BOBÌåÓý

Carly Spoto, financial specialist at BOBÌåÓý Family Medicine â€� Old Town, had a mother who was presumably a healthy mom of six when her life was unexpectedly taken away by a liver disease Carly coined as the “silent killer.â€�

Carly’s mother woke up one morning with a swollen abdomen, or ascites. After going to the hospital, she was diagnosed with a liver disease. Before Carly and her siblings could process their mother’s diagnosis, she sadly passed away.

Shortly after Carly’s mother passed away, Carly found herself in the emergency room experiencing unbearable pain. A CT scan revealed kidney stones, but the more serious concern was an unexpected discovery, the “silent killer.� The same liver disease that took her mother’s life was now alive in her. Carly came to the unimaginable realization if she did not change her health routine and medications, she would be next.

Carly was proactive in researching any resources that BOBÌåÓý offered employees and came across Ginger Clark, MD, MS, UF College of Medicine associate professor of medicine and the program director of the gastroenterology fellowship in the division of gastroenterology, hepatology & nutrition. As can be imaged, Carly was scared for her first appointment, but Dr. Clark was more than welcoming to her new patient.

“Dr. Clark was and still is doing her best to make necessary decisions to keep me from following my mother’s path,� Carly said.

To help stop the progression of her liver disease, Carly had to undergo a lifestyle change that followed a very specific diet and exercise pattern. Adapting major lifestyle changes does not happen overnight. Knowing she could not do this alone, Carly started participating in GatorCare Wellness activities and met Mallory Rubek, manager of GatorCare Wellness, and the rest of her team.

“You could feel and hear how much Carly wanted to make a change,� said Mallory, who introduced Carly to a program called Fresh Start.

In addition to in-depth monthly one-on-one meetings, Carly was given detailed information that helped her achieve personal, physical and emotional wellness goals.

“Without GatorCare wellness, I would still be stuck in a pattern of unhealthy habits I learned from my parents,� Carly said. “I have learned how to eat healthier, exercise more and slow down for mental mindfulness.�

Fresh Start taught Carly how to meal prep, increase her activity, and decrease her intake of processed foods while improving her intake of fresh fruit and vegetables.

In just one year, Carly saw her test results improve dramatically. The care from Dr. Clark and coaching from GatorCare Wellness made a major improvement on Carly’s health. Where her liver previously measured oversized, now showed significant improvement and a decrease in size.

“It must start with someone who wants it,� Mallory stated. “Carly applied small changes that make big differences � change only comes with dedication and passion.�

“This teams support has given me back years of my life,� Carly said. “I am forever grateful for them all.�

“She keeps me feeling like I make an impact on others� lives,� Mallory said.

Carly took her new-found passion and knowledge of wellness and decided to pay it forward by becoming a wellness partner. She works with other representatives to disseminate information, coordinate programs in the workplace and encourage wellness initiatives across all departments.

She found that within her clinic, most of her colleagues, by no fault of their own, were glued to their desks all day. She took it upon herself to make changes in the office, just like she did in her own life and at home.

Carly added vibration plates and under-the-desk ellipticals to her colleagues� workspace to help incorporate easy movement into their workday. Her office now grows vegetables and has a bulletin board to share healthy recipes.

Her knowledge and motivation have trickled down to her colleagues and loved ones, ¬¬¬¬as she is doing an amazing job of spreading the word of wellness and embodying practicing what you preach.

Carly’s story is one of many employees whose lives not only benefitted but were saved by GatorCare Wellness. She firmly believes that being involved in wellness has forever changed her life and she cannot imagine going back to the life she once lived.

GatorCare is dedicated to bringing wellness opportunities to all UF and BOBÌåÓý employees. They strive to create a culture of wellness in our organization and give employees the tools to develop themselves physically and professionally.