Biography
Meet Misty, founder of Abundant Life Functional Health!
Personal Bio:
My husband and I have been married almost 20 years! I always say that together we are perfect—which is basically code for “He puts up with me, and I’m a saint.” It’s funny how God works things out when we actually stop trying to drive and allow Him to take the wheel. God has this incredible knack for placing the right people in our lives exactly when we need them, and I consider myself truly blessed. Mike has been so devoted to our family and me; he continues to seek God’s face for our marriage, our family, and probably for some extra patience when it comes to me.
I am the mother of two adults who survived growing up right along with me, so when I say we understand how “interesting” and hard life can get, please believe we really do. Really though, they still light up our life and hearts when they walk into the room, and we still consider them our babies. We’ve also had the joy of raising several other children along the way—some family and some “bonus children” who followed our kids home and just never left. God works in mysterious ways, and even when we can’t see the plan through the chaos of a full house, it all works out beautifully. To top it off, we are now officially grandparents to a beautiful baby boy who lights up the entire room (and gives us a great excuse to spoil him and then hand him back). Again, I say, we are truly blessed.
I was born and raised in the small town of Warsaw, where I began my journey as a mom, wife, and nurse. My start in life wasn’t the “picture-perfect” version we see in movies, but it is the one God carried me through. That journey gave me a fire in my soul to help others find hope and direction—specifically when it involves the health of the mind, body, and spirit.
I realized early on that I am nothing without God. He gave me a divine purpose, and although I’ll admit there was a fair amount of kicking and screaming on my part along the way, I can finally say the healing was worth the struggle. I’m not perfect, and I’m still growing, but I’ve learned to trust more and let God lead me a little more gracefully (and with less “kicking”) these days.
I am truly thankful you found my page. I hope to talk with you soon as we walk through your journey of health together.
Professional Bio:
My healthcare journey began with a simple act of service—caring for my great-grandmother. Over the years, I have had my own health scares, some of which are self-induced through poor lifestyle choices while others are out of my control. Through these experiences, I discovered a passion for nursing and a calling to help others find hope, healing, and purpose.
I earned my Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) in 2015 and Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) in 2017 through the Bethel University–Grace College transit program. I later completed my Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) at Purdue Global University in 2022 and became board-certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner through the ANCC. In 2023, I completed a Fellowship in Complex Care of Older Adults through George Washington University and continued advanced training in hormone health, functional medicine, and root-cause wellness through the Institute of Functional Health. In 2026, I became a Certified Integrated Health Practitioner (IHP).
For more than seven years, I have also served in Celebrate Recovery leadership, facilitating small groups, mentoring individuals through their healing journeys, and training recovery leaders and volunteers. This experience reinforced my belief that lasting wellness requires addressing the whole person—not just physical symptoms, but emotional, mental, and spiritual health as well.
My passion for functional medicine grew from a desire to look beyond symptoms and help patients understand the underlying causes affecting their health. At Abundant Life Functional Health, which then became my purpose, my mission is to empower individuals with the knowledge, tools, and support they need to take control of their health and experience lasting wellness with hopes for generations to come.
My goal is simple: to reshape healthcare one encounter at a time, one day at a time.
-Misty Dawson