040: Finding The Magic In The Mundane with Joann Martyn
When tragedy strikes, it’s normal to want to turn inwards and shut out the rest of the world. But while focusing on the challenge ahead is important, it is also important to remember to stay open to receiving medical and emotional support to care packages… and even unexpected friendships.
When Mattea was in the NICU, and I was in the thick of adapting to this life-changing event, Joann Martyn came into my life. Her baby boy, Theo, was also in the NICU, but it was her life that had truly been at risk when a severe and rare form of preeclampsia (a hypertension disorder) threatened to take it.
Joann is a lifelong friend of mine and a true source of inspiration. I couldn’t be happier to share her best advice on, as she puts it, “finding the magic in the mundane.” She is not only surviving the challenges life throws at us but also growing through them and thriving. Having survived a series of five brain stem strokes which have a 97% mortality rate, she is living proof of this.
Since we met, she’s worked her way up to being the Director of Online Learning at DePaul University, where she helps her students navigate the world in really beautiful ways. And her “baby” boy, once considered a micro-preemie, is now a 5 ’11 happy and healthy 13-year-old teenager.
Life has thrown every imaginable challenge at her, but it’s how she has mastered being present in her day-to-day life, accepting life as it happens, serving others, and letting others serve you in times of need that makes her a true force to be reckoned with.
You’ll hear Joann’s best advice on navigating life at the hospital/NICU (for yourself or your children), finding hope and happiness through challenging times and giving yourself permission to do what you enjoy doing most.
There’s a good chance this episode will give you the best kind of goosebumps, and I hope it lifts you up and inspires you whenever you need a boost.
Key Takeaways with Joann Martyn
Show Notes:
Get Full Access to the Show Notes by visiting: MatteasJoy.org/40.
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