Safe Haven

I have a place where I met God early in this journey. It's 1/2 mile from my house. It's my church! I would get up early before the sun came up and get to the church and sit outside on the east step and pray and watch the sun come up. We had a lot of good talks up there. When it became colder I stopped but how I miss it and am looking forward to doing that again soon. I wish everyone reading this could experience that spot for themselves.

Fretting

Jim and I are overwhelmed this morning. Too much to think about, Dr. visit, place to stay, are we doing the right thing, etc. He left to go to the store and I went outside to read my bible and pray. I told God I was giving it all to Him because I couldn't deal with it. Thirty mins later got a phone call and all my problems were answered. Praise God! He wants me to stop fretting and I'm going to.

from my journal 17 Jul 09 (about trip to MD Anderson)

Genesis 1:29

See, I have given you the seed-bearing plants throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food. Gen 1:29

God's plan for our food was perfect in the Garden of Eden.

Popcorn

A great snack that I have became addicted to is popcorn. My husband and grandson have to have it every night. So one night I decided to have some and I love it made this way:

Put olive oil in bottom of a pan and add white popcorn. Turn on high and shake until all popped. (The white popcorn is a lot lighter than the yellow and easier to eat) This is so tasty hot!!!!!

I think I'll go make some.

Knowing Him

If you just found out you have cancer, please take heart that Jesus knows all about it. He has given us the bible to find comfort and understanding. Please draw closer to Him, so He can draw closer to you. It makes all the difference when going though anything, not just cancer.

If you do not know Jesus personally, I want to encourage you to find Him. Ask Him to help you believe in Him, to find a church so you can learn about him, and then ask Him to forgive you of your sins (because the bible says we all have sinned). Did you know He came to this earth to be a sacrifice for you on the cross. When he died He bore all our sins with Him. He died a horrible death for you. All you have to do to receive His free gift of salvation, is believe He died for you and repent of your sins. Start putting Him first in your life. It's a wonderful life being a Christian!


Isa 58:1

Your healing will come quickly
Your godliness will lead you forward
And the glory of the Lord
Will protect you from behind.

Praise God!

Doctors

I just have to share this: After my PET scan came back good, all 5 of the doctors I had been seeing knew the results of the test but didn't bother to call me to see what I had been doing to rid the cancer from my body. They all knew I wouldn't do anymore chemo and 2 of them knew I was going to eat differently than I had been. All but one thought I was nuts for even thinking a diet would help. Two of them even chuckled at me. I even called them and told them I would be glad to share my diet with others and for them to give others my phone number if they wished. Haven't heard from anyone. Do you think they make too much money treating people? I think so..............

I'm so thankful Jesus is the Great Physician.

God's Wings

Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me,
For my soul trusts in You and in the shadow of Your wings
I will make my refuge
Until these calamities have passed by.

Ps 57:1 from my journal 27 Aug 09

Good Cells/Bad Cells

Cancer, I'm told is immature cells. Well let's get those immature cells healthy so they can be good cells again.
__________________

God has provided both natural methods and supernatural powers to overcome those bad cells.
__________________

In my battle with cancer I tried to look for God in everything around me & recognizing His presence in all I did; for He cares for me with a love that runs deeper than the oceans.
__________________

Would you agree the #1 cause of cancer is probably our food? Well if you do, please start today and eat better!!

Courage

Jesus said, "Take courage - here take it".
from my journal 16 July 2009

Horatio Spafford

You may not recognize the name. He is the man who wrote "It is Well With My Soul". I love that church hymn. Throughout my struggles since becoming a Christian, I would sing this song with conviction and tears.

Here is the story behind the song: Horatio and his wife lived in Chicago late 1800's. They had 4 daughters and 1 son. They loved the Lord and served him in many ways. They began to have struggles in their lives. They lost their little son to a disease. The lived through the "Chicago Fires" but lost most all their finances. They decided to go to Europe and just as they were to leave, Horatio had a business emergency, so he sent his wife and daughters on ahead on a ship. Soon he received word that the ship they were on was hit by another and sank. His wife barely survived and his daughters had drowned. He penned these words soon after.

