Patient Spotlight Brandelyn and Family
Mom Brandelyn with her husband Brock, and two children, Shep and Helena, all happy patients of Grainne's.
Since 2015 Grainne has been our family's primary holistic healthcare practitioner. When I moved to Chicago from California I had just left an acupuncturist in LA who was absolutely excellent and whom I had been with for over a decade, so I was pretty particular with finding the right next partner for my health. I knew I wanted someone grounded and experienced in the fundamentals of Chinese medicine while also working from a deeper intuitive space; having the art and science of healing both present was very important to me.
I found in Grainne a talented herbalist. She has a genius when it comes to Chinese herbs and evaluating you for just the right formula, tweaking and refining it until you have exactly what your body needs to rebalance itself. She helped me strengthen after recovering from a decade of chronic illness so I could become pregnant for the 1st time. And I did! She helped me then manage the recovery from birth and the challenges of first time breastfeeding and the roller coaster of a sensitive and upset newborn who cried long and hard for the first 3 months of his life. She walked my baby and me through that time. I had an empathetic expert holding my hand and keeping me focused and coaching me through those difficult months and the scary nights a first time mom has with a crying baby, blocked milk ducts, and major hormonal shifts all with no sleep. We vaccinated our son and Grainne offered preparatory treatments for him before and warming recovery treatments after so the side effects would be minimized and his body would be supported. He loved going into her office and it was the calmest, most serene time for him. He would fall asleep with me on the acupuncture table while I nursed him and we both received treatments together. As he grew Grainne would take him in the other room when she could and hold him or allow him to explore so I could have a longer treatment to rest. I cannot express enough how helpful she was for me during this time.
Helena, age 3 and Shep, age 7
After my son's birth I had two additional surgeries and Grainne supported me through both. Then Covid hit and Grainne was a much needed voice of reason in the panic that was occurring around the world and within many of us. She was the calm in the storm. And when I contracted Covid early on in the pandemic and had a hard time with it, Grainne's deep reservoir of experience kept me focused on what I could control, on returning to calm, and on how strong and resilient my body really was. Her contemplative nature combined with her intellect and strong understanding of how the body heals were invaluable to me. During a time when hospitals were overwhelmed and unsure, really, how to treat this disease, I know that Grainne kept me from panicking during the unpredictable illness and ending up in the hospital myself. We couldn't meet in person but through phone calls and herbal remedies I healed. And for the months after when I still had symptoms she helped me recover and then strengthen my body yet again for another conception and pregnancy. She then supported me through a 2nd pregnancy while she was pregnant herself! We delivered our baby girls a little more than a month apart.
And most recently in a move to the DC area my family and I developed challenging allergies in an area notorious for them. Grainne prescribed and mixed multiple formulas that have alleviated so many of our symptoms and made us healthier and stronger. Every time I tell myself a particular health issue is beyond the scope of Chinese medicine Grainne once again surprises me with how effective her treatments are. And all of these miles away she is still my family's first call for any health issues we encounter. I recently went for my first acupuncture treatment here in DC and the practitioner knew Grainne and sang her praises. She commented on how talented Grainne is and I couldn't agree more. Her reputation is well established within Chicago and beyond.
Grainne is like having a personal holistic healthcare concierge for your family. She is intuitive and brilliant in her approach to Chinese medicine. And she is warm, caring, and generous. With now almost a decade knowing her she has cared for me through two conceptions, two pregnancies, blocked milk ducts and breastfeeding challenges, Covid, 2 surgeries, and she has seen my children and husband through every cold and flu season and the development of new allergies due to a move. We rely on her and she is consistently excellent. Working with her has been a gift and one I would I recommend you give yourself or your family. Thank you, Grainne! We look forward to the next time we see you in person.