Cindy hid her autoimmune diagnosis for 10 years — even from a military discharge board that told her she was "healthy, just didn't want to run."
It wasn't until a 12-mile hike, where her husband carried her the final mile, that she finally admitted something was wrong.
In this episode of Invisible Strength, Cindy — a NASA program analyst, wife, and mom — walks us through her diagnosis process, the depression and marital strain that pushed her into therapy, and the mindset shift it took to stop equating her worth with her productivity.
She talks candidly about the guilt of "trapping" her husband in a harder life, the relationships she's had to distance herself from to protect her health, and how an electric wheelchair changed an entire family vacation.
She also shares how she built a support community on Instagram where spoon theory needs no explanation, why she writes for RareDisease.com, and her long-term goal of starting a nonprofit that funds both faster diagnosis and the assistive devices insurance won't cover.
Key takeaways:
- Masking an illness doesn't protect you — hiding it for a decade made
- Cindy sicker, not stronger
- A diagnosis can be relief, not just bad news — it ended years of being written off as lazy or "just anxious"
- Assistive devices are strategy, not surrender
- Community fills a gap even a great spouse can't
- Boundaries — with family, with obligations — are health care too
Follow Cindy on Instagram: @sin_der_ellaaaaa
Discover Free resources for your own journey at www.invigorateyourjourney.com
Invisible Strength is hosted by Karin Wagner and Chris Burton. New episodes every Wednesday. Follow us so you don't miss an episode!
If this episode resonated with you, please leave us a review and help us reach more autoimmune warriors and allies! Thank you - we so appreciate it!
⚠️ This content is for education and shared experience only — not medical advice. Always consult your healthcare team before making changes. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