When peace like a river attendth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll;

Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,

It is well, it is well with my soul.

The rest of the song is just as beautiful. They went on to have 3 more children. Two girls and a boy, the boy died of a disease when small buy they kept their faith because they felt God's presence in their lives.

Cards and Phone Calls

If you are reading this and know someone who has cancer or isn't feeling well, please take time out of your schedule and send them a card. I received over 150 cards when I wasn't feeling good after having chemo and radiation. Those cards were so fun to receive let alone lift my spirits. Almost everyday there was a card in the mailbox and sometimes 2 or 3. I praise God for my family and friends.

Thankful

Lord thank you for a great support system, my soft bed, and for giving me no fear.

from my journal 8 July 2009

Refuge

God is our refuge and strength
a very present in time of trouble
Therefore, we will not fear
Even though the earth be removed
And the mountains be carried into the sea.
Psalms 46: 1&2

from my journal 21 July 2009

Prayer Cloth

My sis gave me a book to read last summer about the May 3rd tornado. A lady had written it about her experience in the tornado path. She was badly hurt and a friend had given her a prayer cloth. (It's a cloth that's been anointed and prayed over for a person). After reading about that I thought to myself - Boy, I wish I had one of those cloths - and I never mentioned it to anyone or thought about it again. Weeks later I received a call from a friend who was bringing something to me. A lady she worked with knew about my cancer and felt led to have her church anoint a cloth and pray over it for me. What a God we have!!!!!! I slept with that cloth around my neck for months and just felt those prayers.....praise God for people being obedient to Him. What joy that has brought to me.

Peace

God really does give you peace when you ask for it....
from my journal 1 August 2009.

Goose Bumps

Remember me telling you God talks to me....well, my dear precious friend has a birthday the day before mine and we always exchange presents. Right as I found out my cancer was back, I had been in an antique shop and found for her a small naked cherubim (she loves angels and cherubims). Soon after that I had a bi-opsy done on my neck to see if the lymph nodes had cancer and they did. My friend called to tell me she had a dream about the cancer in my neck and she dreamed of a little cherubim stomping on those lymph nodes with his hand raised. I got goose bumps when she told me and said "Oh, do you know what I got you for your birthday?" She said, "Well no!" I told her it was just what she described in her dream. This little cherubim had his hand raised too!!! I believe God reveals things to us in dreams sometimes like He did so many years ago. God provided thru my friend another confirmation that I was going to be okay and to press on. We both decided right then God is just toooooo good to us.

Scriptures of Healing

As I said in one of the earlier blogs, praying the scriptures where people were healed in the bible, is so comforting for those who need comfort. In addition to praying the scriptures I also did the following:

In the mornings I would start off with:

Psalms 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Your sight, O, Lord my strength and my redeemer.

I would ask God to help me be like the "Fruits of the Spirit". Galatians 5:22

Read this one:

Philippians 4:6 Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. (Is that not wonderful?)

A dear friend from my church gave me some healing scriptures on a tape. I would lay down at night with my husband and we would listen to those scriptures and meditate on them and then we would pray. In the bible God says, 365 times, not to fear. I think that's one for every day! So I don't think I'll have fear as part of my life. What about you?

What a friend we have in Jesus; all our sins and grief to bear! (I love that song)

Calcium/Protein?

I get asked quite often where am I getting calcium and/or protein in my diet since I don't eat meat or eat dairy. Fruits and veggies are full of those things. After getting such good lab reports and feeling so good, I truly believe we can live on fruits, veggies, seeds, nuts and grains.............

Vitamins - Sanders Lab

Vitamins may not be necessary for some to take but I do take some. I take CoQ10 300 mg, Vit C 3,000 mg, Flax and Fish Oil. I was taking other vitamins like E, b-complex, multi, and calcium, but I am getting so much of that in the foods I eat I thought I just didn't need them. The vitamins I get are from Sanders Lab www.sanderslab.com here in Tecumseh, Ok where I live, and also where I get the "milk" that I have been drinking for months. The milk which is not really milk but herbs in a liquid that looks like milk, has really helped with my arthritis and overall good health. The Lab's number is 405.598.2131 or her cell is 405.333.2204. There prices are reasonable and I think the vitamins are great quality.

