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A college friendship, a campus tragedy, and a life rebuilt with quiet strength. That’s the arc of Gina’s story—told with candor, heart, and the kind of wisdom you only earn by living through the unthinkable. We start with dorms, sororities, and a house that was memorable for all the wrong reasons, then everything shifts: an off-campus party, strangers with a knife, and the shock that ripples through a community. Gina wasn’t there that night, but she carried the aftermath—answering the phone the next morning, facing the trial, and learning how to keep breathing when justice feels too small.

What comes next is a study in resilience. Gina chooses nursing and finds meaning across cardiac units, the OR, the NICU, oncology, pediatric hospice, and kidney transplant coordination. Along the way she navigates fertility challenges—miscarriages, an ectopic pregnancy, and finally IVF. She shares what truly helped: prioritizing embryo quality over quantity, leaning on acupuncture and nutrition to feel in control, and letting hope and science meet in the middle. Molly arrives. Then Maggie surprises everyone by arriving naturally. Joy returns, layered with real anxiety, which she manages through early mornings, strength training, weighted walks, and an 80/20 approach to food that values protein and peace of mind.

We also dig into midlife health with practical takes on hormones, cleaner household swaps, and the GLP-1 boom. Gina’s guidance is grounded: if you choose medication, protect your muscle and bones with lifting and protein. Stronger beats smaller when the goal is longevity. Through it all, the thread is community—Brandon’s annual lacrosse game turned scholarship, holiday traditions that never stopped, and a partner who makes space for the past while cheering the future. Press play for an honest, tender conversation about grief, love, IVF, and becoming the person you needed when you were younger. If this moved you, subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review to help others find the show.

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