2008 Passion Award Recipient Shares Her Personal Story
POISE® is teaming up with the Women's Health Foundation to celebrate champions of women's pelvic health and honor a woman taking charge of her pelvic health and well-being with the 2nd Annual Passion Award.
Linda's Story
After giving birth to her son (a healthy 10-pound, eight-ounce baby), Linda Michael experienced constant pelvic discomfort and from then on, never felt quite right. For 28 years, she endured chronic pelvic, back and hip pain, incontinence and painful intercourse.
Brushed aside for decades, Linda finally decided that even if a cure proved impossible, she deserved a definitive explanation of her symptoms' cause. She researched female urologists and found one who suggested pelvic floor therapy, a treatment Linda had never heard of, and directed her to the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC).
Thirteen weeks of life-changing therapy alleviated the pain, embarrassment and blame she carried for half her life. Pain-free and active, Linda no longer suffers from incontinence.
Katie Lorenz, a friend from RIC, nominated her for this award "because Linda wouldn't take no for an answer, sought out the best help possible and is willing to share her story to help educate women - and doctors - on under-researched and under-treated women's health issues." "I'm so vocal about my experience because I learned that the only way to get the answers and treatment I needed was by talking about my situation over and over until I was finally directing my questions to the right person," explained Linda. "My personal goal is to help women suffering from similar health issues realize that incontinence and pelvic pain are not a right of passage after pregnancy. I'm truly humbled to be recognized for my passion in this arena by women's health pioneers like POISE® brand and Women's Health Foundation."
The partnership with Women's Health Foundation is part of POISE® brand's commitment to promoting education surrounding women's health. Other efforts in this arena include support of organizations like Speaking of Women's Health and the Spirit of Women, and distribution of monthly online newsletters designed to encourage and celebrate women in their quest to triumph over personal health issues.
Click here to view Linda's video testimony of her triumph over pelvic pain.