Poisoned Meat

I think we can all agree that our food has something to do with "cancer on the rampage". I believe God gave us animals to eat after the flood, but at that time our meat wasn't injected with growth hormones or antibotics. Is this medicine and all the preservatives making all of us sick? Probably.

Fruit Slush

2 cups of mixed frozen fruit
1 1/2 to 2 cups of apple juice (no sugar added)
1 t. of barley grass
1 t. of enriching green

Mix all together in a blender. Tastes very fruity. Can't taste the greens.

"Healthy Stuff"

I thought I'd let you know some of the things I'm eating.

I make juice out of a 5lb bag of carrots from Sam's ($2.47) each day and drink mostly all of it. My husband is trying to stay on this diet as well (sweet thing) so he likes to drink 2 cups out of the 7 cups that it makes. I add a small amount of apple juice to the cups. ( I have to tell you at this point I love that juice - at first I didn't, but God thru my prayers has helped me to love it.)

The other thing I drink twice a day is apple juice mixed with Enriching Greens by Green Rich and Green Magma by Green Foods. The enriching greens has a fruit taste to it. It has lots and lots of fruits and veggies in it. It's a powder. The Green Magma is barley grass. It's a very fine powder as well. Barley grass is really really good for our bodies. Mixed together in apple juice, it is dee. The apple juice and the greens I get at Dobson's Health Food store in Norman. Better priced than anywhere else we've found.

These drinks will make your colon stay cleaned out as well. Of course the water you drink each day helps too.

I also buy bread there. Look for bread that has no sugar. I love this type of bread called Raisin Pecan by Food for Life. I am allergic to wheat and this has no wheat or white flour. Tasty toasted. My husband loves the Multi-grain Oat by Rudy's Organic Bakery. (It's bread sold at Dobson's, too)

What a Friend

I have a friend, who during my journey, would call me to check on me. Before she hung up and after we told each other we loved the other one, she would say, "I'm thanking my Jesus for the healing that's taking place in your body." So wonderful to hear those words each day. What a friend!!!!!

Did I Mention....

Did I mention that I haven't been sick since I started this diet. I did get a sinus infection from being in a dust filled loft, though, but I don't think that counts. Anyway, I escaped from having the stomach bug, flu and everything else going around. Praise God, I think He knew His children could stay healthy if they would treat there bodies the way He intended for us to.

Did I mention I lost 15lbs on this diet and am not gaining any weight back, no matter how much I eat...........Thank you Lord.

God Speaks

God speaks to me. Not out loud, but thru people. When I had those moments that I was crazy for not doing the chemo, God would let me know to stick to the plan He had for me. I was having one of those moments when a friend called me to tell me she had an email for me. When she gave it to me, I cried. It was a healthy eating plan of just what I was doing. Thank you Lord. Another instance of many was our bible study of Daniel. I went that morning after a "friend" told me I really needed to be doing the chemo, and the first part of our lesson was Daniel and his friends telling the jailer to let them eat only fruits and veggies to stay healthy. God is good. All the time....................

The "Family"

Before I go on another minute I have just got to say: My sweetheart of a husband has been the best caregiver thru my cancer journey. He never missed an appointment with me, prayed with me, fed me nutritious food when I couldn't get out of bed (during my chemo & radiation), and now he makes sure I have all the food I need on this diet so I don't get starved and reach for something I'm not supposed to eat. How precious is that?

I also have to say that I had a ton of support from my family.........
I also have to say that I had a ton of support from my friends at New Hope Baptist Church.
Also, Rosie & Rhonda, Madena & Bill

Sweet Treat

3 cups of pecans or walnuts
1 - 2 cups of dates- pitted
2 tablespoons of organic cocoa powder

In a food processor mix nuts until very fine, add dates until chopped up fine. Add the cocoa. Roll into balls & stuff yourself. So tasty. Esp. when you don't eat regular sweets.

