So you may be wondering how I got here. I was a middle school Drama teacher for many years. I had 49 Rules that my students had to write down each year. Now, these weren't just class rules; they were Life rules. Many of them revolved around health and fitness. A lot of my path began in college while on Study Abroad in France. There, the family I lived with never ate pre-prepared meals. All of the produce, meat, dairy and breads were very fresh and very delicious. They also took supplements, something that didn't catch on in the States for many more years. And finally, they had a son who was a Certified Acupuncturist. I had a lot to learn, as I naively thought that you probably should be Asian to do acupuncture. (Remember, I was in college--so don't judge too harshly.)
As a young mom, I was that weirdo who cooked her own veggies and pureed them in a tiny food processor. My kids liked vegetables and were never picky eaters. I knew if they were hungry enough, they would eat what was in front of them. We didn't have soda in the house, but there were always fresh juices. I learned early about GMOs and steered clear of them. I just thought that the produce God put on the planet was plenty good enough for me. I also learned about BHT and other harmful preservatives in our food. What I learned, I shared with my students. I had many parents thank me, as a lot of them didn't know.
In 2014, I retired early when my mother was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer that had metastasized into the spine. I moved my mom from Arizona to Greenville, SC, with a ton of help from my sister, so I could take care of her. I explained to my mom that there were many ways to treat cancer, but my mom is old school. She went the traditional route. This involved the super toxic chemotherapy, the one where all of your hair falls out and makes you feel really bad. After those rounds she was put on a maintenance chemo. I asked her oncologist how long she would be on the maintenance chemo. His answer surprised me, "For the rest of her life," was his short and simple response. Surgery for her cancer was never an option. Through this, I made sure she got extra nutrition through juicing and supplements. Her store habits changed, as she only purchased organic produce. She even decided to go to an Integrated Health doctor for support, which was a big step in the right direction.
Everything seemed to be going well. My sister, my mom and I even took an epic trip to southern Italy to visit my daughter who was an au pair. All four of us traveled to Sicily and had an amazing adventure (picture above). Everything changed the day after Thanksgiving. My mom was throwing up so we made a run to the urgent care. She was treated with an IV, given anti-nausea medication and sent on her way. But she still couldn't keep anything down. Next was a trip to the ER, as surely they would admit this poor, sick woman. Nope, same thing as the urgent care, except this time two IVs were necessary to replenish her. Next day, we returned to urgent care. This time, they called an ambulance to transport her to the hospital where she was finally admitted and diagnosed with a herniated stomach. Not good!
Finally admitted into the hospital.
The smaller community hospital did not perform thoracic surgeries, so she needed to be transported to the big, downtown hospital. During transport, she had a stroke. Unfortunately, they didn't catch it since she was over-sedated. Keep in mind that she was now in a large hospital, in the ER, surrounded by doctors. The surgery was postponed until she stabilized. After ten days in the hospital for the stroke, she was able to take food and drink, so the doctors decided to release her to a rehab facility to help recover from the stroke. Long story short, the same thing happened in the rehab facility. Over a weekend, when none of her regular nurses were on duty, she had a second stroke. They didn't think anything about it, since her chart clearly said "stroke patient." I can't begin to tell you how frustrating it is to have your mom have two strokes go undetected while in the hands of medical professionals. But this time, she had to go to a nursing home for rehab where she declined and was deemed hospice eligible.This second stroke left her unable to stand or even sit up, and she was deemed hospice eligible.
Hospital: Round 2 This is after first stroke.
In the nursing home after second stroke and on hospice.
My daughter, Alexa, wanted to have my mom "come home" where she would be surrounded by people she knows and loves. This was a huge commitment she took on. Between my daughter, me elder sitters, and the CNA from hospice, we made the best of a bad situation. And guess what? It wasn't cancer that ended her life. It was the direct result of her strokes. I know our family history and no one on my mom's side of the family has ever had a stroke. So I did some digging. Turns out that stroke and blood clots are "side effects" of chemotherapy. I know that no one told us about this nasty side effect. It was at that point I decided to make a career switch. I have always been a proponent of a healthy diet and exercise and I have read a lot on my own about natural health. Now, I am a Certified Natural Health Professional. It is my mission to help those who want to help themselves. Now, after this experience, you may think I'm not a fan of doctors. This is not the case. Doctors have spent years studying their profession. My youngest daughter is currently on the medical track. I have a huge respect for what they do, and I believe they are honestly doing the best they know how to do. What I have discovered is that while in school, doctors are required at most to take two classes in Nutrition. This is where I hope to help bridge the gap. When everyone is on board to bring the body back into balance, healing can occur.