Do Something Great!
"You still have to do something great with your life."
Myles Whan, age 2
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Release & Restore Wellness™
The Gift of Access™
Real wellness shouldn’t depend on red tape...
My Origin Story
If you look at me today, you might see someone who created a reflective and educational resource focused on access, education, and systems navigation.
If you look at me today, you might see someone who created a reflective and educational resource focused on access, education, and systems navigation.
My name is Kortney Michelle, founder of Release & Restore Wellness™ and creator of The Gift of Access™.
My name is Kortney Michelle, founder of Release & Restore Wellness™ and creator of The Gift of Access™.
What you would not immediately see is the path that led here.
What you would not immediately see is the path that led here.
In 2006, while working as a nurse in a physically demanding clinical environment, my life changed in an instant.
In 2006, while working as a nurse in a physically demanding clinical environment, my life changed in an instant.
What followed was not just a medical crisis.
What followed was not just a medical crisis.
It became a journey that forced me to understand both the human body and the healthcare system in ways I never expected.
It became a journey that forced me to understand both the human body and the healthcare system in ways I never expected.
THE SHIFT
THE SHIFT
In 2006, I was injured on the job while working as a nurse in a physically demanding clinical environment.
In 2006, I was injured on the job while working as a nurse in a physically demanding clinical environment.
The role required constant lifting, extended shifts, and sustained physical strain.
The role required constant lifting, extended shifts, and sustained physical strain.
That injury led to a catastrophic neurological event, a delayed diagnosis, emergency spinal surgery, and months on life support.
That injury led to a catastrophic neurological event, a delayed diagnosis, emergency spinal surgery, and months on life support.
I lost function in my lower extremities.
I lost function in my lower extremities.
along with neurogenic bowel and bladder.
I experienced severe neuromuscular disruption.
I experienced severe neuromuscular disruption.
I was classified as permanently disabled.
I was classified as permanently disabled.
I was told I would likely spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair.
I was told I would likely spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair.
INSIDE THE SYSTEM
INSIDE THE SYSTEM
At age 31, I became insured through Medicare under the authority of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
At age 31, I became insured through Medicare under the authority of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
While my condition was considered acute, restorative care was available.
While my condition was considered acute, restorative care was available.
But once I was labeled permanent, access to that level of care stopped.
But once I was labeled permanent, access to that level of care stopped.
Not because improvement was impossible—
Not because improvement was impossible—
but because the system was not structured to look for, document, or track progress once permanence was assigned.
but because the system was not structured to look for, document, or track progress once permanence was assigned.
When someone is categorized as permanently disabled, they are no longer treated as someone expected to improve, even when improvement is occurring.
When someone is categorized as permanently disabled, they are no longer treated as someone expected to improve, even when improvement is occurring.
What followed was not just a medical journey.
What followed was not just a medical journey.
It became a search for access.
It became a search for access.
THE VOICE THAT STAYED
THE VOICE THAT STAYED
At the time, my son was two years old.
At the time, my son was two years old.
Every night before we went to sleep, he would touch my face and say,
Every night before we went to sleep, he would touch my face and say,
“You still have to do something great with your life.
“You still have to do something great with your life.
You need to get better.
You need to get better.
You have to figure this out.”
You have to figure this out.”
That voice stayed with me.
That voice stayed with me.
THE MISDIAGNOSIS LOOP
THE MISDIAGNOSIS LOOP
At the same time, every doctor I saw reached the same conclusion about my condition.
At the same time, every doctor I saw reached the same conclusion about my condition.
“You need to lose weight.”
“You need to lose weight.”
What they did not account for was this—
What they did not account for was this—
I could not move because of my spinal injury.
I could not move because of my spinal injury.
And when the body cannot move, it cannot regulate.
And when the body cannot move, it cannot regulate.
So the cycle continued.
So the cycle continued.
THE MOMENT EVERYTHING SHIFTED
THE MOMENT EVERYTHING SHIFTED
One day, I saw a sign around the block.
One day, I saw a sign around the block.
“Natural Weight Loss Solutions.”
“Natural Weight Loss Solutions.”
I called the number.
I called the number.