The "Path"

The path God has put me on thru this journey with my health, has been so wonderful. He has put people in my path that needed encouraging words and help with their cancer. Boy, can you believe how many people we all know who have cancer! What an epidemic! I have been able to encourage people from Texas, Florida, Tulsa, Tecumseh, Shawnee and on & on. God is so wonderful to me. I hope He uses me to help others for a long time to come. Praise God to whom all blessings flow.

No RX

For those of you who are wondering if I am on any prescription medicines or take anything over the counter - the answer is no way.

If you want a healthy body - get off that stuff asap.........The food God has designed for us from the beginning of time really is still the food we should be eating today. I don't think anything away from the fruit and veggie isle is really food, is it?!

Spinach Salad

spinach leaves - cut into small pieces
dried cranberries - 1/4 cup
seseme seeds - two tablespoons

Mix together and add dressing:

1/2 cup walnut oil
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon parsley
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

Mix together and pour on top of salad........yummy!
It's makin' me hungry! :)

"The" Lab Report

This new way of eating has caused me to have wonderful lab reports.

No arthritis pain
Cholesterol - 181 (was 220)
Triglycerides - 139 (was 181)
White blood count - almost normal (was very low)
liver enzymes - normal range (has always been way high because of Hep C)
Everything else - good

Who knew fruits and veggies could do all that? GOD DID!

A Good Thing

If you have an illness, I believe going thru the scriptures and praying what others in the bible have said while asking Jesus for healing is a good thing. What I mean is: A leper told Jesus that he believed Jesus could heal him if He wanted to. I would pray: Lord, I know you can heal me if you want to, and I believe you want to because you healed everyone in the New Testament who believed you could heal. Another lady who had been bleeding for years reached out and touched Jesus garment. She had faith that just by touching his garment she would be healed, so I would pray and tell Jesus that if He were standing infront of me, I would reach out and touch His garment, because I have the faith I would be healed too. The bible is full of healing scriptures to meditate on - what a blessing and it sure draws you closer to Him.

Roasted Potatoes

Roasted Potatoes

4 medium size potatoes - cut into chunks - peeled or not
1 onion (sliced)
1 bunch of broccoli
1 sweet potato - peeled and chunked
salt & pepper
olive oil

In a big roasting pan with lid put all ingredients in and mix together. Roast at 425 * for 45 mins.
Yummy good. Eat with a toasted piece of wheat bread with brushed on olive oil and sprinkled with garlic salt.

Dr. Richard Santelli

In my previous post, I talked about the IV's I am getting. Dr. Santelli is a chiropractor at the Moore Family Clinic, and that is where I go once a week to get the IV's. The oxidation is good for the blood - it puts oxygen in your system and supposedly cancer can't live in a body that is full of oxygen. The other IV is ascorbate. It has 20,000 mg of Vit C. along with other nutrients. I see people come in and get it for flu prevention and to build up the immune system (like what I'm getting it for). The IV's are $95.00 each. We can't afford them, so guess what? Since I have been going to him (November), we have had people hand us money from church, from friends and family. I have only had to pay for 2 treatments out of our own pocket. Isn't God caring?! He makes things happen that we can't even comprehend.

Breakfast

Recipe:

1 cup of cooked oatmeal
1/4 cup of raisins
1/4 cup slivered almonds or pumpkin seeds

Mix together and eat with a banana

This is what I have for breakfast almost every morning. Yum! So good for you too!

It's All in the Relationship

Well, let me tell you 8 months from when I started this diet I am still doing wonderful. The name of the DVD I watched and followed is "You Can't Improve on God" by Dr. Lorraine Day. The name of the book I read given to me by a friend is "God's Way" by George Malkmus. Both things say almost the same thing about the food we eat. If you know someone or if it's you yourself that has cancer or other health problems, please get the book or DVD. I can give you the short version of the diet, but she goes into detail about doctors, pharmacies, and how food plays an important part in getting well.

