off in my car and I
started driving and I just
223
00:15:00,880 --> 00:15:04,800
pulled over into some
neighborhood and I just started
224
00:15:04,800 --> 00:15:10,960
banging on the dashboard.
And basically I just was letting
225
00:15:10,960 --> 00:15:14,120
it all out and, you know, really
giving it to God.
226
00:15:14,360 --> 00:15:17,800
And then I did one more thing.
I gave God an ultimatum, right?
227
00:15:17,800 --> 00:15:20,480
Like I was going to, you know,
play God myself.
228
00:15:20,720 --> 00:15:22,320
And I'm like, listen, here's the
deal.
229
00:15:22,560 --> 00:15:26,360
Like you either fix Alex right
now or you take her because this
230
00:15:26,360 --> 00:15:28,600
purgatory is not working out for
me.
231
00:15:28,920 --> 00:15:32,440
And how dare you think that, you
know, blah, blah, blah, and just
232
00:15:32,440 --> 00:15:35,680
pounding, crying.
And then I got all my senses
233
00:15:35,680 --> 00:15:39,680
together and I said, OK, now I
can go home.
234
00:15:39,680 --> 00:15:42,600
You know, I'll finish cleaning.
Whenever I was stressed, I'd
235
00:15:42,680 --> 00:15:44,400
clean.
My house was Immaculate, but I'm
236
00:15:44,400 --> 00:15:48,480
still cleaning.
And so I go back and I'm, you
237
00:15:48,480 --> 00:15:51,720
know, I checked in with Alex and
told her that I was back and I
238
00:15:51,720 --> 00:15:54,480
was dusting in the in the living
room.
239
00:15:54,800 --> 00:15:59,000
And I looked out the window and
we had a courtyard with a
240
00:15:59,080 --> 00:16:01,360
beautiful fountain in the
courtyard.
241
00:16:01,400 --> 00:16:04,600
And I saw a Bluebird on there
and I'm like, wow, that's weird.
242
00:16:04,600 --> 00:16:06,960
I've never seen a Bluebird
before.
243
00:16:07,440 --> 00:16:11,360
So go back into the bedroom and
I said to Alex go, hey Alex, I
244
00:16:11,360 --> 00:16:14,320
go, have you seen this Bluebird
before?
245
00:16:14,440 --> 00:16:17,920
I've never seen it.
And you know, she was sick, but
246
00:16:17,920 --> 00:16:20,080
she still had that 22 year old
attitude.
247
00:16:20,080 --> 00:16:25,800
Like, yeah, she goes, yes, mom,
she goes, I see it every day at
248
00:16:25,800 --> 00:16:29,640
3:00.
And she said in at 3:00 she
249
00:16:29,640 --> 00:16:33,080
goes, when I see that Bluebird,
there's two things that I think
250
00:16:33,080 --> 00:16:40,880
of #1 is that God has given me
another day here on earth and #2
251
00:16:41,200 --> 00:16:48,560
he hasn't forgotten about me.
And I just was like, so taken
252
00:16:48,560 --> 00:16:50,880
back by that.
The symbolism of the three O
253
00:16:50,880 --> 00:16:57,440
clock PM symbolism of the bird,
what it represented to Alex and
254
00:16:57,560 --> 00:16:59,760
how many afternoons it was
showing up.
255
00:16:59,760 --> 00:17:02,640
And I never saw it, never paid
attention to it.
256
00:17:03,240 --> 00:17:07,800
So I went back out to the living
room and I just sat down and
257
00:17:07,800 --> 00:17:13,240
started crying and really just
saying, God forgive me.
258
00:17:13,240 --> 00:17:17,760
Like I'm so sorry that just, you
know, 1/2 hour ago, I'm
259
00:17:17,760 --> 00:17:21,480
screaming, yelling at you, where
are you and all of this, You
260
00:17:21,480 --> 00:17:23,359
know, I'm giving you an
ultimatum.
261
00:17:23,800 --> 00:17:27,119
And yet every day you're showing
up so beautifully for my
262
00:17:27,119 --> 00:17:28,880
daughter and you are there with
us.
263
00:17:29,720 --> 00:17:33,880
So I think it's so important for
your listeners to really pay
264
00:17:33,880 --> 00:17:38,160
attention to what's going on
around them because so many
265
00:17:38,160 --> 00:17:41,480
times when you know, it's like
they say you're, you know, going
266
00:17:41,480 --> 00:17:45,000
into the forest and you can't
see the, you know, whatever that
267
00:17:45,000 --> 00:17:47,800
expression is, you're, you're
just like so into the thick of
268
00:17:47,800 --> 00:17:50,000
all of it.
And that happens when we're in
269
00:17:50,000 --> 00:17:52,480
those dark moments, those dark
places.
270
00:17:52,720 --> 00:17:58,120
Sometimes we can't see Bob's
beauty around all the ugliness.
271
00:17:59,080 --> 00:18:02,320
And you know, to this day, I
have to tell you, I still see
272
00:18:02,320 --> 00:18:05,320
Bluebirds all the time.
That was our little patch.
273
00:18:05,360 --> 00:18:10,080
When Alex I knew was going to be
leaving us, I said, I need to
274
00:18:10,080 --> 00:18:12,240
have a sign.
Like I need to know how I can
275
00:18:12,240 --> 00:18:16,120
still communicate and talk to
you and know that you're there,
276
00:18:16,120 --> 00:18:17,920
just like how God always showed
up for you.
277
00:18:17,920 --> 00:18:21,760
And again, she's like, duh, she
goes the Bluebird.
278
00:18:24,360 --> 00:18:26,920
Yeah, Mom.
Yeah, gosh, I have to tell you
279
00:18:26,920 --> 00:18:32,320
again.
Oh, man, Jodi, thank you for
280
00:18:32,320 --> 00:18:36,320
being transparent about that.
That's real.
281
00:18:36,320 --> 00:18:39,480
That matters.
Thank you.
282
00:18:40,040 --> 00:18:42,720
Thank you.
And that's great.
283
00:18:44,200 --> 00:18:47,640
Well, let's talk about something
that's not so great because I
284
00:18:47,640 --> 00:18:51,920
think a lot of people have heard
of Lyme's disease and yet have
285
00:18:51,920 --> 00:18:57,400
very little understanding of how
it manifests and those types of
286
00:18:57,400 --> 00:19:01,280
things.
So you have lots of experience
287
00:19:01,280 --> 00:19:04,720
with this.
Give us a sense for essentially
288
00:19:04,720 --> 00:19:06,960
Alex's ARP and what we should
know.
289
00:19:07,760 --> 00:19:12,880
So I mean, it would take hours
to go into everything, you know,
290
00:19:12,880 --> 00:19:16,320
with with Lyme disease.
And that's why we have a
291
00:19:16,320 --> 00:19:20,560
website, people that are curious
or people that might know of
292
00:19:20,560 --> 00:19:24,920
somebody that has Lyme disease
or maybe as I talk a little bit
293
00:19:24,920 --> 00:19:28,240
about the symptoms, they might
be like, Oh my gosh, yes, my
294
00:19:28,240 --> 00:19:31,120
friend has been suffering from
all this and doctors can't
295
00:19:31,120 --> 00:19:33,520
figure out what's going on.
Maybe she should be tested for
296
00:19:33,520 --> 00:19:36,440
Lyme disease.
So I encourage people to go onto
297
00:19:36,440 --> 00:19:39,240
that website.
We have great resources.
298
00:19:39,840 --> 00:19:44,160
There is a national organization
called lymedisease.org that
299
00:19:44,160 --> 00:19:46,920
actually if you put in your zip
code, they can help you find a
300
00:19:46,920 --> 00:19:51,640
Lyme literate Dr. But it's such
a complicated disease.
301
00:19:51,640 --> 00:19:57,640
But basically, it is a bacterial
infection from a tick bite.
302
00:19:58,160 --> 00:20:01,760
And 35% of those individuals
that get bit by a tick will
303
00:20:01,760 --> 00:20:03,680
develop what's called a bullseye
rash.
304
00:20:03,880 --> 00:20:07,840
And it's right at the point of
origin where the tick bite is,
305
00:20:08,600 --> 00:20:10,440
But the majority of people
don't.
306
00:20:10,960 --> 00:20:14,200
And so you might not even know
that you have been bitten by a
307
00:20:14,200 --> 00:20:18,720
tick or that you have Lyme
disease until you start feeling
308
00:20:19,320 --> 00:20:23,760
symptoms, you know, joint pain,
inflammation, flu, like, you
309
00:20:23,760 --> 00:20:27,680
just kind of feel off.
Well, boy, what I just described
310
00:20:27,680 --> 00:20:30,280
right now could fit into a lot
of different autoimmune
311
00:20:30,280 --> 00:20:32,760
categories, right?
