HI, I'M JESSE!
If I close my eyes, I can still hear the song they were playing in the operating room, “Cause you had a bad day, you’re taking one down, you sing a sad song just to turn it around…” Can you hear it? I was 19 and had just woken up from my first ever colonoscopy. I was still lying on the gurney, drunkenly yelling for my pants when the doctor came in, handed me some papers and said, “Congratulations, you have Ulcerative Colitis.” He then turned, walked out the door, and changed my life forever.
Living with autoimmune disease has changed literally everything about my life: relationships, career, social life, activities, food, self-image… BUT I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.
Do you know why?
Autoimmune disease has allowed me to live a vibrant, empowering life and has given me the courage to vigorously chase the life I’ve always wanted.
Autoimmunity has taught me how to be resilient and not take “No” for an answer. It’s shown me that I have the strength to stare my fears in the face and keep moving forward, holding space for the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Autoimmune disease has given me purpose.
I became a Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (FNTP) and Certified AIP Coach so I can empower women, just like you, to take back control of their health and live that vibrant, joyful life I know you want.
“My mission is to empower clients to reclaim their health by teaching them how to make the right food choices to heal their bodies while confidently owning their journey so they can live a vibrant life with chronic illness.”
Living with chronic illness is not easy. In fact, it’s really freaking hard and that is why I love working with badass, resilient autoimmune warrior women. We’re not afraid to do what is hard because we are incredibly strong. Babe, we can do hard things!
I created this website and my instagram account to connect with these strong women to provide free resources on how to take control and turn autoimmunity on its head, one bite of delicious, healing food at a time.
I’m currently accepting new clients and would love to chat with you!
You can also find me on Instagram @aip.sisterhood where I post all kinds of recipes and autoimmune tips daily!
Welcome to the sisterhood!
Jesse
OUR STORY
Since its founding, AIP Sisterhood has seen a lot of changes. In 2012, when my sister, Samantha, was diagnosed with her own autoimmune disease, she felt a call to share about her journey living with this new diagnosis and using food as a tool for healing. She started what was then known as Sweet Potatoes and Social Change.
This website began as a call for a shift in the way we view our food, our communities, and our lifestyles as she shared educational tools to help resurrect necessary and useful knowledge that had been lost through our dependence on major food conglomerates, unhealthy eating, and a stress-filled existence.
After the birth of her two children, Samantha’s autoimmune disease went into remission and she found herself called to move in a new and different direction. As a result, we came together as sisters to share our own unique perspectives and created AIP Sisterhood in 2018.
Samantha continued to share autoimmune and pregnancy resources, which has become a staple in the site, while I began sharing general autoimmune resources and Autoimmune Protocol friendly recipes.
In 2020, Samantha found herself feeling called to invest full-time in her career as a certified birth doula, doula mentor, and childbirth educator, starting her own business Carolina Doula Collective. At the same time, I was feeling called to further invest in my career as a Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (FNTP) and health coach to more deeply connect with and serve women with autoimmune disease.
As a result, the torch was passed and AIP Sisterhood took on a new definition and new look!
While AIP Sisterhood started as a place for two sisters to share their journeys with autoimmune disease, it now represents a community of women tied together by one common thread: chronic illness. I want every woman to know that they are not alone and to feel supported and empowered in their healing journeys. At AIP Sisterhood, I hope you can walk away armed with stories of hope and practical tools to guide you in your journey so you can live a vibrant joyful life with autoimmune disease.
