When Jill Googled “acupuncture near me,” she was at her limit—physically, mentally, emotionally. “I’m done,” she told Dr. Dawn during her first appointment. Her energy was gone, her body hurting, her spirit drained. She didn’t know exactly what she needed, just that something had to change.

She wasn’t new to acupuncture, but this time felt different right away. Dr. Dawn simply said, “We can do better.” And Jill believed her. “She never made me feel shame.”

Jill had been living with chronic pain and fatigue for so long, it had become background noise—something she pushed through while running a family business, caring for her grandkids, and trying to stay afloat. “Pain is a wicked friend, and you get used to it,” she said.

The coffee shop she owns was her son Joe’s idea, a place where family could come together—blending their love of coffee and motorcycles into a unique, auto-themed café. Grind ‘N’ Gears Cafe is a lovely, five-star rated cafe in Niles on Oakton St. Her husband Dan and Joe are even appeared on Good Morning Chicago (see below!). It’s a true family affair. Still, for Jill, there was always something simmering underneath. That feeling of always needing to do more, and find new ways to show up for those around her. She gave me a heartfelt piece of advice shared from Dr. Dawn in an appointment, to remember that we are “human-beings, not human-doings”.

“I was a puddle,” she laughs now, remembering that first day with Dr. Dawn. But something clicked. This was the first time she felt like she could actually be part of what was happening, instead of passively being treated. “The treatments were not done to me, but with me.”

And it wasn’t just the appointments. It was the intentionality behind everything—drinking medicinal tea with purpose, being reminded to breathe, to pause, to feel.

Jill began to notice changes. Her hands—once swollen and painful—visibly improved. “I wish we had a before and after picture of my knuckles.” Her feet, too, moved with more ease. Her digestion, arthritis, and mental health all started to feel more manageable. She noticed a shift in clarity, presence, and overall lightness. “Just wanna feel better,” she says simply.

She’s learned that rest and joy are not luxuries, they’re essentials. Meditation, coffee and conversation, family time—these are now rituals she returns to. She notices “glimmers” of joy more often.

Dan’s been on board too. Once they competed over who could work harder, longer, faster—now it’s who’s healing faster with Dr. Dawn. They cheer each other on.

Jill admits she was moving steadily toward surgery before finding Metta. Instead, she said yes to twice-weekly acupuncture and watched as things started to shift. “You said yes, and it paid off.”

To those who are curious about acupuncture but hesitant, Jill says, “It’s not for everybody, but try it. You have to be open.” She understands the fear of needles but calls acupuncture “wonderful and well-researched science.”

One moment in our conversation stood out: “You worry about what’s going to happen when you get older, if you’ll be a burden,” she said softly. But Dr. Dawn “thinks of me. She shows up like she’s thought about me before the appointment. She remembers. She’s such a light, so present.”

For Jill, it’s not just about feeling better—it’s about being seen, cared for, and included in the process every step of the way.

And yes—she’s breathing a little easier these days.