Author, Survivor and Game-Changing Doc Goldner Encourages You to Lean Into Your ‘Origin Story'
Jun. 19, 2022
How did you get to where you are today? I was diagnosed with lupus at 16. I was already in stage 4 kidney failure by the time the doctors realized what was wrong. It took two years of high doses of medication including chemotherapy to save my kidneys and my life. I became fascinated with the human body, which led to my decision to become a physician.
I lived a life very mindfully, focused on enjoying every moment. When I met my husband, I was just graduating medical school, in spite having had of a scary relapse of lupus that caused multiple mini-strokes. He loved me so much, and he wanted to marry me even though I had an illness that we believed would prevent me from having children and would lead me to become disabled and likely die young. He is a scientist himself, obsessed with learning the optimal nutrition for fat loss, and when I asked him to train me for our wedding, he modified his protocol for me. I was the only vegetarian he had ever worked with.
I went from a size 11 to a size 3 in three and a half months. I also became lupus-free — normal blood tests and zero symptoms. Even my kidney function returned to normal. After we had our first child — after four years of health, without any recurrence of lupus — we realized something important had happened: I was not just in remission but truly healthy.
We studied the changes in my diet and how it would impact not only cellular metabolism but cellular repair and immune function, and then tested it in volunteers with lupus. We discovered that my results were entirely reproducible, and we knew we had to release our finding and teach the public. We decided to release our entire protocol for free as public service.
Over the past decade we have helped thousands all over the world reverse not only lupus, but a multitude of diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, heart disease and recently Covid long-haul syndrome. The news of what we were doing spread entirely organically. I went from having fewer than 100 followers on Facebook to over 159,000 on social media platforms and growing every day. I am regularly called upon to comment on health issues, and recently became a member of the Forbes Health Advisory Board. I have three bestselling books, including my first, Goodbye Lupus, published without any public announcement, which became a bestseller before it was printed. I continue to teach for free online, with daily posts to keep people informed and inspired — with regular free online Q&A sessions for the public.
I believe my experiences as a patient, my credibility as a physician, my dedication to serving others at no cost, and, most importantly, my continued results at reversing diseases, have all led me to where I am today.
Whom do you credit? I credit my parents for keeping me positive and focused on my life and my future while I was sick with lupus. Especially my mother, who was by my side for every treatment, reminding me that I did have a future and I had to keep up my studies because I was going to make it. She also taught me the value of service, starting me out volunteering at the hospital at 14. I still value service and volunteer my time to teach and support people all over the world who are sick and need my help. I credit my husband Thomas Tadlock for saving my life with his knowledge of nutrition and with his incredible love. I credit my disease with teaching how to persevere, how to find joy in the moment even when my body was hurting, how strong I really am — and for leading me to this life where I get to save countless others from otherwise devastating diseases so they too can live the life they truly want.
What lessons have you learned that might enlighten and inspire others? Our greatest and most devastating pain can lead to our greatest gift to the world. I always tell my patients and my kids, that superheroes always have a painful origin story. So when something bad happens, it isn’t the end; it’s your origin story. It’s where you discover your powers. For more information: goodbyelupus.com
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Fall Philanthropy Report: Children’s Assessment Center Touts ‘Healing’ for Child Abuse Victims
Oct. 8, 2024
What is your mission? The Children’s Assessment Center (The CAC) provides healing services to over 6,300 child sexual abuse victims and their families each year. We offer forensic interviewing, family advocacy, mental health services, medical care, and court services at no cost. We facilitate community outreach and prevention training to raise awareness about child abuse in our community and how to keep children safe. Last year, we provided prevention training to over 35,000 community members, including 23,500 children in schools.
Why did you launch the organization? The CAC is the only child advocacy center in Harris County and one of the largest nationwide. Sadly, before the implementation of advocacy centers, there was not a streamlined process for children. Victims of sexual abuse were often interviewed multiple times by various law enforcement, medical professionals, and mental health clinicians. Here at The CAC, we know that having to recount abuse several times can be retraumatizing, and we sought to find a solution to make a trauma-informed process.
