Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Tiffany Myers. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Tiffany, thanks for joining us today. One of the toughest things about progressing in a creative career or as an entrepreneur is that there are almost always unexpected problems that come up – problems that you often can’t read about in advance, can’t prepare for, etc. Have you had such and experience and if so, can you tell us the story of one of those unexpected problems you’ve encountered?

The most unexpected an abrupt hiatus began about 5 months after launching/self-publishing my first book titled Dear Sons: Imperfect and Flawed Mom’s Why.

I decided to write and publish a book. After years of indecisiveness on what kind of book to write, because I thought I was going to be the next Zane (God knew & protected me from me); procrastinating and finally having a heart to heart with my sons and their thoughts on how I raised them, I knew I needed to help someone else be better not bitter.

But in the midst of officially launching my life coaching service and first book, life happened. My husband’s health, which we’d dealt with his chronic auto-immune condition for years took the most left of unexpected turns. Transplant – double lung transplant was needed. I’m his wife but being a full-time caregiver is a whole other realm of responsibility that I didn’t expect.

Remember I said chronic right, well he’d been diagnosed and lived with sarcoidosis of the lungs for years. Then 2018 he developed a bacterial infection (called MAC – it’s like pneumonia, flu and a bad cold has a baby) that took him out work, doctors treated it over a year and a half, he got better, impacted us but we pushed forward. Then late 2020 it came back with a vengeance! So much so even though a lung transplant was probable in 5-10 years (that’s what they said in 2021) he had hit the need less than a year later! So much for book tours, coaching and such, right! His health required at home health-type attention. I was it!

We live in Columbia SC; his pulmonologist is in Charleston SC at MUSC. The MAC or NTM team is at MUSC, Charleston we were used to seeing them once maybe twice a month. The only lung transplant team in South Carolina is in Charleston at MUSC. Transplant requires a week evaluation and multiple pre-transplant visits. I was working remote so ok no problem. Until it was. From September 2022 to October, we traveled to Charleston to be evaluated to try to get in the list.

Who has time for a book and business (my side business at that remember I’m the only income) when my husband tryna breathe, condition worsening and we’ve gotta travel back and forth 2-3 hours one way depending on traffic to see if he can live! Then I lost my job mid-October2022. But God. Because who knew that we’d literally have to relocate from October 2022 to June 2023 to get listed, do rehab to build him up for transplant to post transplant therapy. Only God. Staying in a hotel 4-5 days weekly coming home to pack again September to March and having temporary residency March 12 for rehab until June. Who has time to run a business? I didn’t, caring for him went from just maintaining the calendar, driving because he was weak to having to get him administering at home infusions, administering feeding tube daily (3x), dressing/washing, driving to rehab, etc. daily were only a few tasks, because he could not. But God!

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I guess my purpose has always been apparent, I’ve always been able to coach people through crisis, identify the root of an issue and talk to people, identifying a real solution versus a superficial fix. It’s a gift from God. I don’t beat around the bush. I’m a straight shooter. Either you appreciate my candor, or you don’t, I’m fine either way but God made me like this for a reason.

About five or so years ago I knew God was calling me to more, I wasn’t sure what, but I knew it was ‘something more’, before the pandemic I started walking in my God-given purpose, ministering. Not traditional inside four walls but ministering with a brother & sister in Christ Tim and Tomeka (they’d been ministering) allowed me to minister with them when churches shut down. We were in the streets, at parks, going to homes trusting God’s direction, laying hands on the sick and experiencing the Glory of healing by God. We did what God told us to do when He told us to do it, boldly, ”In God is my salvation and my glory: The rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.“ Psalm 62:7.
The walk helped prepare me in a way truly characteristic that Jesus taught, reach people where they are.

My life/transformation coaching business was evolving took an immediate hit, paused now emerged as more it is a ministry – not traditional. I’m now a caregiver coach, the walk as my husband’s caregiver opened my eyes and exposed me to so many other caregivers, undeserved, unseen and unwell. I now serve as an advocate, mentor, and coach/consultant to help the caregiver be well, be heard, be seen and truthfully walk through the pain, uncertainty and times of overwhelming reality. Although my husband couldn’t breathe, I wasn’t breathing because of the gravity of our situation. I learned I wasn’t alone. I’m now a voice for those who care-give and lack self-care.

My walk has birthed a new dimension to my business for caregivers to self-care while caring for someone they love. It’s not selfish to love yourself. I’ve created a caregiver journal. I saw so many people caring for their loved ones, yet they were zombies trapped by circumstance, the weight of the illness, the brevity of life and just the daunting daily life tasks of taking care of business, bills and being an advocate becoming lost themselves no longer participating in life. God let me see the caregiver in the hospital, rehabilitation facility to see me in them, not the paid employees but the loved one, feel the struggle and be bold to say there is a better way.

I created the journal which creates a dialogue with oneself reminding you to stop, breathe, carve out time for you to be well, to be whole to reset and to remember you while you do and are there always for someone, everyone else. Not only do you deserve it, but you also need it! This journal has evolved into a self-care journal. There are prayers, activities, a budget tracker, water and food tracker. It’s not your average journal.

What I learned, caregivers have to track everything from medications to life, we had to relocate from Columbia basically but still pay bills at home while paying expenses to eat, drive, etc. in Charleston. Caregivers typically don’t eat right or drink water as they should they are caring for their loved one; who has time for self? The journal has prayers because sometimes you can’t pray, you’re tired you can’t form the words. Prayers because other prayers got me through. The journal is needed.

I’m also writing the caregiving book, (release coming this March) telling the story from my point of view. The truth (my perspective and other caregivers) to help someone else, another caregiver and those supporting them and those thinking the caregiver is ok and doesn’t need help. Yes, they do, it’s not pretty but caregivers deserve a break, a helping hand and I’m here to help improve, motivate, bring attention and light to some dark situations. I’m here to help the caregiver take time, be well and thrive even in their situation.

My ministry, I am a licensed minister, God is my refiner, and this is a lifestyle. I love God and I want to be empty when I leave here so I live what I learn. Anyone who encounters me I pray they encounter the Light of God in me. I won’t beat you with the Bible. I will treat you with love, joy and light, I’ll be truthful and give you what God gives me for you. Even if that is a hug. My life has afforded me the opportunity to be a walking living testimony no matter what that looks like. Sometimes a person just needs love.

Have you ever had to pivot?

My pivot happened during this transplant journey. I had no clue my coaching business would center around a caregiving, that I’d create caregiver and self-care journals and be writing a caregiver book.

The pivot is so much bigger than me, I know this, but this test has created the most profound pivot in my life.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

The caregiver journal was birthed because I needed a break just to take 5 minutes to myself. Writing is therapeutic for me…I said to myself what can I create to help these other caregivers? God gave me the journal, the space to write, the space to brain dump, use stickers, a space to track finances, food and water. Out of the ashes of transplant there was beauty for myself, my husband and so many others to experience. The resilience from so many losses literally transplanted me to create more and live in my purpose like I never realized.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://tiffanylmyersconsulting.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tiffanysunshyn?igsh=MXQwc2c1cWhtY2NmZQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/t.s.myers.5?mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/tiffany-l-myers-8abb9a3a
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@tiffanylmyers8?si=lvSjOMuods3WMenS