Episode 15, Malaina’s story

2025-04-22

Welcome to The Survivor’s Voice, where resilience meets hope. Malaina was only 23 when her body started shutting down. What began as fatigue and brain fog escalated into stage four kidney failure, liver failure, and sepsis. In this powerful episode, Malena shares how unchecked alcoholism—masked by independence and a “normal” life—nearly killed her. She opens up about denial, medical trauma, body image, fear, and the radical shift that saved her life. Now sober and standing strong, Malena’s story is a raw, eye-opening reminder of how quickly life can un...

Welcome to The Survivor’s Voice, where resilience meets hope.

Malaina was only 23 when her body started shutting down. What began as fatigue and brain fog escalated into stage four kidney failure, liver failure, and sepsis. In this powerful episode, Malena shares how unchecked alcoholism—masked by independence and a “normal” life—nearly killed her. She opens up about denial, medical trauma, body image, fear, and the radical shift that saved her life. Now sober and standing strong, Malena’s story is a raw, eye-opening reminder of how quickly life can unravel—and how much strength it takes to fight back.

Your Host: Angie Sedore
Our Guest: Malaina Castillo

Trigger Warning

This episode includes discussions of alcoholism, medical trauma, and depression. Listener discretion is advised. The views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect those of the podcast.

What to Expect:

Malaina’s near-death experience after rapid liver and kidney failure
The reality of high-functioning alcoholism in young adults
Medical trauma and life inside the ICU
How unprocessed emotions and denial masked a growing addiction
The emotional impact of sobriety, loss, and learning to live differently

Key Takeaways:

Sobriety is not just about quitting—it's about healing
Denial can delay life-saving help
Mental health is just as vital as physical health
Even when it feels too late, it’s not over yet

A Special Thank You to Our Sponsor:

Safe Harbor for Freedom exists to serve victims of human trafficking by providing secure housing, therapy, medical care, reintegration support, and awareness education.

www.safeharborforfreedom.com

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Produced & Edited by: Krystina Elder | YouTube: Elder House Media

Special Thanks to: Dan Wise | YouTube: North Idaho Podcast Productions

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