Hi darlin- this one’s raw!
Nine days post-ileostomy takedown surgery, deep in the bowels of recovery, and yet another denial letter from Social Security Disability shows up in my mailbox.
This episode is part truth-telling, part vent, and 100% real-life cancer recovery. I recorded it outside in the dark—cats meowing, frogs singing- hoping my bowels didn’t pick that moment to reve up again.
Because yes, there's a lot of pooping over here
But this episode isn’t focused on that.
This one is about what it’s like to go through a full year of cancer treatment—chemo, radiation, surgery (times two)—and still be expected to prove to a broken system that you're "sick enough."
That your healing isn't linear.
That your mental health matters.
That your body needs time, and so does your nervous system.
And that you deserve to access the benefits you’ve already earned.
I talk about:
How I finally got real on my disability forms (diarrhea and all)
The toll this year has taken on my body, mind, and spirit
PTSD, anxiety, and the invisible layers of healing
Why I keep showing up for this process even though I want to unhook from it completely
And how abundance and love—real abundance and love—exist beyond these systems
This is a gentle reminder (for me, and maybe for you too): Just because the system is broken doesn’t mean you are.
✨
And if you’re in the middle of your own fight—whether it’s with paperwork, poop, or the weight of it all—you’re not alone.
I see you. I feel you.
And I’m rooting for you.
With love and cat kisses,
Jenni 💗
Www.jennitooley.com
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