We LOVE a good story, especially when it’s a heartwarming one. Below, you’ll hear some amazing stories from incredible business owners, practitioners, and creatives and artists.

Cat Delp

The aesthetic business is fun, making people look better and feel better about themselves is always gratifying. But I never expected it to unquestionably touch someone’s life. A woman came in and asked if we could help her, as she had a “gummy smile”. This is where excessive upper gum tissue is visible with a smile. In her case it was severe, and had impacted her her whole life. She told me as a young girl she had not ever smiled in photos, and would cover her mouth in embarrassment if she laughed. In the pictures she was self-conscious and always standing in the back. Read more>>

Rebecca Ness

I’ll tell you a patient’s story, let’s call her Alex. Alex contracted covid early on in the pandemic and developed long covid. By the time she arrived at my acupuncture clinic, she had long covid for just under 3 years. She had several changing ailments, but her chief complaints were extreme fatigue, joint pain, heightened emotions and brain fog. Alex was anxious to return to her full health and open to everything Chinese Medicine has to offer. We worked in partnership: she received acupuncture, I taught her to do moxa and qigong for herself both of which she did daily. She also drank Chinese herbs most days of the week. After about 8 weekly treatments, Alex started to feel better. She took control of her health and her pain stopped, energy and full cognitive function returned, and emotions leveled. Alex continued with her treatments, her daily therapies and herbs. It’s wonderful that Chinese Medicine is able to help people heal from long covid, but the story doesn’t end here. Five months into her healing, she had a revelation during her morning qigong session about a decades old relationship that she needed to right. This caused some new turmoil that Chinese Medicine saw her through. I saw Alex soon after she had bravely righted the relationship. She was lighter, freer, and calmer than she had been in years. Alex has made Chinese Medicine a part of her daily life and together we have restored her health. It’s easy to miss this medicine if you are not looking for it—the way it supports people through their lives is quietly brilliant. Read more>>

Kim Garcia

I had a patient, who I still communicate with to this day, who had COPD, and blacked out while riding her scooter. The scooter fell on her and crushed her right tibia (just below her knee), and her right ulna (at her elbow). When I met her, she could not even reach the ground to put her right foot down, and hadn’t put weight on her leg since her injury (~4 months) due to weight-bearing precautions from her surgeon. After working with her to get her through some difficult set-backs including blood clots, and infection in her knee, she is now back to living life, gardening without a wheelchair, walking without even a cane, and has even been able to go canoeing. It has been a long journey, and I am proud to have played my part. It warms my heart that she has gotten her life back. Read more>>

Pam Ferrara

Our signature and original class at GVST Wellness is called a Tribe Meeting. It consists on yoga, meditation and a sharing circle. It women only and such a beautiful safe space to relax and connect with other women! When women get together and open up during the sharing circle we relate in such a deeper and more vulnerable level. It’s such a wonderful thing to witness! Read more>>

Monica Spaeni

S.K. a guest at Indian Creek Nature Center said: Hi! …. last Monday I got to try out the all-terrain track wheelchair…it was AWESOME!! I spent 2 hrs on the trails. It was nice to get out into the woods to smell, listen to the birds, and see the big timbers, different plants, and large area of prairie grass, lot to see it was great, I just enjoy seeing Gods creation, to see, hear, smell, touch…thumbs up! It was long overdue for me since my neck injury in 1969 l was an active outdoorsy person before Read more>>

Patricia Bryan

It all started with my mom having a stroke and heart attack while my daughter looked on right before Christmas. Spending the next 10 months caring for her and four children at home was rough but we saw a light at the end of the tunnel. Mom loves horses so one day I got her in the truck and took her to a ranch. One of the horses put her head in the opened window and evoked moms first word in months “whoa”. After that incident I felt a calling to start an equine therapy program. I knew little about horses but God asked me if trusted Him and I said yes! My children and I started the program with two horses and a trainer and my experience as a therapist and teacher. Here we are 17 years later and see 4000 people a year with special needs. And guess what. My mom just turned 84! She speaks a little and has an aid to care for her but I think she gets better every time I see her. What blessings come out of tragedy.!! Read more>>

Derrick Campana

The first dog I ever fit was a black Labrador named Charles. In 2004 pet prosthetics really didn’t exist so when this dog came hobbling into my office and the caretaker wanted a prosthesis, I thought she was crazy. I ended up building the device and the dog took off. I had so much joy that I started this business in animal prosthetics. Read more>>

Becky Barker

As a tattoo artist, we are in the privileged position to often be exposed to peoples very personal stories. Whether it is over coming trauma, celebrating an achievement or grieving a loss, people choose to have tattoos for many reasons. I believe whole heartedly, that a good tattoo can improve someone’s quality of life. Read more>>

Taking Our Best Shot

What warms our hearts is the opportunity to inspire others. We are so grateful for the support of our mentors and teacher partners. Teachers do so much, and their efforts and leadership motivate us as well. Through our projects, such as the Infographic Challenge, we are able to contribute to their curriculum. Likewise, we are privileged to work with teachers and help motivate students. Students have excitedly remarked that “They’re [Taking Our Best Shot members] scientists!” Seeing all of their smiling faces is a huge highlight of Taking Our Best Shot! Read more>>