So how do you know it's Lyme
312
00:20:32,760 --> 00:20:35,080
disease?
Well, that's when you really
313
00:20:35,080 --> 00:20:38,320
have to do proper testing.
Unfortunately, a lot of doctors
314
00:20:38,320 --> 00:20:42,440
still use the old Western blot
testing, which will give you
315
00:20:42,440 --> 00:20:44,680
false negatives and it's not
accurate.
316
00:20:45,040 --> 00:20:49,600
So there are, you know, really
good places that give proper
317
00:20:49,600 --> 00:20:52,040
testing.
That also I talked about on the
318
00:20:52,080 --> 00:20:56,920
the website, but you know, it's,
it's based basically starting
319
00:20:56,920 --> 00:21:00,280
with the joint pain, the
inflammation and Alex's case.
320
00:21:00,280 --> 00:21:04,880
She had all of that and more It
because it's a bacterial
321
00:21:04,880 --> 00:21:08,360
infection, it can impact every
organ in your body.
322
00:21:08,720 --> 00:21:13,720
So Alex was 5-6, she weighed 120
lbs when she passed, she weighed
323
00:21:13,800 --> 00:21:16,400
57 lbs.
Think about that.
324
00:21:16,720 --> 00:21:19,800
That's like half of her body
size, right?
325
00:21:20,640 --> 00:21:25,480
Because she couldn't process her
foods, it impacted her digestive
326
00:21:25,480 --> 00:21:29,400
system, her gut.
She was basically allergic to
327
00:21:29,400 --> 00:21:31,680
most foods.
There's only like 4 or five safe
328
00:21:31,680 --> 00:21:35,720
foods that she could eat.
So it really has a host of
329
00:21:35,720 --> 00:21:39,000
different symptoms that
individuals can developed.
330
00:21:39,560 --> 00:21:42,880
And if that wasn't complicated
enough, the treatment is even
331
00:21:42,880 --> 00:21:46,920
more complicated.
You know, if you know that
332
00:21:46,920 --> 00:21:49,040
you've been bitten by a chick
and you go on a round of
333
00:21:49,040 --> 00:21:54,360
antibiotics, it's usually, you
know, it will usually clear out
334
00:21:54,360 --> 00:21:57,480
the infection.
But in Alex's case, because she
335
00:21:57,480 --> 00:22:01,400
went 10 years misdiagnosed, it
was too late.
336
00:22:01,400 --> 00:22:05,800
So even the antibiotics, I mean,
it can't reverse what it had
337
00:22:05,800 --> 00:22:08,440
been done to her body.
And so there were different
338
00:22:08,440 --> 00:22:13,000
alternative treatments that we
tried to use to to, you know,
339
00:22:13,000 --> 00:22:16,720
rectify that.
But again, it was just, it had
340
00:22:16,720 --> 00:22:20,600
just gotten away from us.
Most people are very familiar
341
00:22:20,600 --> 00:22:26,240
obviously with COVID, right?
So I think Lyme disease and all
342
00:22:26,240 --> 00:22:31,920
these other autoimmune illnesses
have really benefited from COVID
343
00:22:32,000 --> 00:22:35,760
and post COVID like these long
haul symptoms that they talk
344
00:22:35,760 --> 00:22:38,960
about.
So doctors are understanding how
345
00:22:39,360 --> 00:22:43,480
they can use maybe you know,
what they're doing with post
346
00:22:43,480 --> 00:22:49,640
COVID victims with Lyme disease
and other autoimmune chronic
347
00:22:49,640 --> 00:22:53,240
illnesses.
So it's very encouraging seeing
348
00:22:53,240 --> 00:22:57,880
a lot of this discussion on even
this past month at the White
349
00:22:57,880 --> 00:22:59,360
House.
You've got, you know, Robert
350
00:22:59,360 --> 00:23:02,920
Kennedy, you brought in a whole
Lyme disease panel, you know, to
351
00:23:02,920 --> 00:23:06,560
look at Lyme disease and these
other autoimmune illnesses.
352
00:23:06,560 --> 00:23:10,120
So it's great that conversations
are still happening.
353
00:23:10,440 --> 00:23:15,480
We still need, you know, more
money to fuel for research, but
354
00:23:16,120 --> 00:23:18,600
I've been very encouraged by
what I've been seeing, so that's
355
00:23:18,600 --> 00:23:21,120
really great.
Yeah, definitely.
356
00:23:21,680 --> 00:23:26,080
Wow.
Oh, man, there's, there's
357
00:23:26,120 --> 00:23:29,000
there's truly so much there.
And I'm really blown away by the
358
00:23:29,000 --> 00:23:33,360
57 lbs.
I mean that that really just
359
00:23:33,360 --> 00:23:39,480
gives us a picture of the
devastation that it was doing to
360
00:23:39,480 --> 00:23:42,960
Alex from the inside out.
Right, right.
361
00:23:43,760 --> 00:23:46,240
And you had to watch all that.
I mean, I'm sure that was
362
00:23:46,520 --> 00:23:52,760
tremendously challenging.
The hardest thing as a parent is
363
00:23:52,760 --> 00:23:55,480
when you can't fix things for
your children, right?
364
00:23:55,840 --> 00:23:59,440
I mean, when they're little, you
fix their scraped knees.
365
00:23:59,640 --> 00:24:02,800
When they get older and have
their first love or crush, you
366
00:24:02,800 --> 00:24:07,880
fix their broken hearts.
How do you fix a medical illness
367
00:24:07,880 --> 00:24:12,040
that the doctors don't even know
how to to fix and to help and
368
00:24:12,040 --> 00:24:16,080
where there's not even a clear
treatment path?
369
00:24:16,080 --> 00:24:19,760
It's basically being given a
buffet and saying would you like
370
00:24:20,120 --> 00:24:27,200
buffet number 123 or these other
25, you know, treatments?
371
00:24:27,200 --> 00:24:30,720
So yeah, it's it's very, very
complicated.
372
00:24:31,040 --> 00:24:33,440
Well, I appreciate you laying
that out for us though.
373
00:24:33,440 --> 00:24:36,200
At least you scratch the
surface, and I think that's more
374
00:24:36,200 --> 00:24:40,400
than a lot of us even have in
terms of awareness about Lyme
375
00:24:40,480 --> 00:24:44,320
and all the issues that can sort
from it if it's not treating.
376
00:24:44,520 --> 00:24:47,840
May is Lyme Disease Awareness
Month, so people that are
377
00:24:47,840 --> 00:24:55,560
listening, there's usually, you
know, lots of good messages on
378
00:24:55,560 --> 00:24:59,120
TV, radio.
I've been seeing a lot more
379
00:24:59,840 --> 00:25:02,960
national messaging.
So like I said, that's very
380
00:25:02,960 --> 00:25:07,000
encouraging as well.
Yeah, good.
381
00:25:07,040 --> 00:25:08,760
Good to know about May.
I did not know that.
382
00:25:09,080 --> 00:25:12,480
Yes.
I want to land things here with
383
00:25:12,480 --> 00:25:16,120
the two questions that we asked
all of our guests.
384
00:25:16,400 --> 00:25:19,520
And I want to highlight in this
first question a couple of
385
00:25:19,520 --> 00:25:24,560
different pieces.
So on the day that Alex passes,
386
00:25:24,880 --> 00:25:27,960
you feel this nudge from the
Holy Spirit as you kind of
387
00:25:27,960 --> 00:25:32,840
described let her go.
And you guys had had prior
388
00:25:32,840 --> 00:25:39,920
conversations about Bluebirds
and in your really raw moments
389
00:25:39,920 --> 00:25:44,760
with God and basically asking
him to show up, a Bluebird shows
390
00:25:44,760 --> 00:25:48,320
up first time that you'd seen
it, right?
391
00:25:48,320 --> 00:25:52,120
So when we look at those and
many other things in the story
392
00:25:52,120 --> 00:25:57,560
that you have shared, were those
things coincidence, Jody or God?
393
00:25:58,120 --> 00:26:00,600
Totally God.
Totally God.
394
00:26:01,120 --> 00:26:07,040
I mean, even writing the book,
like I said, I'm, you know, not
395
00:26:08,000 --> 00:26:10,920
an author by any means.
And for me to be able to sit
396
00:26:10,920 --> 00:26:13,720
down and knock that out within
four months time, that was all
397
00:26:13,720 --> 00:26:17,480
divine intervention.
And seeing that the Bluebirds
398
00:26:17,480 --> 00:26:23,200
and just having him giving Alex
those visual signs every day at
399
00:26:23,280 --> 00:26:26,080
3:00 PM, that's not a
coincidence at all.
400
00:26:29,040 --> 00:26:32,680
Yeah, that's so good.
