Today we’d like to introduce you to Caitlin Forrest.
Caitlin, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I started my career as a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurse. I worked in pediatrics and as a NICU nurse for many years until I switched to a surgery center. This ended up being a big turning point in my story as I, unfortunately, sustained an injury at work which required a multilevel cervical spine fusion. This was my first experience with surgery and hospitalization as a patient. Let me tell you that being on the patient side of the bed is way different than the nurses side of the bed.
In less than two years, I ended up having six surgeries. Beside my spine surgery, I had two hip reconstructions called periacetabular osteotomies (PAO) to correct hip dysplasia. One hip surgery was eight hours and the other was 12 hours. All three of those surgeries required hospitalizations, two weeks in total, and all within less than a year. I was in a neck brace, on crutches, used a cane and strolled in a wheelchair for the better part of a year. I was also bedridden for three months during two of those recoveries. And it was then that I started my blog, called Literally Hip. It gave me something else to focus on while lying in bed. It also gave me a place to document my recovery and experience with it all in hopes to help others needing these surgeries.
After all my surgeries and recoveries were completed, I decided to turn the blog into my business. And Literally Hip as a medical mentorship was born! I believe that everything I have gone through has been for a reason. Through all that struggle, there just had to be a why and a purpose. I now know that it was to better understand what being a patient feels like and means. I can also now be the help and support for people that I didn’t have while maneuvering through my medical journey.
Has it been a smooth road?
Heck no! But is life ever a smooth road?! I don’t think so. It looks different for everybody and the biggest thing is the different ways people deal with their adversity.
I truly believe, had I not gone through the things I have, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Having really low and dark days, have made me so grateful for the good days. I am appreciative of ALL of my experiences. Yes, all of them. I mean that from the bottom of my heart. Talking about all of it and sharing my story has become a passion of mine. The more I open up, the more I see others open up and share their stories. If I can put a smile on one person’s face or share tears with just one person during their hard season in life or offer support to one person hurting, that is my purpose. I haven’t been through all of this for anything. I will never forget what I’ve had to overcome and how I made it through. These experiences are now what drive me to live life, enjoy the little things and share so much joy with every person I encounter! Don’t let your grief, loss, trauma, PTSD or illness overcome you or freeze you. I encourage you to let it become your strength, perseverance, and motivation.
Please tell us about your practice.
The Literally Hip is a medical mentorship that helps support clients through their medical journey. Maybe it’s for surgery for yourself or maybe you’re a caregiver to someone else in trauma or time of need. The Literally Hip can be your advocate and mentor. Literally Hip believes that true health is to heal and align the physical, the mental and the emotional side of ourselves. We love to build people up and help them overcome their challenges. Life will knock you down, but it’s all about how you get through the low times. We are here to show you that it is possible to overcome and come out the other side as a stronger, happier and healthier individual. But, you can’t do it all on your own and Literally Hip is here to help!
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Besides the obvious sunny weather, I love that San Diego is a big city with a small town feel. There’s so much to do here, from hiking in the mountains to surfing or paddle boarding in the ocean. The food scene is incredible and impressive. The downside to our beloved city is that it’s a transplant city. I’ve met a lot of people who’ve come to the city to experience it for a short period of time and then they move back to where they are from.
Contact Info:
- Website: literallyhip.com
- Phone: 619-738-4334
- Email: caitlin@literallyhip.com
- Instagram: @caitlinmforrest
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