health
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Growing Up with a Hidden Storm
On paper, I had what most would call a decent childhood: a roof over my head, meals on the table, and parents who loved me the best way they knew how. But behind that smile, girls and boys alike spent every recess and hallway calling me out for being “the bigger girl in class.” When…
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Running Toward Healing: My 5K Journey, Virginia Reflections, and Reaching the One
It’s wild to say this, but I’m officially deep into training for my 5K on June 14, and this week was the first time it really felt real. I’ve been posting every single day on TikTok under @kavanhorn with updates, insights, and everything that comes with being post-VSG, training hard, and choosing to run toward…
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Officially Four Months Post-Op: A Journey of Healing, Transformation, and Reflection in Virginia
Today, I am officially four months post-op from gastric sleeve surgery (VSG), and as I reflect on this transformative journey, I realize just how much has changed in both my physical and emotional well-being. This journey has been far from easy, and it’s not just about weight loss—it’s about healing, self-discovery, and finding peace in…
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Becoming Unstoppable: Why Self-Growth Becomes a Way of Life
Hello from Christiansburg, Virginia. This week, I’m writing to you from a place where I’ve experienced both good and difficult memories. Christiansburg holds a complicated kind of nostalgia for me—it’s where some of my growth began, but also where I learned that healing doesn’t always happen in a straight line. Today, though, I’m here for…
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Three Months Post-Op: Shedding More Than Just Pounds
Three months. Ninety days. A quarter of a year. It doesn’t seem like a long time when you say it out loud, but for me, these past three months have held more change, growth, healing, and transformation than some entire years of my life. Three months ago, I underwent Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy (VSG)—a choice that…
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Three Months Post-Op: My VSG Journey, Lessons Learned, and A 5K Milestone
It’s officially been three months since I underwent vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) surgery, and I can’t believe how much has changed in such a short time. When I think back to the day of my surgery, I remember the mix of emotions—excitement, nervousness, and a whole lot of hope. Now, three months later, I am…
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Transforming My Life: Embracing Atomic Habits, Overcoming Recovery, and Pursuing Academic Dreams
In life, we often find ourselves at crossroads, facing challenges that seem insurmountable yet brimming with infinite possibilities. My recent journey of transformation has been an extraordinary one—intertwining the insights from Atomic Habits, the resilience required for my VSG surgery recovery, the discipline of the DTI 50 challenge, and the triumphs of my academic career.…
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Self-Care is Not Selfish: Prioritizing Yourself to Better Serve Others
The Power of Self-Care For a long time, self-care has been misunderstood. People often equate it with being selfish, indulgent, or even unnecessary. But the truth is, taking care of yourself is not selfish—it is essential. It is the foundation upon which everything else in your life is built. If you don’t care for yourself,…
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Two Months Post-Op: Hard Work Pays Off
It’s hard to believe that I’m two months post-op from my VSG surgery. If you had told me a year ago that I would be sitting here today, writing about how I am no longer diabetic, I honestly wouldn’t have believed you. The changes I’ve experienced have been life-altering, but none of this has come…
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Seven Weeks Post-Op: Lessons Learned, Setbacks, and Pushing Forward
It’s hard to believe that I am now celebrating being seven weeks post-op. By the time I get a chance to write out a special blog about reaching eight weeks, I’ll officially be two months out from my surgery! That thought alone feels surreal. This journey has been nothing short of transformative—filled with highs, lows,…
Growth Beyond Obstacles 