Yeah, well, you've alluded to
401
00:26:32,680 --> 00:26:35,280
some of this, right, with the
book and and and more.
402
00:26:35,280 --> 00:26:38,800
But how has your life changed as
a result of everything that
403
00:26:38,800 --> 00:26:42,760
we've been talking about?
I never thought I would be an
404
00:26:42,760 --> 00:26:52,240
individual that would write a
book, that would be speaking on
405
00:26:52,240 --> 00:26:56,880
platforms.
I, I'm very comfortable doing.
406
00:26:56,880 --> 00:27:01,480
Media from my nonprofit worked,
but that was always about other
407
00:27:01,480 --> 00:27:07,320
people, like raising money for
our clients who are, you know,
408
00:27:07,360 --> 00:27:11,560
struggling to, you know, make
ends meet, struggling to put
409
00:27:11,600 --> 00:27:13,360
food on the table for their
families.
410
00:27:13,640 --> 00:27:18,280
It was so easy for me to speak
and address that because it
411
00:27:18,280 --> 00:27:23,360
wasn't personal.
This is personal, but again,
412
00:27:24,120 --> 00:27:29,440
walking and being nudged by how
God wants me to show up in my
413
00:27:29,480 --> 00:27:32,760
faith walk.
This is what he laid out for me
414
00:27:32,760 --> 00:27:37,960
to do.
And I, you know, I'm so honored
415
00:27:38,080 --> 00:27:42,760
that I'm allowed to be on
platforms such as yours to
416
00:27:42,760 --> 00:27:46,560
really, you know, talk about
that faith walk.
417
00:27:46,760 --> 00:27:51,640
I'm just an average person that
just happened to have a very
418
00:27:52,080 --> 00:27:58,800
extraordinary life that has been
defined by so many God moments.
419
00:27:59,320 --> 00:28:03,600
And I would do God and injustice
if I didn't talk about that and
420
00:28:03,600 --> 00:28:06,360
share those stories and give
people hope.
421
00:28:06,840 --> 00:28:09,480
Again, not being defined as a
grief girl, but really being
422
00:28:09,480 --> 00:28:15,000
defined as, you know, this
warrior of God that no matter
423
00:28:15,000 --> 00:28:18,840
how many times I get struck down
together, he and I are going to
424
00:28:18,840 --> 00:28:21,280
keep rising.
And that's what I want people
425
00:28:21,280 --> 00:28:24,800
just to remember.
Just keep rising, right?
426
00:28:25,640 --> 00:28:30,280
It does get better.
Yeah, praise God, particularly
427
00:28:30,280 --> 00:28:33,480
as you defined it with in
concert with him.
428
00:28:33,480 --> 00:28:36,080
Yes, the two of you is how you
phrase that.
429
00:28:36,440 --> 00:28:38,280
Yes, and that means all the
difference.
430
00:28:38,520 --> 00:28:41,360
Oh, you can't.
I don't know how I say this all
431
00:28:41,360 --> 00:28:43,360
the time.
I don't know how people can can
432
00:28:43,360 --> 00:28:46,400
get through the day without him.
I start my day with him.
433
00:28:46,760 --> 00:28:50,160
I put on the armor of God and
I'm like, all right, let's, you
434
00:28:50,160 --> 00:28:53,240
know, knock this out.
What can we accomplish together?
435
00:28:53,600 --> 00:28:55,880
End of the day through a
checklist.
436
00:28:55,880 --> 00:28:59,360
How did I show up for him?
How did I show up for me?
437
00:28:59,560 --> 00:29:02,400
How did I show up for others?
You know, we have those
438
00:29:02,400 --> 00:29:05,760
opportunities all the time.
Even standing in a grocery line
439
00:29:06,160 --> 00:29:09,560
instead of being impatient with
maybe a little old lady in front
440
00:29:09,560 --> 00:29:12,280
of you that still likes to write
the check instead of doing a
441
00:29:12,280 --> 00:29:14,400
debit card.
Like, how do you have those
442
00:29:14,400 --> 00:29:17,160
moments that you can show up for
maybe the person behind you and
443
00:29:17,440 --> 00:29:21,160
engage in a conversation?
So yeah.
444
00:29:22,800 --> 00:29:26,760
Wow, a checklist.
How did I do?
445
00:29:26,760 --> 00:29:29,320
How did I show up for him?
And that's neat.
446
00:29:30,080 --> 00:29:34,480
That is your lead.
Well, Jody, how do people get
447
00:29:34,480 --> 00:29:37,000
the book?
How do they stay more in touch
448
00:29:37,000 --> 00:29:40,200
with you and the work that
you're doing talking more about
449
00:29:40,200 --> 00:29:41,640
Lyme disease?
Yes.
450
00:29:42,000 --> 00:29:44,480
So if they go to my website,
it's
451
00:29:44,480 --> 00:29:53,360
www.alexhudsonlymefoundation.org,
all one word, all my contact
452
00:29:53,360 --> 00:29:56,160
information is on their e-mail
cell phone.
453
00:29:56,160 --> 00:29:59,560
I do answer emails, I do answer
calls.
454
00:30:01,000 --> 00:30:03,000
So that's how they can get a
hold of me.
455
00:30:03,000 --> 00:30:06,440
Also on the website is the
direct link to Amazon where they
456
00:30:06,440 --> 00:30:11,160
can purchase the book.
And I'd be happy to, you know,
457
00:30:11,160 --> 00:30:13,720
hear from people once they've
read the book what their, their
458
00:30:13,720 --> 00:30:17,960
thoughts are on it.
Awesome, we will make sure we
459
00:30:17,960 --> 00:30:19,800
link to all of that stuff as
well.
460
00:30:19,920 --> 00:30:21,960
Great.
Jody Hudson is getting an
461
00:30:22,000 --> 00:30:25,480
absolute pleasure.
Thank you so much for sharing
462
00:30:25,480 --> 00:30:29,200
your story, for glorifying God,
and for coming on when you look.
463
00:30:29,760 --> 00:30:32,080
Thank you so much, really
appreciated the conversation.
464
00:30:35,400 --> 00:30:40,360
Was it coincidence or God?
You decide for yourself, but I
465
00:30:40,360 --> 00:30:44,080
believe you just heard a story
for His glory.
466
00:30:44,760 --> 00:30:48,240
When You Look is powered by
stories just like this, and
467
00:30:48,240 --> 00:30:52,040
yours could be next.
Go to whenyoulook.com slash.
468
00:30:52,040 --> 00:30:54,080
Be a guest.
Or use the link in the
469
00:30:54,080 --> 00:30:57,800
description below.
Be sure to drop us a like, drop
470
00:30:57,800 --> 00:31:01,440
a comment or share this episode
with somebody that needs it.
471
00:31:01,800 --> 00:31:05,200
And until next time, thanks a
bunch for listening and God
472
00:31:05,200 --> 00:31:05,680
bless.
00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:04,280
I just felt like God nudging on
me, saying you need to let her
2
00:00:04,280 --> 00:00:07,080
go.
And so in that moment, I told
3
00:00:07,080 --> 00:00:10,320
her, I said, you know, Alex, I
want you to be pain free.
4
00:00:10,360 --> 00:00:12,520
I'm giving you permission.
You can go, it's OK.
5
00:00:12,520 --> 00:00:17,440
And she lifted up her head and
she opened up her eyes and she
6
00:00:17,440 --> 00:00:21,720
had this big, big smile,
beautiful smile on her face.
7
00:00:22,520 --> 00:00:25,960
And she gasped.
Welcome to When you Look where
8
00:00:26,040 --> 00:00:29,960
ordinary people share their
extraordinary experiences and
9
00:00:29,960 --> 00:00:32,240
you get to decide was it
coincidence?
10
00:00:32,439 --> 00:00:37,080
Or God, Jodie, thanks so much
for being on When You Look.
11
00:00:37,080 --> 00:00:39,200
Really delighted to have you on
the show.
12
00:00:39,520 --> 00:00:43,360
I am super jazzed to be on the
show and to be talking to your
13
00:00:43,360 --> 00:00:47,200
listeners about my story.
Yeah, well, we're delighted to
14
00:00:47,200 --> 00:00:51,160
have you and really interested
in hearing exactly that, your
15
00:00:51,160 --> 00:00:53,840
story.
But before we get there, tell us
16
00:00:53,840 --> 00:00:55,680
a little bit about yourself.
Sure.
17
00:00:55,920 --> 00:00:59,960
So I am a speaker, author,
advocate.
18
00:01:00,840 --> 00:01:06,520
I worked in the nonprofit field
for about 18 years and I
19
00:01:06,520 --> 00:01:10,720
thoroughly enjoyed that, which
has kind of led me to what I do
20
00:01:10,720 --> 00:01:14,680
now with Alex's foundation.
