James has been a patient at Community of Hope since 2010. Back then, he was just looking for a new provider. What he found was something harder to name — a place that kept showing up for him through prediabetes, high blood pressure, and years of managing his health one appointment at a time.
“And I’ve been coming ever since,” he said.
His sister Shawntae didn’t need much convincing. She’d been hearing about Community of Hope for years.
“I would always hear my brother speaking so highly of it, about his appointments,” she said.
In December 2024, Shawntae had bariatric surgery. It was a turning point, and she knew the work didn’t stop there. When James mentioned the Healthy Lifestyle Group, a program built around nutrition and lifestyle changes for patients managing chronic conditions or working toward better overall health, she didn’t hesitate.
Together, they joined and changed more than they expected.
For Shawntae and James, the stakes were personal. Their family carries a history of Marfan syndrome, a genetic condition that can affect the heart, vision, and skeletal system. Shawntae has also faced colon cancer. James has navigated hypertension and prediabetes for years before needing heart surgery.
“We wanted to live better,” Shawntae said.
A simple goal for them both to move toward.
The program started changing how they thought about everyday decisions.
“Now when we go to the grocery store, we take the materials with us and make better choices,” she said.
That one habit kept rippling changes. Both siblings have seen real shifts: weight loss, better blood pressure, and improved blood sugar levels. For Shawntae, it showed up in concrete terms.
“My blood pressure has come down, and even my medication has been reduced,” she said.
The group gave them structure and a reason to show up every week to answer for their progress.
“It keeps us both accountable,” Shawntae said. “Every week, we check in, track our progress, and stay on top of what we’re doing.”
James’s health journey has had higher stakes than most. He underwent open heart surgery, and Community of Hope connected him to additional support through our My Health GPS program, helping him access medical equipment, nutrition resources, and meal programs during his recovery.
For someone who describes himself as naturally reserved, the path inward has been just as significant as the physical one. James has worked with a therapist at Community of Hope and credits both that work and the Healthy Lifestyle Group with helping him open up.
“It’s helped me step out of my shell,” he said. “Being in the group and talking to people—it’s made a difference.”
Through therapy, James has learned how to better manage stress and navigate challenges, focusing on staying positive and grounded. He uses deep breathing, meditation, and long walks around his neighborhood to keep himself centered.
Shawntae has leaned on therapy too, using it to work through stress and anxiety alongside everything else she’s been managing.
“Therapy has helped me realize that I deserve to be happy,” she said.
Both siblings are still in it: showing up, tracking, and learning.
“Take things one at a time,” James said. “Even if you make a small mistake, don’t give up. Just keep moving forward.”
For Shawntae and James, that’s not just advice for someone else. It’s how they’ve been living. iving.
