Jonell West Francis is a home engineer and happy mother of nine. She graduated from Brigham Young University with degrees in Humanities and History. After working ten years for WordPerfect Corporation in Software Development, Testing, Instructional Services and the WordPerfect Magazine, she came home to care for her children and “debug” her own increasing health problems. She and her husband enjoy raising their brood at the base of Utah’s beautiful Wasatch mountains.

“Ten years ago, my life changed dramatically. I had a history of declining health that grew worse with each pregnancy. My daily life included chronic headaches, lack of energy, sore muscles, aching in joints and limbs, occasional dizziness, and continual abdominal complaints, primarily diarrhea but alternating eventually with periods of constipation. There were rarely more than 4-5 days in a row that I felt really well. I knew that eating very much sugar or chocolate gave me headaches, especially if eaten on an empty stomach, and that emotional stress was also a factor. But even at times when I didn't feel stressed and hadn't consumed these known offenders, I frequently felt just “blah.”

My search began. I consulted every specialist my medically connected family could find. Several physical exams, a scope, an ultrasound, repeated blood work and stool tests all came back normal. I acquired several labels for my worsening symptoms: colitis, spastic colon, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigue immune deficiency syndrome, and finally fibromyalgia. I begged God to teach me the good that could come from this miserable condition and to find the resources to help me get well. I did find answers and recovered from fibromyalgia over a two year period. The Feel Good Cookbook tells my story along with what I’ve learned. And if what I share helps anyone with similar challenges then my effort is well met."