The goal of The CAC is to provide all the services, partners, and resources families need in one place. We collaborate with hundreds of professionals from 60 Partner Agencies (e.g., law enforcement, medical and mental health professionals, nonprofits, and governmental investigative entities) to coordinate investigations, provide services, and protect children. Our hope is that our process will give children the tools necessary to empower them on their healing journey.
How have you impacted the community? Our work is guided by the belief that all children in our community deserve to grow up safe, happy, and healthy. We work to empower children’s healing journeys, restore hope in families, and provide support to avoid long-term trauma. The CAC exists to help our community become a better, safer place for each child of Harris County.
Tell us about your big event. We will host our annual Spirit of Spring Gala to celebrate The Children’s Assessment Center Foundation’s 30th anniversary. We are thrilled to invite community members who have helped us make a lasting impact on child sexual abuse survivors, their families, and our community. We look forward to commemorating the 30th year on April 11, 2025, at The Houstonian Hotel.
How can I help? As adults, it is our responsibility to keep children safe. Your generosity can help empower families on their healing journey and protect vulnerable children. Please consider how you can be part of the solution to end child sexual abuse. Go to our website, cachouston.org, to learn how to donate, volunteer, and protect children in our community.
We exist to protect children, heal families, and prevent child sexual abuse and child sex trafficking in our community.
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Fall Philanthropy Report: Urban Harvest Farmers Market Helps ‘Transform Food Accessibility’
Oct. 8, 2024
What year was your organization launched? Urban Harvest’s Saturday Farmers Market started in 2004 with just seven vendors, providing an outlet for local farms, community and backyard gardeners to sell fresh produce harvested directly from their soils. Now in its 20th year, the market has grown to be one of the largest markets in Texas, supporting over 100 local farmers, ranchers, and food artisans all from within 180 miles of Houston. The market draws 3,000 customers every Saturday morning and includes many original vendors like Animal Farm, Atkinson Farms, and Wood Duck Farm.
The Urban Harvest’s Farmers Market Program supports real, fresh food and the hardworking people who grow it. The market is more than just a place to shop, it’s a gathering place where friends and families meet up each at Urban Harvest, kids grow up knowing where their food comes from, and new friendships are forged.
What is your mission? The mission of Urban Harvest is to be a catalyst in transforming food accessibility in Greater Houston. Urban Harvest aims to achieve this by fostering strong partnerships with local farmers and gardeners, operating vibrant Farmers Markets, initiating mobile markets, and providing comprehensive garden education.
What is your vision? Their vision is not just to improve, but to transform the way communities engage with and access fresh, locally sourced food. Through these efforts, Urban Harvest aspires to set a national example, showcasing how innovative community collaboration can lead to sustainable change in food systems across the country.
How have you impacted the community?
In 2023 -
• Urban Harvest Farmers Market brought together over 100 local farmers, ranchers, gardeners and food artisans to sell their products directly to Houstonians
• Urban Harvest Farmers Market hosted over 45,000 shoppers
• Urban Harvest matched $25,000 in Double Up Food Bucks, allowing those who use SNAP/EBT to get $1 in fresh fruits and veggies for each $1 spent, up to $40 daily
• Approximately 45% of Urban Harvest vendors identified as social minorities and Urban Harvest continue to strive to grow the Farmers Market diversity. In addition, 50% of shoppers identify as a BIPOC.
Tell us about your big event. Urban Harvest invites Houstonians to break bread during their 30th Anniversary Sunday Supper hosted at St. John’s School on Sunday, November 3rd, 2024. The evening will be a celebration of local food, culinary excellence and the communities Urban Harvest serves. Thirteen of Houston’s most esteemed chefs will lend their unique talents during a multi-course, family-style meal created in partnership with local ranchers and farmers. Proceeds from this unforgettable farm-to-table experience will benefit the programs of Urban Harvest: Farmers Markets, Community Gardens, Youth Education, Food Access, and Gardening Classes.
What are you most proud of? Every year the small but mighty organization serves over 45,000 farmers market patrons and over 100 small food business; nearly 5,000 students and teachers in socially vulnerable Areas; 3,823 community gardeners preserving over 34 acres of greenspace; over 2,000 Mobile Market customers, 78% of which are in underserved neighborhoods; and educates over 900 individuals who participate in year-round organic gardening classes.
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