From Worrier to Healer: A Journey Through Care and Transformation

Putting Out Fires: A Caregiver’s Beginnings

I have always been a worrier. As the oldest of six children in a loud, loving Irish-Italian family, I felt the weight of responsibility early on. My father was a New York City firefighter. I remember lying awake at night, worrying he might not come home. Each time he walked through the door, I would run to him, bury my face in his smoky jacket, and drag his laundry bag to the washing machine — inhaling the scent of courage and danger. He saved lives. I worried.

As the built-in babysitter, I was always on high alert. Would my little brother break another bone? Would my sisters sneak out and get into trouble again? There was always something to anticipate, always a fire to put out — sometimes literally. I became hyper-vigilant, trying to stay one step ahead. I wanted to be helpful, to be the steady one, especially for my mom, who was overwhelmed with six kids and a husband working three jobs.

From Worrier to Caregiver

Looking back, I see how those early years shaped my calling. In 1981, I began my nursing career in a New York City hospital, working in the Open Heart Recovery Room — a fitting place for someone with an intuitive heart and a strong cardiac family history. I later moved into the Cath Lab and Emergency Room, where intensity was constant. Quick thinking could mean the difference between life and death.

Eventually, as a Nurse Practitioner, I worked on the streets of Harlem with a needle exchange program. Later, I served as the primary care provider for 1,500 children and their families at a public school in Brooklyn. Many of these families had recently immigrated to the U.S. and carried their own stories of trauma, resilience, and hope. My childhood patterns of hyper-vigilance, worry, and fierce protectiveness made me uniquely suited to nursing—especially in communities where trust had to be earned. Nursing felt like a natural extension of who I was: a caregiver who was comfortable with chaos.

Transforming Life Through Functional Medicine

Then, in the year 2000, everything changed. Our four-year-old daughter, Carly, was diagnosed with a form of autism. The news was devastating. The traditional medical system offered few solutions and even fewer answers. I wasn’t ready to accept these limitations.

I dove headfirst into functional medicine. Its root-cause approach appealed to me. I took a break from clinical practice and channeled my perfectionism into creating a personalized treatment plan and homeschooling curriculum for Carly. Every detail mattered, from her nutrition to her therapies to the rhythm of our days.

And it worked. Slowly, steadily, she began to heal. The same child we were told might never attend high school is now in graduate school, studying to become a school guidance counselor. She is living proof of what’s possible when we ask deeper questions and refuse to give up.

Engaging in Political Activism

In 2010, we moved from North Carolina to Charlottesville, Virginia. I didn’t know many people but knew I wanted to get involved—to serve my new community in a meaningful way. So I volunteered early for Barack Obama’s presidential campaign. I was drawn to his message and the energy of grassroots work: knocking on doors, talking to voters, encouraging people to believe in something bigger than themselves. It felt familiar—urgent, purpose-driven, and deeply human.

One afternoon, a campaign photographer snapped a few pictures of me canvassing. I didn’t think much of it at the time. Soon after, I found out that President Obama loved the photos—especially the one where I looked like I was having the time of my life (I was). That image ended up on the campaign website and in the literature handed out by volunteers across the country.

It was surreal—and also affirming. Once again, I had found myself at the intersection of service, purpose, and action.

Coping with Burnout and Finding Clarity

By 2016, I was fully immersed in my role as the local Democratic Party Chair. When Donald Trump was elected, everything changed. The political climate became volatile—sharp, divisive, and personal. Many family members voted for him, and the tension was unbearable. Holidays became minefields. Conversations turned into arguments. It felt like the fabric of my community—and even my family—was unraveling.

I was exhausted. I couldn’t sleep. My joints ached, and I experienced brain fog. I exhibited early signs and symptoms of autoimmunity and did not know it. My usual tools for coping—long walks, deep breaths, journaling—barely scratched the surface of the anxiety I carried. Most nights, I found myself reaching for a glass or two of wine to take the edge off. I knew it wasn’t sustainable. I felt myself slipping into emotional quicksand—functional on the outside, but overwhelmed inside.

I tried everything for relief: breathwork, mindfulness, yoga, therapy, green smoothies. None of it touched the deep, nervous system-level stress I held. I was running on fumes—and I knew it.

Then, in 2019, I heard a podcast interview that would change everything. A woman spoke about something called **Vedic Meditation** — an ancient practice that transformed her life. The clarity and calm in her voice felt magnetic. I was intrigued and desperate.