When I told them I had Medicare, I was immediately told they could not treat me.
When I told them I had Medicare, I was immediately told they could not treat me.
They could not even give me information.
They could not even give me information.
I asked for the cash price.
I asked for the cash price.
I asked for options.
I asked for options.
I asked how I was supposed to get better.
I asked how I was supposed to get better.
I was told they were not allowed to treat Medicare patients.
I was told they were not allowed to treat Medicare patients.
The call ended.
The call ended.
The next day, I went in person.
The next day, I went in person.
Because my son had already asked me a question, I could not ignore.
Because my son had already asked me a question, I could not ignore.
"Who taught you to take no for an answer?"
LEARNING HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS
LEARNING HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS
That moment changed the direction of my life.
That moment changed the direction of my life.
If the system could not show me a path forward, I would have to learn how to find one.
If the system could not show me a path forward, I would have to learn how to find one.
So I began studying.
So I began studying.
I studied how the body moves.
I studied how the body moves.
How neuromuscular patterns affect balance, strength, and coordination.
How neuromuscular patterns affect balance, strength, and coordination.
How recovery can occur even after a devastating injury.
How recovery can occur even after a devastating injury.
And just as importantly, I began studying something most patients are never taught.
And just as importantly, I began studying something most patients are never taught.
How healthcare systems actually work.
How healthcare systems actually work.
How coverage decisions are made.
How coverage decisions are made.
How policies shape access to care.
How policies shape access to care.
And how individuals are often left trying to navigate systems they were never given the tools to understand.
And how individuals are often left trying to navigate systems they were never given the tools to understand.
What started as a personal fight for my own health slowly became something more.
What started as a personal fight for my own health slowly became something more.
It became knowledge.
It became knowledge.
SMALL SIGNS OF PROGRESS
SMALL SIGNS OF PROGRESS
As I continued learning and experimenting with movement and recovery, something began to change.
As I continued learning and experimenting with movement and recovery, something began to change.
Slowly.
Slowly.
Gradually
Gradually
My body began responding, and yes, slow signs of bladder improvement
My body began responding, and yes, slow signs of bladder improvement
My body adapted, and I started to compensate for the function that was lost.
My body adapted, and I started to compensate for the function that was lost.
Balance improved.
Balance improved.
Movement patterns began to look better.
Movement patterns began to look better.
The progress was not dramatic overnight.
The progress was not dramatic overnight.
But it was real.
But it was real.
And every small improvement told me something important.
And every small improvement told me something important.
Progress was possible.
A BIGGER REALIZATION
A BIGGER REALIZATION
As my health began improving, another realization followed.
As my health began improving, another realization followed.
The problem I faced was not unique.
The problem I faced was not unique.
Many people were encountering the same barriers.
Many people were encountering the same barriers.
Insurance rules.
Insurance rules.
Coverage limitations.
Coverage limitations.
Policy restrictions.
Policy restrictions.
Confusing systems.
Confusing systems.
People are trying to improve their health while navigating structures that often make progress harder instead of easier.
People are trying to improve their health while navigating structures that often make progress harder instead of easier.
What I had learned navigating my own journey could help others navigate theirs.
What I had learned navigating my own journey could help others navigate theirs.
WHY RELEASE & RESTORE WELLNESS EXISTS
WHY RELEASE & RESTORE WELLNESS EXISTS
Release & Restore Wellness™-The Gift of Access™ was created from that experience.
Release & Restore Wellness™-The Gift of Access™ was created from that experience.
Not as a replacement for medical care.
Not as a replacement for medical care.
Not as insurance.
Not as insurance.
But as education.
But as education.
Reflection.
Reflection.
And a way for people to better understand the systems that influence their health and access to care.
And a way for people to better understand the systems that influence their health and access to care.
Real access should not depend on whether someone understands a complicated system on their own.
Real access should not depend on whether someone understands a complicated system on their own.
Until those systems evolve, people deserve tools, knowledge, and support to help them navigate the path forward.
Until those systems evolve, people deserve tools, knowledge, and support to help them navigate the path forward.
That is the purpose behind The Gift of Access™.
That is the purpose behind The Gift of Access™.
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