In this powerful conversation, I welcome Cheri Carandanis—U.S. Air Force veteran, former critical care flight nurse, and now artist—whose life was dramatically altered by traumatic brain injuries in 2019. After a 25-year nursing career devoted to caring for others, Cheri suddenly found herself in need of care, facing the painful transition from caregiver to patient.

Cheri shares her remarkable story of resilience: growing up in a biracial military family, serving on critical care air transport teams after 9/11, working as a hospice nurse for 15 years, and ultimately discovering the unexpected gift of healing through creativity. Her art, described as both calming and alive, embodies themes of grief, transformation, and hope.

This episode explores what it means to let go of pride, receive care with humility, and find new life in places of loss. Cheri and I talk candidly about depression, faith, family, and the way God can use even brokenness to open new doors.

If you’ve ever struggled with identity after loss, or wondered how healing can emerge from unexpected places, Cheri’s testimony will meet you right where you are.

Explore Cheri’s artwork and story through the link below:

https://www.carandanisfineart.com/

Slide Jewelry:

https://go.referralcandy.com/share/38DXCJQ?s=sp&t=cp

Explicit passages:

Job 2, Psalm 42/43, Luke 10, 1 Thess 5

Implicit themes connected to verses:

Humility (Matt 16, Phil 3), Identity in Christ (1 John 3, 2 Cor 5), Providence (Matt 6), Community (Gal 6), Suffering & Hope (Psalm 23, Rom 8), Transformation (Rom 12)