I started a nonprofit
21
00:01:14,880 --> 00:01:17,080
foundation, Alex Hudson Lyme
Foundation.
22
00:01:17,440 --> 00:01:23,680
So I work on advocating for Lyme
patients, creating awareness.
23
00:01:24,040 --> 00:01:28,160
And then also in my spare time,
I talk about my book that came
24
00:01:28,160 --> 00:01:32,920
out in 2022 and really has taken
off on Angel wings and has
25
00:01:32,920 --> 00:01:38,520
become a bestseller and won best
memoir with the Christian Indie
26
00:01:38,840 --> 00:01:43,040
Book Awards.
So just amazed at what God has
27
00:01:43,040 --> 00:01:46,280
done in my life and is
continuing to do in my life.
28
00:01:46,600 --> 00:01:49,880
And now I'm being a guest on
podcast shows.
29
00:01:50,040 --> 00:01:53,200
So you just never know.
Yeah, indeed.
30
00:01:53,760 --> 00:01:57,840
And we're really excited to hear
about what God is doing in your
31
00:01:57,840 --> 00:02:01,480
life, particularly because
there's a lot of tragedy not
32
00:02:01,480 --> 00:02:07,280
only for you, you know, prior to
Alex, but with and through Alex.
33
00:02:07,280 --> 00:02:10,440
But before we get to that, you
mentioned your book, it's called
34
00:02:10,440 --> 00:02:12,800
My Promise to Alex.
If you didn't actually mention
35
00:02:12,800 --> 00:02:16,520
the title, we'll make sure that
we link to that in the show
36
00:02:16,520 --> 00:02:18,960
description.
But but start to get into your
37
00:02:18,960 --> 00:02:21,240
stories already.
Tell us a little bit about where
38
00:02:21,240 --> 00:02:24,960
things start, how they progress,
and how it all unfolds.
39
00:02:25,120 --> 00:02:27,840
My gosh, so my stories within a
story.
40
00:02:27,840 --> 00:02:30,480
So I'm literally going to take
it back to when I was born
41
00:02:30,480 --> 00:02:35,040
because I was born to a single
mother who couldn't care for me,
42
00:02:35,040 --> 00:02:41,280
so she placed me in foster care.
I was eventually adopted, but
43
00:02:41,280 --> 00:02:45,600
the unfortunate thing about that
was I was brought into a family
44
00:02:45,600 --> 00:02:48,880
where both parents were battling
from alcoholism.
45
00:02:49,400 --> 00:02:53,360
So I tell people I spent most of
my childhood trying to forget
46
00:02:53,360 --> 00:02:57,640
about my childhood.
And then Fast forward to 2011,
47
00:02:57,880 --> 00:03:02,560
where after 20 years of
marriage, I became divorced,
48
00:03:02,920 --> 00:03:07,840
bankrupt, and also during that
same period of time, that is
49
00:03:07,840 --> 00:03:12,680
when I was trying to help my
daughter Alex figure out what
50
00:03:12,680 --> 00:03:17,240
was going on with her medical
mystery, where she had been
51
00:03:17,240 --> 00:03:19,880
battling this for about 10
years.
52
00:03:20,800 --> 00:03:25,440
Eventually we got the right
diagnosis in 2017, but
53
00:03:25,440 --> 00:03:27,680
unfortunately we just couldn't
get a leg up on it.
54
00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:32,920
And then we lost her March 24th
of 2018 at 22 years old.
55
00:03:33,320 --> 00:03:38,080
So God definitely, you know, has
been with me through this
56
00:03:38,080 --> 00:03:42,600
journey.
It has not been all great,
57
00:03:42,640 --> 00:03:47,600
obviously, but what I want
people to really take away from
58
00:03:47,600 --> 00:03:54,000
our conversation today is that
no matter what goes on in your
59
00:03:54,000 --> 00:03:59,240
life, I think it's so important
to continue to remember your why
60
00:03:59,600 --> 00:04:01,920
and how you are showing up every
day.
61
00:04:02,360 --> 00:04:07,000
And I say that because I don't
want to be defined by what I
62
00:04:07,000 --> 00:04:11,000
just told you from my whole
upbringing and and what happened
63
00:04:11,000 --> 00:04:14,400
with with Alex.
It could have been very easy for
64
00:04:14,400 --> 00:04:17,880
me just to be this grief girl
and just sit in that darkness.
65
00:04:18,640 --> 00:04:25,000
But you know, for us to truly
shine our light to to others and
66
00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:28,960
really for others to see what
God is doing in our life, we
67
00:04:28,960 --> 00:04:32,280
still have to show up on those
days and those moments where
68
00:04:32,280 --> 00:04:35,840
it's really hard.
Because as we know, it's really
69
00:04:35,840 --> 00:04:40,640
easy for people to see God
shining through you when things
70
00:04:40,640 --> 00:04:44,280
are going great, when you get a
promotion, when you have a, you
71
00:04:44,280 --> 00:04:48,680
know, new baby, when you have,
you're going on vacation, you
72
00:04:48,680 --> 00:04:50,640
have all these wonderful things
happening.
73
00:04:51,000 --> 00:04:54,440
But how do you show up in those
real dark moments, those really
74
00:04:54,720 --> 00:04:58,440
hard struggles?
And that's really what I wanted
75
00:04:58,440 --> 00:05:01,920
people to see that through
everything that I've gone
76
00:05:01,920 --> 00:05:06,600
through and especially losing
out in 2018, that was not going
77
00:05:06,600 --> 00:05:09,120
to define me.
I really wanted people to still
78
00:05:09,120 --> 00:05:15,320
see the goodness and the light
that God was sharing through me
79
00:05:15,400 --> 00:05:18,440
and through my experiences and
through my walk.
80
00:05:19,600 --> 00:05:25,520
Yeah, well, Jodie, let's first
let's just pause and acknowledge
81
00:05:25,520 --> 00:05:29,000
the loss of Alice.
I am really sorry for the loss
82
00:05:29,000 --> 00:05:30,840
of the ducking daughter.
Thank you.
83
00:05:30,920 --> 00:05:36,000
I, I appreciate that, you know,
and, and when people say that to
84
00:05:36,000 --> 00:05:40,040
me, I acknowledge it and I, you
know, honor that.
85
00:05:40,440 --> 00:05:45,280
And then I also remind myself,
but Jodie, on the flip side, how
86
00:05:45,280 --> 00:05:49,120
lucky you were to have her for
22 years because so many people,
87
00:05:49,600 --> 00:05:51,320
you know, that might be
listening to the story.
88
00:05:51,320 --> 00:05:54,440
I've never had that opportunity
to have a child or to have that
89
00:05:54,440 --> 00:05:58,080
mother daughter relationship.
And so even though mine was cut
90
00:05:58,080 --> 00:06:02,160
short here on earth, guess what?
I'm going to see her again and
91
00:06:02,160 --> 00:06:04,280
it's going to go on forever and
ever.
92
00:06:04,640 --> 00:06:08,760
And even, you know, and, and I
write this in the book, even her
93
00:06:08,760 --> 00:06:15,840
death was such a, a beautiful
testimony to her faith and, and
94
00:06:15,840 --> 00:06:19,720
our faith and our relationship.
And she really left me with a
95
00:06:19,720 --> 00:06:24,360
parting gift, which really I
think allowed me to be able to
96
00:06:24,720 --> 00:06:27,680
continue to move forward.
And, and we can talk about that
97
00:06:27,680 --> 00:06:30,800
later.
But you know, it definitely is
98
00:06:31,120 --> 00:06:35,560
just God showing up in in those
moments and using whoever,
99
00:06:35,560 --> 00:06:40,600
whatever he can in those moments
just to say I've got you, girl.
100
00:06:42,200 --> 00:06:46,280
Yeah, wow.
Well, Jodie, I want to come back
101
00:06:46,280 --> 00:06:51,320
to the point that you were
making moments ago about not
102
00:06:51,320 --> 00:06:54,560
being defined essentially by
your past.
103
00:06:54,560 --> 00:06:57,440
I'm using that past term very
broadly, right?
104
00:06:58,720 --> 00:07:01,280
You were certainly talking more
specifically about grief and
105
00:07:01,280 --> 00:07:06,560
things like that, but then how
important it was for you to be
106
00:07:06,560 --> 00:07:09,640
showing up even in the tough
times, right?
107
00:07:10,600 --> 00:07:16,240
What was it, though, that got
you to that decision?
108
00:07:16,240 --> 00:07:20,640
Ultimately, that it was more
important to be showing up right
109
00:07:20,640 --> 00:07:26,440
and bringing God's light and
life into the world as opposed
110
00:07:26,440 --> 00:07:31,720
to being defined by the past.
