The Helicopter Daughter was created out of a personal initiative of Karen Hadden, Owner, MBA, CHC, to find a balance between life’s demands and a natural approach to self-care and overall wellness, especially when battling cancer or other illness.
In 2016, when her beloved stepfather “Papa” was diagnosed with Terminal Cancer, and at the same time her Mom was in and out of the hospital battling COPD and other illness, she found herself on a journey that would transform her life in just a few short years.
Six months after her Papa's diagnosis, her Mother unexpectedly passed away and she had to set aside processing her own grief and in turn, her own health to care for her Papa. She faced many challenges and obstacles trying to balance her own health, both mental and physical.
Although she found many resources online as well as well intentioned friends and family who would provide suggestions such as “get more sleep” or “reduce your stress” many of these suggestions were difficult to implement without the right tools or resources. In addition, of the resources she did find, many didn’t appeal to her desire for natural solutions to stress and anxiety and some were not compatible with issues she was already dealing with. Locating natural products unique to helping with wellness, illness, mental health or treatment was challenging and time consuming.
She learned early on that taking care of her parents while pushing aside her own health issues ignited her own health battle involving a chronic Vestibular Disorder including Vestibular Migraine, Cervicogenic Dizzinesss and Vestibular Hypofunction.
When her Papa passed in 2019, she made it her mission to provide an uplifting space to find unique gifts, products, tools and resources for helping others achieve balance in simple ways while being able to share stories of self-care and healing through creative events and workshops. Helping others find those joyful and restful moments so that they can reset, recharge and find balance by taking moments for themselves without guilt.
Karen has been featured on New Day Cleveland and News Channel 5. She has also written various short stories and insights into caregiving and grief based on her past experiences.
She has been a guest speaker at a variety of local support groups throughout northeast Ohio focusing on Cancer, Grief and Chronic Pain where she speaks about the importance of Self Care and its impacts on Mental and Physical Health.
