KIM NELSON
- DOULA | HERBALIST | GOVERNMENT PROFESSIONAL
”I am a daughter, mother, wife, doula, herbalist, government professional, and person living with scoliosis who loves to ask big questions, feel deeply, and is happiest when communing with the Earth and the cosmos.”
Kim was diagnosed with idiopathic adolescent scoliosis at 16 with an almost 60-degree
lumbar curve and a thoracic curve nearing 40 degrees. Her spinal fusion surgery,
scheduled rapidly after diagnosis, initiated a period of shame and isolation as she
struggled to articulate her needs and fears to those around her
Kim was 34 years old before she delved into her trauma from diagnosis, surgery, and
the shame she harbored for years. Through her journey of emotional processing and
self-acceptance, Kim learned that it’s very important to involve your loved ones early on
who want to show up for you and support you. Life is too short and too hard to hold
hardships alone. We aren’t meant to!
Over the years, Kim has transformed her narrative and mindset, choosing to lead a life
of radical acceptance and inspiration. Kim has embraced therapy, dream-chasing, and
tailored physical therapies for scoliosis. Now an advocate for mental health support from
the onset of diagnosis, Kim hopes to be a guiding light for those who, like her, delayed
the emotional processing of their scoliosis journey. Through her story, she seeks to
inspire women with scoliosis, demonstrating that a fulfilling family life is indeed possible.
Kim is inspired by the changes or advancements in the treatment of spinal conditions
and is eager to see more integration and collaboration between surgeons, mental health
clinicians, therapists, and holistic practitioners. She is also an advocate for post-surgical
support to include physical and mental health services as a standardized practice.
While Kim has found a source of power in her condition, she also realizes that it is not
her only identity. Her proudest achievements include volunteering in rural Sierra Leone
for 2.5 years (without running water and electricity!) and growing, birthing, and nursing a
healthy baby boy in 2020. She continues to serve as a lighthouse for older individuals
who haven’t emotionally processed their challenges and letting them know that it’s
never too late to do that work.
