Dr. Valerie Simonsen ND

The Miracle of Belief:

How a Paralyzed Woman in Bali Changed My Life.

In 2010, I took the boldest leap of my life. With a heart full of fear and a backpack of dreams, I embarked on my first trip around the world. Friends encouraged me to let go of plans, to simply travel with an open heart and embrace the gifts life had waiting for me. I ventured through Samoa, New Zealand, Australia, Thailand, Micronesia, Indonesia, and countless smaller islands, each offering its own unique flavor. But nothing could have prepared me for what I would receive during my time in Bali.

A Spark of Life

While volunteering at the Bumi Sehat birthing center in Bali, I met a 30-year-old woman who had been paralyzed for over a decade due to a massive stroke. Her body was frozen, locked in a fetal position, and she couldn’t walk, talk, or even swallow. Her husband, a pillar of unwavering devotion, chewed her food for her and gently massaged her throat to help her swallow.

Her body seemed lifeless, but her eyes told another story. In them, I saw a spark—the undeniable presence of her spirit, waiting to rise. I began treating her with homeopathic remedies and natural techniques and encouraged her husband and extended family to join her care. Each day, I gazed into her eyes and acknowledged the vibrant life still inside her.

The Magic of Connection

Weeks passed, and slowly, something extraordinary happened. One day, as I walked away from her cot, she uttered her first sound in ten years: “Man oh man.” Shocked, I turned back to see her smiling. She was mimicking me—I hadn’t even realized how often I said those words! That moment broke the dam.

She began speaking more, making us laugh with her sharp sense of humor. Her body, once frail and unresponsive, started to move. Her muscles regained strength, and her motor skills improved rapidly. The day came when I stood beside her as she took her first step. She laughed. I cried.

The Real Gift

When my visa expired, it was time for me to leave Bali. She walked beside me to the farewell brunch, where we celebrated our shared journey. As we laughed and ate together, one of the staff members pulled me aside. “What did you do to create such a miraculous recovery?” they asked.

I paused, reflecting deeply. In my medical training, I was taught to have the answers, the right pills, and the knowledge to “fix” my patients. But this experience was different. I hadn’t cured her. I hadn’t given her a magic pill. I didn’t know more about her than she knew about herself.

What I did was believe in her. I recognized her spirit when no one else could. I trusted that she knew more about her own healing than I ever would.

A New Beginning

In Bali, I had come to assist in bringing babies into the world. But it was this woman who became my “midwife,” birthing a new perspective on life for me. She helped me realize that true healing comes not from outside but from within. She inspired me to create You Know More (YKM), a space where others can reconnect with their inner strength, their spark, and their potential.

The Invitation

This journey taught me that we all have the freedom to be ourselves, to rise above the challenges life places before us. Like her, you have everything you need inside you to heal, grow, and thrive.

Let’s take this journey together. You kNOW more than you think. And I believe in you