Here it is:

1. Eat Right - only eat fruits, veggies, seeds, nuts and grains. No dairy, meat, sugar, white flour. Drink 8 cups of juiced carrot juice daily. I drink apple juice from the health food store mixed with barley grass and enriching greens. Really good and so good for your body.
Meat is too difficult to digest, animal fat causes cancer.
2. exercise - get 30 mins of exercise daily
3. Drink as much water as you can - 8 cups if possible - only filtered
4. Sunlight- boosts the immune system, don't get sunburned
5. Temperance - no alcohol, caffeine, sugar, smoking
6. Fresh Air - get outside air as much as possible
7. Rest - body repairs itself when sleeping - if you have cancer you should be in bed by 9:30.
8. Stress Relief - Trust in God, read the bible, bible study and prayer
9. Gratitude - be thankful, don't wallow in self-pity, pray for others
10.Benevolence - care and pray for others, keep away from worthless things, don't hang onto resentment and anger.

These 10 steps are great but the best thing is having that relationship with Christ so He can help you with it. He is wonderful.

Back in the Saddle Again

June of 2009, I had another scan. I was called in immediately to the doctor (who by the way has a bed side manner of a gruff) who told us "it's not good, but I want to send you to M.D. Anderson in Houston and see if they can do anything for you." My husband, sister and I made reservations and went. Wasted trip - all they know is chemo and radiation. Well, it wasn't all wasted - we went to Galveston. That was fun.

Came back home and began praying about what to do. They had told me even if I did the chemo it would come back. Well, I wasn't wanting to go thru that again. Jim and I began praying about what to do, and God, thru my Sunday School teacher, gave me a DVD about curing cancer by eating the way God designed us to eat. Jim and I both felt this was the answer we were looking for. Praise God! I began on the diet immediately. That was August 2009. I began to feel energized!. Some friends and family members thought I was crazy for not going the conventional way and they told me so. But God kept reassuring me what I was doing was right. Praise God!

I want to back up to that Houston trip: My wonderful friends in Christ at my wonderful church took up a special offering for us so we could go on the trip. It was all paid for and more. God loves me so much. He provides all my needs.

By November I was feeling something in my neck and became scared that the cancer had spread to my throat. I didn't know what else it could be. Thru my sister a doctor's name came up who does IV's of oxidation and ascorbate. I went to see him and he started the IV's - one a week - alternating each week. In December he suggested I have another PET scan to see if what we were doing was doing any good. In the meantime he did blood work. The blood work came back good. It showed my cholesterol and liver enzymes (I have Hep C and the liver enzymes have never been in the normal range in 13 years since I found out I had it) were in the normal range after being high. And my thyroid was high . THAT WAS WHY MY NECK FELT WEIRD! He put me on some natural-type thyroid medicine and it's better now. Anyway, I did the PET scan and PRAISE GOD, it showed the cancer going away. No new cells, of the ones I had, some were gone and they ones left were smaller than before. Yeah!!

The "Big C" doesn't scare me!

The "Big C" doesn't scare me. I have heard people call cancer the "big c" but for me the Big C is Christ. He is the author and finisher of my faith! :)

This blog is going to be about my journey after finding out I had cancer in January 2008.

On my dad's birthday January 16, 2008 I had an appointment with my surgeon about pains I was still having after having a hernia operation. He had gone back in the same area to see what it might be two days before. He called me into his office and told my husband and I that the lymph node was positive for cancer. It turns out that it was anal carcinoma (same thing Farrah had). He referred me to a doctor and she made up a treatment plan which involved 6 weeks of radiation in my pelvic and rectal area and 2 weeks of chemo thru a pack I had to wear on my waist.

The radiation was gruelling to my bottom if you can imagine. But, the pet scan I had the following June showed no more cancer cells. (PET scans show hot spots if there is cancer.)

I thanked my God for helping me and healing me and for keeping me strong in my mind.

The next December I had another scan and showed a couple of spots but they thought it was inflamation. No worry.