I think that defining moment for
111
00:07:31,720 --> 00:07:36,680
me was that parting gift that
Alex left for me when she passed
112
00:07:36,680 --> 00:07:38,680
away that day.
I didn't know that she was going
113
00:07:38,680 --> 00:07:42,320
to be passing that that day.
And some of my girlfriends had
114
00:07:42,320 --> 00:07:46,480
come over and we were just
surrounding her bed and just
115
00:07:46,480 --> 00:07:50,480
sharing different beautiful
stories and and memories.
116
00:07:50,800 --> 00:07:55,920
And when it came my turn to say
something to Alex, like I, I
117
00:07:55,920 --> 00:08:00,000
just felt like God nudging on
me, saying you need to let her
118
00:08:00,000 --> 00:08:03,720
go, like she's not going to go
if, if she feels that you are
119
00:08:03,720 --> 00:08:08,400
still hanging on to her.
And so in that moment, I told
120
00:08:08,400 --> 00:08:13,440
her, I said, you know, Alex, I
go, I want you to be pain free.
121
00:08:13,680 --> 00:08:16,920
I want you to be able to play
with your dog again, buddy, who
122
00:08:16,920 --> 00:08:19,040
was up in heaven.
I was painting this really
123
00:08:19,040 --> 00:08:23,280
beautiful scene for her.
And I said, I I'm giving you
124
00:08:23,280 --> 00:08:24,280
permission.
You can go.
125
00:08:24,280 --> 00:08:26,120
It's OK.
I'm going to be OK.
126
00:08:26,720 --> 00:08:30,200
And in that moment, her head had
been laying on the pillow.
127
00:08:30,560 --> 00:08:35,440
And she lifted up her head and
she opened up her eyes and she
128
00:08:35,440 --> 00:08:39,840
had this big, big smile,
beautiful smile on her face.
129
00:08:40,520 --> 00:08:44,480
And she gasped.
And then she fell back on her
130
00:08:44,480 --> 00:08:50,160
pillow and she passed.
And in that moment, as I was
131
00:08:50,160 --> 00:08:55,840
giving her permission to leave,
she was showing me that where
132
00:08:55,840 --> 00:09:00,760
she was going and she was going
to be OK and that my life was
133
00:09:00,760 --> 00:09:02,880
not done and over.
There's still so much more that
134
00:09:02,880 --> 00:09:06,000
God wanted me to do.
So it was basically her
135
00:09:06,000 --> 00:09:10,400
transferring that baton to me
and for me to really carry on
136
00:09:10,400 --> 00:09:14,440
everything that she originally
wanted to do, which was start a
137
00:09:14,440 --> 00:09:18,760
nonprofit to help blind
patients, write a story, write a
138
00:09:18,760 --> 00:09:23,040
book about her faith testimony
and and her walk with Lyme
139
00:09:23,040 --> 00:09:25,960
disease.
So I think that really helped to
140
00:09:25,960 --> 00:09:32,160
propel me to feel like, OK, look
at everything that Alex has just
141
00:09:32,160 --> 00:09:35,440
done, especially in these last
couple of months where she never
142
00:09:35,440 --> 00:09:38,920
took any pain medication.
She always wanted to be so
143
00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:41,640
present with God and with her
journey.
144
00:09:42,040 --> 00:09:47,800
And it's that how can I sit here
in bed and wallow in my grief?
145
00:09:48,080 --> 00:09:52,160
Alex never did, right?
She showed me how to move
146
00:09:52,160 --> 00:09:56,320
forward.
And it just resonated so
147
00:09:56,320 --> 00:09:59,240
strongly with me that I couldn't
do that.
148
00:09:59,240 --> 00:10:03,440
I just, I could not sit back and
just sit in my grief.
149
00:10:03,720 --> 00:10:07,360
I had to do something with it.
And so that's why in the book,
150
00:10:07,360 --> 00:10:11,680
it says my promise to Alex, you
know, through pain, you know,
151
00:10:11,680 --> 00:10:14,720
comes purpose.
And I found my purpose.
152
00:10:14,800 --> 00:10:18,880
And, you know, I had a son.
I have a son who's two years
153
00:10:18,880 --> 00:10:23,280
older than Alex.
And so it was up to me to use
154
00:10:23,280 --> 00:10:29,320
this moment to show him how do
we survive those knocked down,
155
00:10:29,640 --> 00:10:35,160
gut wrenching, you know,
horrific experiences in life.
156
00:10:35,240 --> 00:10:39,000
Like I had to show him how mom
was going to be able to do that
157
00:10:39,000 --> 00:10:43,160
so he could do that himself.
And and also, you know, it was
158
00:10:43,160 --> 00:10:49,840
my whole relationship with God.
Like if I truly am a child of
159
00:10:49,840 --> 00:10:54,560
God and if I'm truly leaning
into this relationship, like I
160
00:10:54,560 --> 00:10:58,320
need to attach this to God and
use God to help propel me as
161
00:10:58,320 --> 00:11:02,200
well and have those
conversations with him and you
162
00:11:02,200 --> 00:11:05,440
know, those come to Jesus, talk,
so to speak, where it's like,
163
00:11:05,760 --> 00:11:08,040
you know, God, I'm so pissed off
right now.
164
00:11:08,040 --> 00:11:12,160
Like, how could you do this to
me and then work it out and then
165
00:11:12,160 --> 00:11:14,800
get on the same page and just
go.
166
00:11:15,120 --> 00:11:18,680
So it was a whole process.
It didn't happen overnight, but
167
00:11:18,680 --> 00:11:22,640
I definitely think, you know,
I'm very project based and I
168
00:11:22,640 --> 00:11:26,920
think it really helped setting
up her foundation, you know,
169
00:11:26,920 --> 00:11:31,680
putting all of that pain and
rawness into something that was
170
00:11:31,680 --> 00:11:35,120
meaningful.
And then God nudged on me to to
171
00:11:35,120 --> 00:11:38,880
write this book.
I'm a businesswoman, you know, I
172
00:11:38,880 --> 00:11:42,040
write grants, I write business
reports.
173
00:11:42,040 --> 00:11:44,000
I don't sit down in journal, I
don't sit.
174
00:11:44,000 --> 00:11:46,280
So this was so out of my comfort
zone.
175
00:11:46,680 --> 00:11:49,960
But that's how God uses you and
that's how God stretches your
176
00:11:49,960 --> 00:11:54,760
faith.
When you tiptoe into the waters,
177
00:11:54,960 --> 00:11:59,080
test it a little bit and it's OK
to retreat, but keep tiptoeing
178
00:11:59,080 --> 00:12:02,120
and and keep going further and
further because I promise you,
179
00:12:02,760 --> 00:12:06,160
in my case, there is something
beautiful at the end of that,
180
00:12:06,480 --> 00:12:10,480
which was this book that has
just taken off and has reached
181
00:12:10,480 --> 00:12:15,080
so many people.
And it's, you know, it honors
182
00:12:15,080 --> 00:12:18,480
Alex's story.
And it also helps to create this
183
00:12:18,480 --> 00:12:22,800
legacy.
And when it's written into, you
184
00:12:22,800 --> 00:12:25,600
know, print, your story is going
to be there forever.
185
00:12:26,000 --> 00:12:27,960
And that just means so much to
me.
186
00:12:29,880 --> 00:12:33,640
Yeah, Yeah, that's really good.
There are a couple things that
187
00:12:33,640 --> 00:12:38,560
you said there that I really
appreciated. 1, the duration and
188
00:12:38,560 --> 00:12:43,320
the durability, if you will, of
the story, Alex's story, because
189
00:12:43,320 --> 00:12:46,120
you put it in the print it
that's really, really wonderful.
190
00:12:46,640 --> 00:12:51,600
But you also talked about these,
what I'm going to describe as
191
00:12:51,600 --> 00:12:57,280
these very raw moments with God.
Tell us a little bit more about
192
00:12:57,280 --> 00:13:01,560
those because re And the, the
specific reason that I'm asking
193
00:13:01,560 --> 00:13:04,840
is that you, you talked about
praying and sharing your heart
194
00:13:04,840 --> 00:13:08,200
with God about like God, I'm
pissed about this, you know, and
195
00:13:08,600 --> 00:13:12,880
I have had a similar experience
where the more that I dumped my
196
00:13:12,880 --> 00:13:17,560
heart out in the fullest and
rawest sense, the more God meets
197
00:13:17,560 --> 00:13:18,440
me.
Yes.
198
00:13:19,200 --> 00:13:24,720
And I think that there are some
folks that were listening that
199
00:13:24,720 --> 00:13:30,320
are perhaps a little scared or
hesitant to dump it all out,
200
00:13:30,320 --> 00:13:33,520
even when it's really messy and
may even include some four
201
00:13:33,520 --> 00:13:37,800
letter words.
So tell us your experience.