I booked a train to New York City and signed up for her four-day course. On the first day, she performed a beautiful ceremony to honor the lineage of masters who have passed this knowledge down through time. Then she gave me my personal mantra—a sacred sound, chosen specifically for me. She leaned in close and whispered it as if placing a jewel in my hand.

The moment I heard it, something inside me softened. That afternoon, I meditated for the first time. I sat quietly, eyes closed, repeating this ancient sound in the simplest, most natural way. To my surprise, it worked. I felt myself drop below the noise—into a stillness I hadn’t known was there.

Exploring the Depths of Vedic Meditation

For the next three days, I meditated with her and a small group of students. I learned more about the technique and how to integrate it into my life. I began to feel something shift. The anxiety didn’t disappear overnight, but it lost its grip. I felt steadier and began to sleep again. A deep calm was rising—not from something I was doing, but from something I was allowing.

The effects of Vedic Meditation were undeniable—subtle yet profound. As I continued to meditate twice daily, I craved a deeper understanding of where this practice came from. What was this ancient intelligence that had touched something primal in me and began to dissolve decades of accumulated stress?

That search led me to explore the Vedic worldview—a vast body of knowledge that teaches how to live in alignment with nature, purpose, and inner fulfillment. The more I learned, the more I realized: this wasn’t just a technique. It was a doorway to something much larger—and I wanted to walk all the way through.

The Path from Student to Teacher

Eventually, my studies led me to the person who would become my ultimate teacher: Thom Knoles—SHRI 1008 MAHAMANDALESHWAR MAHARISHI VYASANAND GIRI MAHARAJ. Thom is one of the world’s foremost authorities on Vedic knowledge. For nearly 60 years, he has personally taught meditation, Vedic philosophy, and applied spirituality to over 40,000 students worldwide.

He is a celebrated speaker on consciousness, cognitive science, and the convergence of quantum physics and the 5,000-year-old wisdom of the Veda. Thom learned meditation in the 1960s directly from Maharishi Mahesh Yogi—the guru who introduced meditation to the West. What began as a student-teacher relationship deepened into a lifelong dedication to preserving and sharing the purity of the Vedic tradition.

From the moment I began advanced knowledge as taught by Thom, something clicked. His clarity and devotion made ancient wisdom feel deeply relevant to modern life. I didn’t just discover peace; I found purpose.

A Calling to Share and Heal

The impact of Vedic Meditation on my life was so profound that I knew I couldn’t keep it to myself. I felt called to share this practice with others—especially with patients struggling with chronic disease, inflammation, and stress-related symptoms. I wanted them to understand that there is a way out of anxiety, overwhelm, and burnout. There is a path to help the body heal by putting the mind at ease. Thus, I made the life-changing decision to train as a teacher—an initiator of Vedic Meditation under Thom Knoles.

The training was unlike anything I had ever undertaken. Over 3,000 hours of rigorous instruction in the Vedas and the subtle mechanics of consciousness. It was not just an academic pursuit; it was a total spiritual immersion.

This training culminated in a final three-month residency in the Himalayas—the birthplace of this timeless wisdom. Surrounded by the quiet pulse of tradition, I stepped into my role as a teacher. It was one of the most humbling and awe-inspiring experiences of my life.

Embracing a New Era of Wellness

After decades in traditional medicine and a lifetime of caregiving, I now had something truly holistic to offer—not just treatments but tools for transformation. My journey through nursing, motherhood, political activism, spiritual seeking, and personal health challenges had prepared me to hold space in a new way. One that honored both science and spirit. One that recognized that real healing doesn’t come from fixing symptoms—it comes from restoring balance at the source.

And so, the new Kitchen Table Wellness was born—a space where ancient wisdom and modern medicine converge. A place where people feel seen, heard, and empowered to heal.

Meditate with Patty

I teach Vedic Meditation just as it was taught to me—in a simple, natural way that anyone can learn and integrate into daily life. It’s the same practice that changed my life—and continues to transform the lives of my students.

Heal with Patty

My coaching process draws upon my background in Functional Medicine, nutrition, and root-cause healing. It’s for those ready to investigate the deeper story behind their symptoms and to create sustainable changes that support longevity, vitality, and resilience.

At the heart of it all is this: We are not meant to live in survival mode. We are meant to thrive. And we don’t need to do it alone. Around the kitchen table—in conversation, community, and contemplation—healing begins. I’ve seen it. I’ve lived it. And I’m honored to share it.