(COLORADO SPRINGS) — For Women’s History Month, FOX21 News asked you to nominate the remarkable women of Southern Colorado for an award. For the entire month, we’ll be featuring the women in our community who are truly remarkable.
You might remember Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Dr. Cristi Bundukamara (Dr. B) from our previous coverage. She founded Mentally STRONG, and helps many people with their mental health and grief in the Pikes Peak Region.
Dr. B is no stranger to unimaginable loss. She dealt with the death of not only her husband but also the death of three of her children.
“I lost a son in 2005 in a drowning accident. Then shortly after a year later, my son Reggie started having catastrophic epilepsy,” said Dr. B.
The seizures were a result of a rare, inherited brain disorder called DRPLA. It worsened generation after generation, and it eventually took the lives of three of her family members.
“I lost my son Reggie in 2016. My daughter Miah in 2021, and my husband just last year,” said Dr. B. “I’ve had several professionals tell me, I don’t know how you’re still standing. “
The shock of other professionals, paired with the much more sudden death of her daughter Miah, started Dr. B on a 45-day journey for answers.
“45 was our family number, and I realized that there was exactly 45 days from the anniversary of my son, Reggie’s death, to the anniversary of Miah’s death,” said Dr. B, “and so I knew that was a sacred time.”
During the experience, she filmed herself getting brain scans, swimming with dolphins, and more to find the best ways to grieve. Now, it’s a documentary called “I’m Right Here, Mama“.
“What I learned is that a lot of grief is enmeshed with trauma. Healing trauma has to do with trying to emotionally disconnect, process that trauma out of the body. In grief, you can’t get me to let go of my children,” said Dr. B.
To help people separate their trauma and grief, she has a free book, a free online course, and a three-day in-person grief intensive class.
“I opened Mentally STRONG with the Mentally STRONG Method, where we teach this whole system of how do we actually take care of ourselves,” said Dr. B. “The mentally strong method is teaching resilience and that that does include grief.”
Aside from her many other grief and mental health resources, her Mentally STRONG Clinics combine counseling and medication into one appointment.
“Never give up, regardless of your story. You can find joy and happiness again in your life,” said Dr. B. “Let’s talk about grief. We don’t talk about it. We support people for about two weeks to a month after they lose someone, and then everyone goes on with their life. It’s a pain that’s there for a lifetime,” said Dr. B.
On April 1st, tune in to learn who wins FOX21’s Remarkable Woman of the Year award. The winner will have $1,000 donated to a non-profit of their choice and will be added to the running for Nexstar’s national Woman of the Year award.
For our nationwide Woman of the Year award, the 125 local winners will be honored at a star-studded awards dinner & ceremony in Los Angeles. At the ceremony, the winner will be announced. She will be awarded $25,000 for the nonprofit closest to her heart.
