Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Miller
Laura, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
In February of 2021, I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), which is an inflammatory autoimmune disease affecting primarily the joints, but can affect organs as well. At the time (and still currently), I was dancing full-time at Universal Studios. So, as you can imagine, it made life a little trickier. I will never forget the night I opened up my bloodwork results showing my positive test for RA. I was sitting alone in my bedroom, and as I read the results, I had the instant feeling wash over me that this was a purposeful turning point for me in my life. I knew right then and there that I was meant to do something meaningful with this pivotal life shift. That’s not to say I didn’t spend the next couple hours going down the Google rabbit hole with tear-soaked cheeks. But at least I had a silver lining to it from the get-go.
In the previous few years leading up to this, I was trying to find whatever would be my next career after dancing. Unfortunately, being a dancer is one of those professions where the “retirement” age is usually somewhere in your mid 30s depending on how much you’ve beat up your body over the years (and sadly appearance plays a part in it as well). I had always known I wanted to help people in some way with mental or physical health, so I had completed my personal training certification and life coaching certification to have those as future tools to help people in whatever way would present itself in the years to come. Once my doctor confirmed the RA diagnosis, I knew that was the area I was going to help people with once I had found my own footing with the disease.
Shortly after being diagnosed, I wanted to find a way to make light of having such a brutal disease. So, I took to Instagram where I started creating content to connect with other chronic illness warriors to give them a laugh and just make them feel less alone. Shortly after I established a social media presence, people started inquiring about me coaching them or their children. That seamlessly transitioned into starting my online Chronic Illness Coaching business, Sick & Thriving LLC. Through that, I’m grateful to be able to work with clients in the areas of mindset and movement while constantly motivating them to keep pushing forward in pursuit of a better life with chronic illness.
With autoimmune diseases, doctors say that once you get one, more usually start to follow since your body lives in a state of attack on itself. In the past few years since being diagnosed with RA, I’ve unfortunately found that to be true. In addition to RA, I’ve been diagnosed with endometriosis, adenomyosis, uterine fibroids, interstitial cystitis, and granuloma annulare. Just like my original diagnosis, I’ve tried to see them all in a positive light after the initial adjustment to living with yet another chronic condition. My knowledge base has continued to grow with every diagnosis, so I’m hoping that will allow me to serve people even better.
I continue working to balance living with my conditions and being a full-time dancer, while also putting my heart and soul into my business. It presents its challenges, but like anything else, all we can do is our best. With autoimmune diseases, you never really know how you’re going to feel each day. Every morning is a surprise, for better or for worse. I am on a never-ending quest to try any and everything, both to know what my body responds well to and to share with my clients as options for them as well. I’m grateful to be able to support my body enough to continue doing the things I love, from dancing and working out to hiking the French Alps and Colorado Rockies. Though not every day is perfect, staying active is a huge part of managing these illnesses. I’m on a constant pursuit of a better tomorrow, and I empower everyone to stay vigilant in your pursuits as well. We’re all in this together!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No road with chronic illness is ever smooth. When I was originally diagnosed with RA, I was working many other dancing and stilt-walking gigs around town in addition to dancing full-time at Universal. I hit a turning point in my performing career when I realized I had to give those other jobs up if I wanted to maintain my full-time job. If you’ve ever been to Animal Kingdom and stumbled upon a green living vine leaping and turning using both arm and leg stilts, that was a big part of my life for many years. I consider that one of the toughest jobs in Orlando, as it utilizes full body strength and flexibility along with the poise to move with grace as you weave in and out of the trees on four stilts. The character had gotten cut during the pandemic, and about 6 months after my RA diagnosis, we got the call that we were being brought back. I was very nervous about going back and doing such a physically demanding job with my new challenges I was facing in my body. On my first day back, I tore multiple ligaments in both of my wrists… That was a rude awakening that led to me dropping everything outside of my full-time dancing job. I just couldn’t put that job at risk while doing outside jobs with no benefits or disability support. While that was a difficult time coming to terms with my newfound limits, I’m grateful to have been able to keep supporting myself through dancing for a company with such great benefits and flexibility. Again, it’s all about finding those silver linings.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
On the performance side, I have done many amazing jobs both dancing and stilt walking. Some of the things I have been lucky enough to be a part of are A’lure, Electric Ocean, and The Wildfire Dancers at SeaWorld Orlando. I’ve also done 5 years at Bill and Ted’s Excellent Halloween Adventure show at Universal, DiVine (living vine stilt walker), Living Fountain, Cherry Bomb Burlesque, Universal’s Superstar Parade, and many events in and outside of Universal. My current full-time job is dancing and being the lead dance captain at the Marilyn and the Diamond Bellas show at Universal Studios. Outside of dancing in the show, I have many responsibilities there, as I train new and existing cast members into our Christmas and regular daily operations shows. We’ve recently moved locations and are utilizing a multi-level stage at Mel’s Diner, which was a big undertaking. Like anything else, it has its peaks and valleys, but I enjoy dancing alongside some of my closest friends each day I go into work. Universal has a very close-knit family feel, which has always been one of the best things about working there.
In my Chronic Illness Coaching business, Sick and Thriving LLC, I work with adults and teens who are managing their own chronic illnesses. Since I have certifications in personal training and life coaching, I like to approach both the mental and physical aspects of navigating one or more illnesses. Seeing what a difference those things have made for me personally, I am passionate about sharing my knowledge in pursuit of finding what works best for each individual client. Living with chronic illness can be very isolating, so I think it’s also important for people to have someone on their team who always has their best interest in mind and who “gets it”.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
I think we hit on everything- sorry if it was too long! Feel free to cut whatever you need 🙂 Also, I attached my website. I am updating a few things the new couple days, so if you go to it, it will appear inactive but will be up and running by the time this goes out. Just wanted to let you know 🙂
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sickandthriving.com
- Instagram: @sickandthriving
Image Credits
N/A- sorry I don’t any non-solo photos 🙁
