Today we’d like to introduce you to Devisha Long.
Hi Devisha, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
How I began is I have always had an interest in helping people. I was a caretaker for my mother which turned into me going to nursing school. After completing my degree in Nursing and working in my career there was a calling towards herbalism. It started with me being diagnosed with an illness and then me doing countless of hours of research to learn how to heal myself with herbs. I came upon a doula program and took it. At the time i was pregnant with my 3rd child. It was exhilarating because I had accomplished learning about being a doula and then learning about herbs that could support me in birth as well as having support postpartum. The excitement was short lived, I had gotten my first doula client, and we began working together I was thrilled. Shortly thereafter I contracted Covid and was in the fight for me and my baby’s life. For 1month i was in a medical induced coma, my baby was delivered via C-Section and while fighting to stay alive I was unaware of my delivery. I was then careflighted to Oklahoma City to receive Echmo, and when i was awaken from my coma I thought I was still pregnant. Confused and scared, I became aware that I was in another facility and another state from when i was last cognizant of being sick. After that month I was able to come home and reunite with my baby. We both were on oxygen, and we both jumped hurdles and became well within uniting. Coming back to Dallas was the beginning of the real struggle. When I discharged from the hospital, I had to be very careful because my body had undergone massive sickness and treatment. My beautiful family came to my aid, and beautiful caretakers at the hospital helped me to relactate. My aunt Introduced me to herbal teas and blends that would support me further with my immune system. I was determined to heal myself. After being sick, I had effects of longterm covid-Asthma, on top of pre-existing conditions autoimmune, hypertension, and tachycardia. In my postpartum period I had to diligently go to the hospital to encourage my baby to come home all the while i was fighting an internal battle to stay healthy. The herbal teas and nutritious meals aided me to my wellness. I continued my healing journey. 4 years later I conceived again, afraid and confused I promised myself that pregnancy would be different. I found a Midwife and she cared for me the way i desired, she educated me more on nutrious meals and herbal blends on top of the herbs I had researched myself. At the time of delivery i had a successful VBAC birth the way I desired. Meanwhile after the victorious birth, I breastfeed my baby and brought her home from NICU 8 days later. I had rounds of illness that I had to treat myself herbally and wholistically to prevent any further medical interventions. My newborn came home and thrived. 4 months later she transitioned to heaven, and my life was shattered over again. I had to do things differently, I had to heal in ways I never knew existed. 1 Year later, I decided to pursue becoming a doula again. It was a passion that impacted me differently. I had assisted a few of my other friends with birth and their postpartum, however being through turmoil, and waves of healing and coming out victorious I embarked upon the journey of full time entrepreneurship. I incorporated the knowledge I obtained over years of studying, implementing, and learning to provide care for Mothers that is life changing and uplifting and supportive.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Not by far. has this been easy. There has been many struggles. There were the mental struggles of feeling like how would I be of a service to mothers and people, how would I be soo impactful that someone would come to me? I had to have encouragement from a friend that motivated me to keep going. She told me my story needed to be heard and shared. I toggled with starting my business versus staying in my 9-5 job. There was a pull for me to answer the call. I listened and pursued my passion. My passion trumped the desire to stay complacent. It felt the move was very uncertain but necessary. So against the odds of being a Wife, Mother working as needed at a 9-5, homeschooling, and dealing with grief and trauma I decided to move forward with my true calling and walk into my divinity that I remembered when I was a child.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
So with Una Orenda Wuti business this is a full spectrum doula service. I offer perinatal care, grief support, and herbal blends that assist with recovery and healing. These herbs range from physical support to mental support depending on what your need may be. Because I have had 17 years in the medical profession, 12 years in Nursing and a lifetime in healing I have integrated my knowledge to provide informed, and evidence based and practiced care. with nutrition being the foundation of my work. I am well known for my herbal blends that have assisted many people in symptom management for various ailments. So not only do I provide care to women who have uncomplicated pregnancies and birth, i offer services to assist with high-risk pregnancies and postpartum care and support. So, mothers who have babies that are in NICU and desiring to breastfeed, or mothers who have lost children, to someone needing herbal support for conditions. It is a one stop shop. I am most proud of my ability to transcend trauma and provide support from an empathetic stance. What sets me apart is that I have been a caretaker for most of my life, and I have cared for many patients and advocated to ensure best outcome as possible. My business will not only care for the need but care for the soul as well. Intergrating indigenous focused care and supporting with Evidence based practices as well.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I will focus on Good Luck. The role Good Luck has played in my life is that my life is unique, I have overcome many obstacles that most people would not and did not survive. Luck in my business, is that I believe in my business and the right people will come, and the impact has been made, and lives have been changed.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.unaorendawutidoulaandapothecary.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unaorendawutidoula_apothoecary/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581217599038
- Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@Unaorendawutidoula_apothecary