202
00:13:38,400 --> 00:13:45,720
Yes, so there's one experience
that really got me the most and,
203
00:13:45,760 --> 00:13:47,360
and I write about it in the
book.
204
00:13:47,360 --> 00:13:52,040
It was in December and again,
Alex passed the next year in
205
00:13:52,040 --> 00:13:55,840
March.
So this was in December and I
206
00:13:55,840 --> 00:14:00,760
was just really having a hard
time with my relationship with
207
00:14:00,760 --> 00:14:04,760
God, with Alex.
We had spent, you know, this
208
00:14:04,760 --> 00:14:11,120
past year in 2017 over $100,000
just trying to get Alex better,
209
00:14:11,440 --> 00:14:15,400
you know, going to the best
facilities, the best doctors.
210
00:14:15,560 --> 00:14:17,240
And mind you, I didn't have this
money.
211
00:14:17,240 --> 00:14:20,360
I mean, I was selling her car.
I was like trying to do
212
00:14:20,360 --> 00:14:23,960
everything to come up with money
to help support this because a
213
00:14:23,960 --> 00:14:29,360
lot of times insurance does that
cover Lyme treatment or medical
214
00:14:29,360 --> 00:14:31,840
facilities and states.
So anyway, I was just really
215
00:14:31,840 --> 00:14:38,920
having a hard season, obviously,
and Alex was in the back master
216
00:14:38,920 --> 00:14:40,720
bedroom.
She had moved in back there.
217
00:14:41,200 --> 00:14:44,400
And I told her that I was going
to head out, just go to the
218
00:14:44,400 --> 00:14:46,680
grocery store really quick and I
was going to be back because I
219
00:14:46,680 --> 00:14:49,520
just knew, like, I just needed a
moment.
220
00:14:49,520 --> 00:14:52,720
And I don't know what else to
see this because I had to always
221
00:14:52,720 --> 00:14:56,320
be strong and put on, you know,
the strong face for her.
222
00:14:56,800 --> 00:15:00,880
So I took off in my car and I
started driving and I just
223
00:15:00,880 --> 00:15:04,800
pulled over into some
neighborhood and I just started
224
00:15:04,800 --> 00:15:10,960
banging on the dashboard.
And basically I just was letting
225
00:15:10,960 --> 00:15:14,120
it all out and, you know, really
giving it to God.
226
00:15:14,360 --> 00:15:17,800
And then I did one more thing.
I gave God an ultimatum, right?
227
00:15:17,800 --> 00:15:20,480
Like I was going to, you know,
play God myself.
228
00:15:20,720 --> 00:15:22,320
And I'm like, listen, here's the
deal.
229
00:15:22,560 --> 00:15:26,360
Like you either fix Alex right
now or you take her because this
230
00:15:26,360 --> 00:15:28,600
purgatory is not working out for
me.
231
00:15:28,920 --> 00:15:32,440
And how dare you think that, you
know, blah, blah, blah, and just
232
00:15:32,440 --> 00:15:35,680
pounding, crying.
And then I got all my senses
233
00:15:35,680 --> 00:15:39,680
together and I said, OK, now I
can go home.
234
00:15:39,680 --> 00:15:42,600
You know, I'll finish cleaning.
Whenever I was stressed, I'd
235
00:15:42,680 --> 00:15:44,400
clean.
My house was Immaculate, but I'm
236
00:15:44,400 --> 00:15:48,480
still cleaning.
And so I go back and I'm, you
237
00:15:48,480 --> 00:15:51,720
know, I checked in with Alex and
told her that I was back and I
238
00:15:51,720 --> 00:15:54,480
was dusting in the in the living
room.
239
00:15:54,800 --> 00:15:59,000
And I looked out the window and
we had a courtyard with a
240
00:15:59,080 --> 00:16:01,360
beautiful fountain in the
courtyard.
241
00:16:01,400 --> 00:16:04,600
And I saw a Bluebird on there
and I'm like, wow, that's weird.
242
00:16:04,600 --> 00:16:06,960
I've never seen a Bluebird
before.
243
00:16:07,440 --> 00:16:11,360
So go back into the bedroom and
I said to Alex go, hey Alex, I
244
00:16:11,360 --> 00:16:14,320
go, have you seen this Bluebird
before?
245
00:16:14,440 --> 00:16:17,920
I've never seen it.
And you know, she was sick, but
246
00:16:17,920 --> 00:16:20,080
she still had that 22 year old
attitude.
247
00:16:20,080 --> 00:16:25,800
Like, yeah, she goes, yes, mom,
she goes, I see it every day at
248
00:16:25,800 --> 00:16:29,640
3:00.
And she said in at 3:00 she
249
00:16:29,640 --> 00:16:33,080
goes, when I see that Bluebird,
there's two things that I think
250
00:16:33,080 --> 00:16:40,880
of #1 is that God has given me
another day here on earth and #2
251
00:16:41,200 --> 00:16:48,560
he hasn't forgotten about me.
And I just was like, so taken
252
00:16:48,560 --> 00:16:50,880
back by that.
The symbolism of the three O
253
00:16:50,880 --> 00:16:57,440
clock PM symbolism of the bird,
what it represented to Alex and
254
00:16:57,560 --> 00:16:59,760
how many afternoons it was
showing up.
255
00:16:59,760 --> 00:17:02,640
And I never saw it, never paid
attention to it.
256
00:17:03,240 --> 00:17:07,800
So I went back out to the living
room and I just sat down and
257
00:17:07,800 --> 00:17:13,240
started crying and really just
saying, God forgive me.
258
00:17:13,240 --> 00:17:17,760
Like I'm so sorry that just, you
know, 1/2 hour ago, I'm
259
00:17:17,760 --> 00:17:21,480
screaming, yelling at you, where
are you and all of this, You
260
00:17:21,480 --> 00:17:23,359
know, I'm giving you an
ultimatum.
261
00:17:23,800 --> 00:17:27,119
And yet every day you're showing
up so beautifully for my
262
00:17:27,119 --> 00:17:28,880
daughter and you are there with
us.
263
00:17:29,720 --> 00:17:33,880
So I think it's so important for
your listeners to really pay
264
00:17:33,880 --> 00:17:38,160
attention to what's going on
around them because so many
265
00:17:38,160 --> 00:17:41,480
times when you know, it's like
they say you're, you know, going
266
00:17:41,480 --> 00:17:45,000
into the forest and you can't
see the, you know, whatever that
267
00:17:45,000 --> 00:17:47,800
expression is, you're, you're
just like so into the thick of
268
00:17:47,800 --> 00:17:50,000
all of it.
And that happens when we're in
269
00:17:50,000 --> 00:17:52,480
those dark moments, those dark
places.
270
00:17:52,720 --> 00:17:58,120
Sometimes we can't see Bob's
beauty around all the ugliness.
271
00:17:59,080 --> 00:18:02,320
And you know, to this day, I
have to tell you, I still see
272
00:18:02,320 --> 00:18:05,320
Bluebirds all the time.
That was our little patch.
273
00:18:05,360 --> 00:18:10,080
When Alex I knew was going to be
leaving us, I said, I need to
274
00:18:10,080 --> 00:18:12,240
have a sign.
Like I need to know how I can
275
00:18:12,240 --> 00:18:16,120
still communicate and talk to
you and know that you're there,
276
00:18:16,120 --> 00:18:17,920
just like how God always showed
up for you.
277
00:18:17,920 --> 00:18:21,760
And again, she's like, duh, she
goes the Bluebird.
278
00:18:24,360 --> 00:18:26,920
Yeah, Mom.
Yeah, gosh, I have to tell you
279
00:18:26,920 --> 00:18:32,320
again.
Oh, man, Jodi, thank you for
280
00:18:32,320 --> 00:18:36,320
being transparent about that.
That's real.
281
00:18:36,320 --> 00:18:39,480
That matters.
Thank you.
282
00:18:40,040 --> 00:18:42,720
Thank you.
And that's great.
283
00:18:44,200 --> 00:18:47,640
Well, let's talk about something
that's not so great because I
284
00:18:47,640 --> 00:18:51,920
think a lot of people have heard
of Lyme's disease and yet have
285
00:18:51,920 --> 00:18:57,400
very little understanding of how
it manifests and those types of
286
00:18:57,400 --> 00:19:01,280
things.
So you have lots of experience
287
00:19:01,280 --> 00:19:04,720
with this.
Give us a sense for essentially
288
00:19:04,720 --> 00:19:06,960
Alex's ARP and what we should
know.
289
00:19:07,760 --> 00:19:12,880
So I mean, it would take hours
to go into everything, you know,
290
00:19:12,880 --> 00:19:16,320
with with Lyme disease.
