Wider Circle’s Stories From The Circle: Laura Found a Community She Could Open Up To

Some of the most powerful changes start quietly, with one person deciding they’re worth taking care of, too.

In this edition of Stories from the Circle, meet Laura, a mother of four who spent years putting everyone else first while her own health waited. Through Wider Circle, Laura finally found a space where she could open up to others and get the support she needed to prioritize her well-being. By transforming her own health, she created a ripple effect that is now inspiring her family and neighbors to do the same.

We hope her story reminds you what’s possible when someone finally finds a community behind them.

Laura L.

Finding Her Circle: How Laura Learned to Care for Herself, Too

After years of putting everyone else first, Laura found a community she could lean on, and a healthier life she now shares with those around her.

Laura is a single mom of four who was managing diabetes and high cholesterol, all while making sure her family’s needs were taken care of. She was having difficulty sleeping, and the stress of it all was weighing on her. Laura had no one to reach out to and did not know where to look for support. She was carrying it all on her own.

That started to change when Laura began attending Wider Circle’s virtual events. What struck her wasn’t just the information, it was the people. Members talked openly about what they were going through, and Laura heard her own struggles in theirs. Laura found the events provided “valuable information and include real-life stories, which make health conditions easier to understand and relate to,” she said . 

For the first time, Laura was in a room where everyone talked honestly about what they were facing. She started sharing too. “Wider Circle has given us a safe space to learn, grow, and feel empowered to take better care of ourselves.” That kind of openness changed things for Laura, and she says her “mental health has improved.”

Encouraged by her community, Laura started walking a little more each week, and soon she was moving more than she had in years. She found she loved to dance, and paired with healthier eating, those everyday habits added up.

Laura lost weight, and her “liver health, kidney health, and diabetes are all under much better control.” Her doctors noticed too. “My doctors have been surprised and impressed by how much my health has improved,” she said. Even the small things stood out to Laura, like the way her “clothes fit better” now.

Her Wider Circle Community Health Worker, Diana Hernandez-Macedo, noticed how much Laura was carrying, and made sure her health didn’t get lost in it. Diana organized healthy, ready-made meals to be delivered to her home, and when Laura mentioned she’d been sleeping poorly, Diana arranged a sleep study and helped her get set up with a CPAP machine so she could finally rest better. “She genuinely cares about people and makes you feel valued,” Laura said.

Laura’s enthusiasm for healthier living was contagious, and she quickly became the one rallying everyone around her to move. She encouraged friends to walk, join in Zumba, and keep moving so they could feel as good as she did. Laura also began telling other parents, neighbors, and her children’s teachers about Wider Circle so they could access the same support.

At home, she motivated her youngest to stay active too. “By improving my own health and well-being, I’m able to be there for my family and encourage them to live healthier lives as well,” she said.

“I truly appreciate everyone at Wider Circle for the support they provide,” Laura said.

Thank you, Laura, for sharing your journey and reminding us how much changes when someone finally feels seen. And thank you to our sponsors for helping make stories like Laura’s possible every day.