Meet Laura Sprouse

Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Sprouse.

Hi Laura, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
2014, my sophomore year in high school I started to become very sick. I couldn’t eat, I was in constant pain, up all night crying and missing school. Between the first day of school (August) through December I missed 30 consecutive days of school with a total of 60+ missed days. At that point my principal had called the cops on my parents for child truancy, when in actuality I was too sick to be there so I was left with no other choice but to withdraw from my physical school that I had been attending since kindergarten, to do online homeschooling.

Over the next two years, I go to numerous doctors, have multiple procedures performed and I still have no idea what’s wrong with me. Finally, in August of 2016, I’m sent to a cardiologist and he diagnosed me on the spot with having POTS. Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome is a form of Dysautonomia which is an umbrella term for a malfunction in the nervous system. Essentially I have a resting rapid heart rate so mine will just hang out in the low 100’s and whenever I go from laying down to sitting up or from sitting to standing, my heart rate will skyrocket to the 150-160’s range – causing loss of vision, dizziness, fainting, etc. My POTS affected my entire body and first started in my stomach rather than the syncope side of it.

After being put on medicine and following a high salt and electrolyte diet I slowly began to feel a sense of new normal. I still to this day have very bad flare ups depending on the day I’m having. I graduated high school online in 2017 and began college at Tri-C later that fall. Still having flare ups I took most of my classes online and one in person as I wasn’t sure how I would be feeling on a day to day basis. Through the years following my diagnosis I got to finally experience a small portion of the teenage years that I had missed out on – I finally got to go to my first concert and it changed my life. I am now a college graduate and truth be told, I wasn’t sure if I was going to get this far. I didn’t even see myself graduating high school because of how sick I was at the time. I’m so proud of how far I’ve come and I want to be the voice for others who are experiencing an invisible chronic illness. People treat you differently when you don’t look sick.

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?
It’s definitely not been a smooth road by any means. On top of a chronic illness and trying to get through college – we’re hit with the pandemic. I will say that having classes online helped me immensely. I didn’t have to worry about making it to my next physical in class if I wasn’t feeling my best. I think the hardest pill to swallow during it was that I was finally in a position where I could go out and function as a normal 22 year old could (for the most part) and suddenly I couldn’t again. It brought back a lot of emotions of being stuck in the house for two years straight with no friends and it honestly sucked.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I like to dabble into everything if I’m being honest. From special effects makeup, content creator, digital artist, sewing – I love it all. My favorite and the one that holds a special place in my heart is my special effects makeup. I taught myself how to do it when I was homesick, it was my outlet for getting my mind off of how I felt and I’m so thankful for it. I’ve gotten to create a lot of fun and unique looks, and even join a makeup contest back in 2019 with other local artists!

I don’t like to use the word “influencer” to describe myself because it tends to have such a negative connotation around it but that’s what I do! I work with brands and I create content for them and it’s been such a blessing. I’ve gotten to create such amazing friendships with brands and even people within the community. I’ve gotten to try and experience so many things and products that I might not have ever gotten to had it not been through social media.

I’m very transparent on social media, nowadays everything is covered with filters and it’s truly a highlight reel. I like to be open and honest with those who are following me, I show them when things are rough and not just going good for me. I struggle with getting caught up in seeing perfect skin and bodies on the internet and I know it happens to others as well. I want my page to be refreshing and welcoming. If being vulnerable on the internet about my skin, body, etc. will make just one person feel more normal and comfortable in their body – it’s worth it to me.

What makes you happy?
Oh gosh, honestly there’s a lot that makes me happy and I’m very grateful to be able to say that. My family, my cats (especially my boy Spunky), my boyfriend, friends, live music and music in general. Lightning bugs, the ocean, Bibibop, Halloween — I could go on but I won’t.

But to be more specific — I’m the happiest when I’m home by myself or in the car and I’m singing Post Malone songs at the top of my lungs

Or when my cat Spunky decides to jump in bed and snuggle with me the moment I finally decide I want to get out of bed and start my day.

Contact Info:

• Email: sprouseluck@yahoo.com
• Website: Livewithlaur.wordpress.com
• Instagram: Www.Instagram.com/laura_sprouse