And that's why we have a
291
00:19:16,320 --> 00:19:20,560
website, people that are curious
or people that might know of
292
00:19:20,560 --> 00:19:24,920
somebody that has Lyme disease
or maybe as I talk a little bit
293
00:19:24,920 --> 00:19:28,240
about the symptoms, they might
be like, Oh my gosh, yes, my
294
00:19:28,240 --> 00:19:31,120
friend has been suffering from
all this and doctors can't
295
00:19:31,120 --> 00:19:33,520
figure out what's going on.
Maybe she should be tested for
296
00:19:33,520 --> 00:19:36,440
Lyme disease.
So I encourage people to go onto
297
00:19:36,440 --> 00:19:39,240
that website.
We have great resources.
298
00:19:39,840 --> 00:19:44,160
There is a national organization
called lymedisease.org that
299
00:19:44,160 --> 00:19:46,920
actually if you put in your zip
code, they can help you find a
300
00:19:46,920 --> 00:19:51,640
Lyme literate Dr. But it's such
a complicated disease.
301
00:19:51,640 --> 00:19:57,640
But basically, it is a bacterial
infection from a tick bite.
302
00:19:58,160 --> 00:20:01,760
And 35% of those individuals
that get bit by a tick will
303
00:20:01,760 --> 00:20:03,680
develop what's called a bullseye
rash.
304
00:20:03,880 --> 00:20:07,840
And it's right at the point of
origin where the tick bite is,
305
00:20:08,600 --> 00:20:10,440
But the majority of people
don't.
306
00:20:10,960 --> 00:20:14,200
And so you might not even know
that you have been bitten by a
307
00:20:14,200 --> 00:20:18,720
tick or that you have Lyme
disease until you start feeling
308
00:20:19,320 --> 00:20:23,760
symptoms, you know, joint pain,
inflammation, flu, like, you
309
00:20:23,760 --> 00:20:27,680
just kind of feel off.
Well, boy, what I just described
310
00:20:27,680 --> 00:20:30,280
right now could fit into a lot
of different autoimmune
311
00:20:30,280 --> 00:20:32,760
categories, right?
So how do you know it's Lyme
312
00:20:32,760 --> 00:20:35,080
disease?
Well, that's when you really
313
00:20:35,080 --> 00:20:38,320
have to do proper testing.
Unfortunately, a lot of doctors
314
00:20:38,320 --> 00:20:42,440
still use the old Western blot
testing, which will give you
315
00:20:42,440 --> 00:20:44,680
false negatives and it's not
accurate.
316
00:20:45,040 --> 00:20:49,600
So there are, you know, really
good places that give proper
317
00:20:49,600 --> 00:20:52,040
testing.
That also I talked about on the
318
00:20:52,080 --> 00:20:56,920
the website, but you know, it's,
it's based basically starting
319
00:20:56,920 --> 00:21:00,280
with the joint pain, the
inflammation and Alex's case.
320
00:21:00,280 --> 00:21:04,880
She had all of that and more It
because it's a bacterial
321
00:21:04,880 --> 00:21:08,360
infection, it can impact every
organ in your body.
322
00:21:08,720 --> 00:21:13,720
So Alex was 5-6, she weighed 120
lbs when she passed, she weighed
323
00:21:13,800 --> 00:21:16,400
57 lbs.
Think about that.
324
00:21:16,720 --> 00:21:19,800
That's like half of her body
size, right?
325
00:21:20,640 --> 00:21:25,480
Because she couldn't process her
foods, it impacted her digestive
326
00:21:25,480 --> 00:21:29,400
system, her gut.
She was basically allergic to
327
00:21:29,400 --> 00:21:31,680
most foods.
There's only like 4 or five safe
328
00:21:31,680 --> 00:21:35,720
foods that she could eat.
So it really has a host of
329
00:21:35,720 --> 00:21:39,000
different symptoms that
individuals can developed.
330
00:21:39,560 --> 00:21:42,880
And if that wasn't complicated
enough, the treatment is even
331
00:21:42,880 --> 00:21:46,920
more complicated.
You know, if you know that
332
00:21:46,920 --> 00:21:49,040
you've been bitten by a chick
and you go on a round of
333
00:21:49,040 --> 00:21:54,360
antibiotics, it's usually, you
know, it will usually clear out
334
00:21:54,360 --> 00:21:57,480
the infection.
But in Alex's case, because she
335
00:21:57,480 --> 00:22:01,400
went 10 years misdiagnosed, it
was too late.
336
00:22:01,400 --> 00:22:05,800
So even the antibiotics, I mean,
it can't reverse what it had
337
00:22:05,800 --> 00:22:08,440
been done to her body.
And so there were different
338
00:22:08,440 --> 00:22:13,000
alternative treatments that we
tried to use to to, you know,
339
00:22:13,000 --> 00:22:16,720
rectify that.
But again, it was just, it had
340
00:22:16,720 --> 00:22:20,600
just gotten away from us.
Most people are very familiar
341
00:22:20,600 --> 00:22:26,240
obviously with COVID, right?
So I think Lyme disease and all
342
00:22:26,240 --> 00:22:31,920
these other autoimmune illnesses
have really benefited from COVID
343
00:22:32,000 --> 00:22:35,760
and post COVID like these long
haul symptoms that they talk
344
00:22:35,760 --> 00:22:38,960
about.
So doctors are understanding how
345
00:22:39,360 --> 00:22:43,480
they can use maybe you know,
what they're doing with post
346
00:22:43,480 --> 00:22:49,640
COVID victims with Lyme disease
and other autoimmune chronic
347
00:22:49,640 --> 00:22:53,240
illnesses.
So it's very encouraging seeing
348
00:22:53,240 --> 00:22:57,880
a lot of this discussion on even
this past month at the White
349
00:22:57,880 --> 00:22:59,360
House.
You've got, you know, Robert
350
00:22:59,360 --> 00:23:02,920
Kennedy, you brought in a whole
Lyme disease panel, you know, to
351
00:23:02,920 --> 00:23:06,560
look at Lyme disease and these
other autoimmune illnesses.
352
00:23:06,560 --> 00:23:10,120
So it's great that conversations
are still happening.
353
00:23:10,440 --> 00:23:15,480
We still need, you know, more
money to fuel for research, but
354
00:23:16,120 --> 00:23:18,600
I've been very encouraged by
what I've been seeing, so that's
355
00:23:18,600 --> 00:23:21,120
really great.
Yeah, definitely.
356
00:23:21,680 --> 00:23:26,080
Wow.
Oh, man, there's, there's
357
00:23:26,120 --> 00:23:29,000
there's truly so much there.
And I'm really blown away by the
358
00:23:29,000 --> 00:23:33,360
57 lbs.
I mean that that really just
359
00:23:33,360 --> 00:23:39,480
gives us a picture of the
devastation that it was doing to
360
00:23:39,480 --> 00:23:42,960
Alex from the inside out.
Right, right.
361
00:23:43,760 --> 00:23:46,240
And you had to watch all that.
I mean, I'm sure that was
362
00:23:46,520 --> 00:23:52,760
tremendously challenging.
The hardest thing as a parent is
363
00:23:52,760 --> 00:23:55,480
when you can't fix things for
your children, right?
364
00:23:55,840 --> 00:23:59,440
I mean, when they're little, you
fix their scraped knees.
365
00:23:59,640 --> 00:24:02,800
When they get older and have
their first love or crush, you
366
00:24:02,800 --> 00:24:07,880
fix their broken hearts.
How do you fix a medical illness
367
00:24:07,880 --> 00:24:12,040
that the doctors don't even know
how to to fix and to help and
368
00:24:12,040 --> 00:24:16,080
where there's not even a clear
treatment path?
369
00:24:16,080 --> 00:24:19,760
It's basically being given a
buffet and saying would you like
370
00:24:20,120 --> 00:24:27,200
buffet number 123 or these other
25, you know, treatments?
371
00:24:27,200 --> 00:24:30,720
So yeah, it's it's very, very
complicated.
372
00:24:31,040 --> 00:24:33,440
Well, I appreciate you laying
that out for us though.
373
00:24:33,440 --> 00:24:36,200
At least you scratch the
surface, and I think that's more
374
00:24:36,200 --> 00:24:40,400
than a lot of us even have in
terms of awareness about Lyme
375
00:24:40,480 --> 00:24:44,320
and all the issues that can sort
from it if it's not treating.
376
00:24:44,520 --> 00:24:47,840
May is Lyme Disease Awareness
Month, so people that are
377
00:24:47,840 --> 00:24:55,560
listening, there's usually, you
know, lots of good messages on
378
00:24:55,560 --> 00:24:59,120
TV, radio.
I've been seeing a lot more
379
00:24:59,840 --> 00:25:02,960
national messaging.
So like I said, that's very
380
00:25:02,960 --> 00:25:07,000
encouraging as well.
Yeah, good.
