Defying Her Diagnosis

Lorraine Bossé-Smith knows the meaning of perseverance.

Between balancing 80-hour work weeks in corporate America, an abusive relationship and her mother’s death, the Tramonto resident was at her breaking point—and then her health took a turn for the worst.

After years of battling debilitating symptoms, Bossé-Smith was diagnosed with Lyme disease, a multisystem inflammatory disease caused by deer ticks. Not long after, she faced rheumatoid arthritis, which causes the immune system to attack the body’s tissues.

“Hearing you have an incurable disease leaves you with an array of emotions,” BosséSmith recalls.

Now, the author and business consultant is sharing her recoveries—and how she found strength through adversity—in the hopes of inspiring others.

In her latest book, “Defy Your Diagnosis: Overcome Any Obstacle,” Bossé-Smith details how she conquered devastating life setbacks— from friendship betrayals, to abuse, to career heartaches and chronic pain—to find inner peace and happiness.

“This book is for all the people who have been told they aren’t enough,” Bossé-Smith shares. “(Those) who experienced painful relationship breakups; who have been diagnosed with a dis ease and deal with chronic pain; who have lost their way and want to get their life back.”

Through an authentic yet funny and practical approach, “Defy Your Diagnosis” highlights what Bossé-Smith calls the FIT Life Formula. The formula is a method she used to not just cope with her struggles but conquer them.

“Without knowing it, I began creating a formula for overcoming any obstacle that I now call the FIT Life Formula: a foundation in faith, insights into personal development and tackling the tough stuff,” the author explains.

“My strength came from my faith, but I needed the entire formula to defy my diagnosis,” she adds. Through her FIT Leader Foundation, BosséSmith offers The FIT Leader Forum, an exclusive membership for executives looking to turn their defeats into triumphs, she explains.

The forum allows participants to give and receive “intelligent and relevant feedback” from a wide range of experiences and backgrounds, according to the foundation website, while providing a “proven formula” for monthly strategy meetings designed to look at critical aspects of Author Lorraine Bossé-Smith recounts health battles in new book By Jordan Houston

business and create real solutions.

“My FIT Life Formula is how I defied every diagnosis thrown at me, and any person who needs victory can benefit from the principles I outline in my book,” Bossé-Smith shares. “In my business, I inspire and encourage people to live their best life by offering coaching, leadership development, dynamic trainings, professional recruiting and resources such as my books and DVDs.

“My goal is to transform lives by helping them defy their diagnosis.”

The forum’s yearly membership is paid in two installments of $1,800 in April and October.

In 1999, Bossé-Smith began experiencing strange symptoms.

She struggled with excruciating joint pain and swelling—after about nine months, the author could barely hold a glass of water in her hand. “I had the classic flu-like symptoms immediately upon being exposed to and covered in ticks,” she recalls. “As the disease progressed, I experienced incredible pain and swelling of all my joints, muscle fatigue to the point of being unable to walk up a flight of stairs, mental fog, horrible night sweats, sensitivity to light and sound.”

After six years of frustration, Bossé-Smith was finally diagnosed with Lyme disease in 2006. Lyme disease is an infection caused by a bacterium in deer ticks and manifests itself as a multisystem inflammatory disorder.

In its early, localized stage, the disease primarily affects the skin before spreading to the joints, nervous system and other organ systems. In 2010, Bossé-Smith reached a new milestone when all of her tests came back clean.

“As crazy as it sounds, after living with pain for over nine years, I chose to run a marathon to celebrate,” she says. “I didn’t break any speed records, but my goal was to run pain free. “I enjoyed being able to do something doctor’s told me I never would do again—it was a victory run.”

But by 2012, she was back in the doctor’s office—this time facing a new disorder.

Bossé-Smith learned Lorraine Bossé-Smith has battled Lyme disease and rheumatoid arthritis. “Defy Your Diagnosis” is set for release on April 7. (Photo courtesy Lorraine Bossé-Smith)

she had rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the lining of the joints. The condition causes a painful swelling, which can eventually result in bone erosion and joint deformity and can damage a wide variety of body systems, including the skin, eyes, lungs, heart and blood vessels.

“As a result of my hyper-immune system, I ended up with rheumatoid arthritis,” BosséSmith says.

But, with the help of her life formula, BosséSmith managed to defy her diagnoses and has a clean bill of health.

With some outside encouragement, she started writing the script for her book in 2015, but “Defy Your Diagnosis” didn’t come to fruition until a few years later, she explains.

“It sat for a couple of years until I realized I had to be brave enough to title the book ‘Defy Your Diagnosis’ because that is what I have done,” Bossé-Smith says.

Having written eight books prior, this was not the author’s first rodeo—but it wasn’t easy. Bossé-Smith says writing “Defy” required her to relive some of her darkest moments.

“(It) was a process of going back, and that was painful at times,” she recounts. “It brought up a lot of emotions, but I think in the end, that makes the book real and authentic.

“As I shared about my many challenges, I was reminded that all my scars—physical and emotional—are reminders of my success…my ability to overcome any obstacle thrown at me.” Her latest book will be released on April 7 and can be purchased online at lorrainebossesmith.com.