After weeks of surgery, infection, IV antibiotics, and recovery, a good doctor's appointment, a trip to Bisbee, and a very necessary nap reminded me that healing is about more than medicine—it's about living again.

Healing takes more than medicine. It takes patience, emotional strength, support, hope, and learning to slow down one day at a time. This week I’m sharing a deeply personal reflection on what healing really looks like.

After surviving a serious post-surgical infection and emergency surgery, artist Deb Deaton reflects on fear, emotional healing, vulnerability, and the unexpected art that emerged from the experience. A deeply personal story about intuition, survival, and continuing anyway.

After what should have been a routine recovery, I found myself fighting to be heard while my body was telling a different story. This is a reflection on advocacy, resilience, and healing through unexpected complications.