381
00:25:07,040 --> 00:25:08,760
Good to know about May.
I did not know that.
382
00:25:09,080 --> 00:25:12,480
Yes.
I want to land things here with
383
00:25:12,480 --> 00:25:16,120
the two questions that we asked
all of our guests.
384
00:25:16,400 --> 00:25:19,520
And I want to highlight in this
first question a couple of
385
00:25:19,520 --> 00:25:24,560
different pieces.
So on the day that Alex passes,
386
00:25:24,880 --> 00:25:27,960
you feel this nudge from the
Holy Spirit as you kind of
387
00:25:27,960 --> 00:25:32,840
described let her go.
And you guys had had prior
388
00:25:32,840 --> 00:25:39,920
conversations about Bluebirds
and in your really raw moments
389
00:25:39,920 --> 00:25:44,760
with God and basically asking
him to show up, a Bluebird shows
390
00:25:44,760 --> 00:25:48,320
up first time that you'd seen
it, right?
391
00:25:48,320 --> 00:25:52,120
So when we look at those and
many other things in the story
392
00:25:52,120 --> 00:25:57,560
that you have shared, were those
things coincidence, Jody or God?
393
00:25:58,120 --> 00:26:00,600
Totally God.
Totally God.
394
00:26:01,120 --> 00:26:07,040
I mean, even writing the book,
like I said, I'm, you know, not
395
00:26:08,000 --> 00:26:10,920
an author by any means.
And for me to be able to sit
396
00:26:10,920 --> 00:26:13,720
down and knock that out within
four months time, that was all
397
00:26:13,720 --> 00:26:17,480
divine intervention.
And seeing that the Bluebirds
398
00:26:17,480 --> 00:26:23,200
and just having him giving Alex
those visual signs every day at
399
00:26:23,280 --> 00:26:26,080
3:00 PM, that's not a
coincidence at all.
400
00:26:29,040 --> 00:26:32,680
Yeah, that's so good.
Yeah, well, you've alluded to
401
00:26:32,680 --> 00:26:35,280
some of this, right, with the
book and and and more.
402
00:26:35,280 --> 00:26:38,800
But how has your life changed as
a result of everything that
403
00:26:38,800 --> 00:26:42,760
we've been talking about?
I never thought I would be an
404
00:26:42,760 --> 00:26:52,240
individual that would write a
book, that would be speaking on
405
00:26:52,240 --> 00:26:56,880
platforms.
I, I'm very comfortable doing.
406
00:26:56,880 --> 00:27:01,480
Media from my nonprofit worked,
but that was always about other
407
00:27:01,480 --> 00:27:07,320
people, like raising money for
our clients who are, you know,
408
00:27:07,360 --> 00:27:11,560
struggling to, you know, make
ends meet, struggling to put
409
00:27:11,600 --> 00:27:13,360
food on the table for their
families.
410
00:27:13,640 --> 00:27:18,280
It was so easy for me to speak
and address that because it
411
00:27:18,280 --> 00:27:23,360
wasn't personal.
This is personal, but again,
412
00:27:24,120 --> 00:27:29,440
walking and being nudged by how
God wants me to show up in my
413
00:27:29,480 --> 00:27:32,760
faith walk.
This is what he laid out for me
414
00:27:32,760 --> 00:27:37,960
to do.
And I, you know, I'm so honored
415
00:27:38,080 --> 00:27:42,760
that I'm allowed to be on
platforms such as yours to
416
00:27:42,760 --> 00:27:46,560
really, you know, talk about
that faith walk.
417
00:27:46,760 --> 00:27:51,640
I'm just an average person that
just happened to have a very
418
00:27:52,080 --> 00:27:58,800
extraordinary life that has been
defined by so many God moments.
419
00:27:59,320 --> 00:28:03,600
And I would do God and injustice
if I didn't talk about that and
420
00:28:03,600 --> 00:28:06,360
share those stories and give
people hope.
421
00:28:06,840 --> 00:28:09,480
Again, not being defined as a
grief girl, but really being
422
00:28:09,480 --> 00:28:15,000
defined as, you know, this
warrior of God that no matter
423
00:28:15,000 --> 00:28:18,840
how many times I get struck down
together, he and I are going to
424
00:28:18,840 --> 00:28:21,280
keep rising.
And that's what I want people
425
00:28:21,280 --> 00:28:24,800
just to remember.
Just keep rising, right?
426
00:28:25,640 --> 00:28:30,280
It does get better.
Yeah, praise God, particularly
427
00:28:30,280 --> 00:28:33,480
as you defined it with in
concert with him.
428
00:28:33,480 --> 00:28:36,080
Yes, the two of you is how you
phrase that.
429
00:28:36,440 --> 00:28:38,280
Yes, and that means all the
difference.
430
00:28:38,520 --> 00:28:41,360
Oh, you can't.
I don't know how I say this all
431
00:28:41,360 --> 00:28:43,360
the time.
I don't know how people can can
432
00:28:43,360 --> 00:28:46,400
get through the day without him.
I start my day with him.
433
00:28:46,760 --> 00:28:50,160
I put on the armor of God and
I'm like, all right, let's, you
434
00:28:50,160 --> 00:28:53,240
know, knock this out.
What can we accomplish together?
435
00:28:53,600 --> 00:28:55,880
End of the day through a
checklist.
436
00:28:55,880 --> 00:28:59,360
How did I show up for him?
How did I show up for me?
437
00:28:59,560 --> 00:29:02,400
How did I show up for others?
You know, we have those
438
00:29:02,400 --> 00:29:05,760
opportunities all the time.
Even standing in a grocery line
439
00:29:06,160 --> 00:29:09,560
instead of being impatient with
maybe a little old lady in front
440
00:29:09,560 --> 00:29:12,280
of you that still likes to write
the check instead of doing a
441
00:29:12,280 --> 00:29:14,400
debit card.
Like, how do you have those
442
00:29:14,400 --> 00:29:17,160
moments that you can show up for
maybe the person behind you and
443
00:29:17,440 --> 00:29:21,160
engage in a conversation?
So yeah.
444
00:29:22,800 --> 00:29:26,760
Wow, a checklist.
How did I do?
445
00:29:26,760 --> 00:29:29,320
How did I show up for him?
And that's neat.
446
00:29:30,080 --> 00:29:34,480
That is your lead.
Well, Jody, how do people get
447
00:29:34,480 --> 00:29:37,000
the book?
How do they stay more in touch
448
00:29:37,000 --> 00:29:40,200
with you and the work that
you're doing talking more about
449
00:29:40,200 --> 00:29:41,640
Lyme disease?
Yes.
450
00:29:42,000 --> 00:29:44,480
So if they go to my website,
it's
451
00:29:44,480 --> 00:29:53,360
www.alexhudsonlymefoundation.org,
all one word, all my contact
452
00:29:53,360 --> 00:29:56,160
information is on their e-mail
cell phone.
453
00:29:56,160 --> 00:29:59,560
I do answer emails, I do answer
calls.
454
00:30:01,000 --> 00:30:03,000
So that's how they can get a
hold of me.
455
00:30:03,000 --> 00:30:06,440
Also on the website is the
direct link to Amazon where they
456
00:30:06,440 --> 00:30:11,160
can purchase the book.
And I'd be happy to, you know,
457
00:30:11,160 --> 00:30:13,720
hear from people once they've
read the book what their, their
458
00:30:13,720 --> 00:30:17,960
thoughts are on it.
Awesome, we will make sure we
459
00:30:17,960 --> 00:30:19,800
link to all of that stuff as
well.
460
00:30:19,920 --> 00:30:21,960
Great.
Jody Hudson is getting an
461
00:30:22,000 --> 00:30:25,480
absolute pleasure.
Thank you so much for sharing
462
00:30:25,480 --> 00:30:29,200
your story, for glorifying God,
and for coming on when you look.
463
00:30:29,760 --> 00:30:32,080
Thank you so much, really
appreciated the conversation.
464
00:30:35,400 --> 00:30:40,360
Was it coincidence or God?
You decide for yourself, but I
465
00:30:40,360 --> 00:30:44,080
believe you just heard a story
for His glory.
466
00:30:44,760 --> 00:30:48,240
When You Look is powered by
stories just like this, and
467
00:30:48,240 --> 00:30:52,040
yours could be next.
Go to whenyoulook.com slash.
468
00:30:52,040 --> 00:30:54,080
Be a guest.
Or use the link in the
469
00:30:54,080 --> 00:30:57,800
description below.
Be sure to drop us a like, drop
470
00:30:57,800 --> 00:31:01,440
a comment or share this episode
with somebody that needs it.
471
00:31:01,800 --> 00:31:05,200
And until next time, thanks a
bunch for listening and God
472
00:31:05,200 --> 00:31:05,680
bless.