Sharing My Story and Giving Back: Meet @dawn_giacabazi

Sep 14, 2018 | John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Comments (11)

Member Spotlights feature interviews with fellow Connect members. Learn more about members you’ve connected with and some you haven’t met yet. Nominate a member you think should share the spotlight.

2018.9.10.Dawn-grayblackwhitetop.spotlight.mentor

 

JOHN: What brought you to Connect?

@dawn_giacabaziStruggles are universal; we all have them. I came to Connect looking for answers for my struggles. Every story of struggle has a lesson from which the rest of the world can learn.

JOHN: How does or what about Connect makes you feel comfortable to share, to be open with the community?

@dawn_giacabaziI believe that many are going through similar struggles as I have. By sharing my story with others on Connect, I hope they will find inspiration they need to learn from my struggles. It would be great to be the catalyst for someone else to get their life back on track and move toward success.

JOHN: What groups do you participate in?

@dawn_giacabaziYou'll find me most in the Sleep Health group. It can be a struggle to learn how to manage a CPAP machine and practice healthy sleep hygiene. Members share a lot of tips that are really practical; we solve problems together. The Epilepsy & Seizures group members also are vital to me. I was diagnosed with multiple different seizure disorders. I have partial complex (temporal lobe) seizures, grand mal seizures and petit mal seizures. I was diagnosed in 2000 shortly after a car accident resulting in post-concussion syndrome. One of the best things you can do is educate yourself, and that's what we do in the Epilepsy group.

I'm also known to participate in other groups, such as:

JOHN: Who has been a special connection for you on Connect?

@dawn_giacabazi: I do not just have one. The encouragement I received from @rosemarya, however, was truly my turning point in my relationship with Connect. I am wholeheartedly indebted to the love and support I received during an extremely raw and vulnerable point in my life journey. I was surrounded by many loving family and friends, but still felt extremely alone. @rosemarya touched my life, and for the first time in weeks I felt like someone truly understood the depth of my soul that I only thought God could reach.

All of the Connect members have touched my life in so many different ways, which is what makes Connect so special.

JOHN: What surprised you the most about Connect?

@dawn_giacabazi: How warm and welcoming the community is surprised me and made it easy for me to open up. Members were there to empathize, comfort, cheer me on and offer suggestions for my medical issues.  

JOHN: What energizes you, or how do you find balance in your life?

@dawn_giacabazi: God is my motivation, and my faith is my strength.

JOHN: Tell us about your favorite pastime or activity.

@dawn_giacabazi: Hanging out with my children is truly my favorite pastime. They are my world.

JOHN: If Hollywood made a movie about your life, whom would you like to see cast as you?

@dawn_giacabazi: I would like Jordin Sparks, who plays Sparkle in the movie of the same name, cast as me. She is admired for her strength and talent. Jordin is intellectual and passionate, and she puts her heart and soul into whatever she does. She might not be a powerhouse vocalist like some others, but she uses her voice to stand up for what she believes in.

JOHN: Puppies or kittens?

@dawn_giacabazi: Puppies!

See more Member Spotlights.

Interested in more newsfeed posts like this? Go to the About Connect: Who, What & Why blog.

@dawn_giacabazi
I am so glad that you shared your story with the Connect Community. It is great to have you encouraging and supporting us all!

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@hopeful33250

@dawn_giacabazi
I am so glad that you shared your story with the Connect Community. It is great to have you encouraging and supporting us all!

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Teresa it was extremely difficult to do because I have so many wonderful encouraging partners and friends here at Connect!! I love you all!! I was afraid to list them all in fear of missing someone! You all know who you are and each step of the way have encouraged and inspired me to continue this crazy healthcare journey. Truly blessed for all of you!

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@dawn_giacabazi

Teresa it was extremely difficult to do because I have so many wonderful encouraging partners and friends here at Connect!! I love you all!! I was afraid to list them all in fear of missing someone! You all know who you are and each step of the way have encouraged and inspired me to continue this crazy healthcare journey. Truly blessed for all of you!

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@dawn_giacabazi

Dawn: Believe me when I say that you have given more to us than we can ever give back to you. Your strength, courage and marked ability to keep going is an inspiration to me.

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Awww that’s sweet to here. I sure don’t feel like I give enough but I know every little bit will help someone somewhere. What’s awesome about Connect, it gives us the ability to encourage anyone anywhere in this world. No ocean is big enough nor terrain rough enough to prevent reaching those in need of a little love & encouragement. It’s the only universal language.

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Hi Dawn! @dawn_giacabazi, Thank you for sharing your Connect story. Having enjoyed reading a lot of your posts, it is really nice to learn a little more about Dawn the person. I'm thinking more Wonder Woman than Jordan Sparks though...☺

Happy Friday!
John

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Super to read your story here @dawn_giacabazi I truly enjoy learning more about all the wonderful Connect folks here! Cheers and TGIF!

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@johnbishop

Hi Dawn! @dawn_giacabazi, Thank you for sharing your Connect story. Having enjoyed reading a lot of your posts, it is really nice to learn a little more about Dawn the person. I'm thinking more Wonder Woman than Jordan Sparks though...☺

Happy Friday!
John

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Funny!! Need that today. Been a looooong work week for me! Glad it’s the weekend. It will be fun weekend. We will be at Marching Band Competition. I really enjoy watching my daughter and all her friends. They have been working hard to put the show on the field.
I hope you all have a great weekend!
Dawn

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@IndianaScott

Super to read your story here @dawn_giacabazi I truly enjoy learning more about all the wonderful Connect folks here! Cheers and TGIF!

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TGIF for sure!!!

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All I want to do is unsubscribe to all this Mayo emailing.

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@barb22147

All I want to do is unsubscribe to all this Mayo emailing.

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@barb22147 -- There is a link at the bottom of every page on Connect where you can click on Getting Started On Connect. It has all of the different "how to's" for using Connect. Here is a link to how to stop all notifications:

-- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/get-started-on-connect/#stop-restart-notifications

If you just want to stop the notifications for a discussion, you can click Unsubscribe at the bottom of the email notification you receive.

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