What happens after the diagnosis, when the pamphlets end and real life begins? We open up about the messy middle: the anger at being dismissed, the relief of finally being believed, and the slow turn toward joy that doesn’t deny pain. Our conversation traces the path from confusion to clarity, showing how better information, kinder self-talk, and small, repeatable habits rebuild a life that feels like yours again. We share the moments that changed our mindset—an elder’s “move it or lose it” ...