​

 

I became seriously ill with myelodysplasia, an ultimately fatal disease, a blood disorder, aka malignancy stage I, in 1992. I learned that my bone marrow was depressed; my oncologist said I had bone marrow like that of an old person. My blood had no clotting factor; it ran like a faucet.  I persisted with chronic yeast infections. I took medicine to clear the yeast only to find that it had returned with a vengeance. A bone marrow transplant was the recommended treatment for myelodysplasia which cost in excess of $150,000, but only 30% effective. I had been laid off from my job so a bone marrow transplant was not a viable option for me.  I was introduced to a naturopathic physician who helped to restore my health for less than 10% of the cost of the transplant. I wrote about my experience with this physician in my book, “Silent Storm,” first released in 2013.  I learned a lot from this physician 'now deceased'. Subsequently, I became interested in finding natural ways of healing and sharing with others.

​

Another illness besieged me in 2011 for which I was hospitalized. The hospital diagnosed me with over-hydration with an extremely low sodium level. I spent 6 days in the ICU where I was unconscious, bedridden, catheterized, and hooked up to various tubes which extended from my mouth and neck into other parts of my body. The tubes in my neck were so painful it felt like my neck would break. The catheter brought on its brand of misery with the pressure it applied to my lower back. My hands were bound for my own protection as I reportedly tried to remove the tubes.

​

Once out of immediate danger I was moved to a private room, in the hospital, where I spent another 7 days.  One of my family members took a dried blood test and sent the sample to my naturopathic physician with whom I would visit upon my release. Upon his analysis of the blood sample he told my sister that I could not travel to the clinic alone; I would need someone to assist me.  

​

After having spent some 13 days in the hospital the doctors determined that I was strong enough to be released to an extended care facility where I could rebuild strength in my legs so that I could start to walk again. After 3 days at the facility I got an infection and was returned to the main hospital so they could manage the infection; there I remained until my release 4 days later. I felt GOD awful!

​

At the clinic I would learn by my naturopathic physician that I had a spirochete and lymphoma.  Any strong smells, perfumes, laundry detergent, nail polish even gasoline would make me wheezy and sick. Mental confusion crept in. En route to do errands, when driving, I would sometimes forget where I was going. The street, on which I was driving, became unrecognizable. (I was temporarily lost)

​

On my visit to my primary care physician (PCP) I learned that I also had H-Pylori and friends for which I was given three triple rounds of allopathic therapy which made me extremely ill; I shook like someone with Parkinson's disease. My naturopathic doctor was able to eradicate both the spirochete and lymphoma but not the H-Pylori so I went to my (PCP) who dismissed the idea of my having a spirochete because of how it was diagnosed. Just being in the presence of raw chicken or fish I would get a skin infection. In their presence, one inch and a half circle lesions, outlined with raised red bumps that would later ooze and form pus scattered across my inner thighs. So impaired was my digestive tract that I started getting nutritional IV’s (to bypass my gut) in order to get the nutrients into my body that was so desperately needed. Realizing that the IV’s weren’t the solution to my problem I continued to search for natural programs that could address my problems but none bore fruit until I found a health coach who worked with me for three years. 

​

I learned from a visit to see my hematologist that I had ITP (Idiopathic Thrombocytopenia Purpura), an autoimmune disorder and that my pancreas functioned at less than 10%.  (This was confirmed by electro derma therapy as well as by my hematologist - whom had said that the pancreas could not be healed—that the only resolution to this condition was to take pancreatic enzymes for the rest of my life). The health coach did for me what no one else had.  He introduced me to natural strategies that brought back my mental cognition, restored my pancreas to its normal function, got rid of the ITP; my body no longer shook like someone with Parkinson’s disease. He helped to eradicate many of H-Pylori's friends but the H-Pylori proved stubborn; it would not bulge. My functional medical doctor, my acupuncturist, nor chiropractor could eradicate the H-Pylori.  I finally got rid of it, but it would return time and again.

​

In February 2021 I found myself back in dire straits.  I had myself checked by my new PCP who ran blood tests and a stool test but the tests showed no abnormalities. She sent me to a gastroenterologist who misdiagnosed me as having H-Pylori; this time I knew I didn't.  I was keenly aware of how I felt when I had H-Pylori. The doctor prescribed a triple therapy H-Pylori medication which did nothing to solve the problem.  I found a natural doctor who ran the same lab that my health coach had run and learned that I had C-diff Toxins A and B along with some additional dysbiotic/overgrowth bacteria, but there were no H-Pylori.  Now knowing the problem I was able to get rid of the C-Diff using some natural strategies. 

​

In August 2021 I went back to my primary care physician and voiced some major concerns.  She gave me a clean bill of health.  In October I found myself ill again.  My PCP granted me a 45 day leave of absence from work.  In the meantime, she ran a liver panel and said my numbers were high so she sent me to a liver specialist. He ran a scan and said that there was nothing wrong with my liver. Desperate I tried to get access to the lab my health coach had run but the doctor I used for ordering the lab was on vacation.

​

Fortunately I found a way to get the lab kit and submitted my sample for analysis; I learned that once again H-Pylori had reared its ugly head.  According to the lab I had H-Pylori virulent factors DupA; VirB, and VirD. My normal bacterium was way out of whack.  Proteus mirabilis caused my kidneys and liver to shut down.  I could not hold fluids; I was forced to get fluids from the hospital and or urgent care to stay hydrated.

​

My eyes were beginning to fail me. While driving, objects seemed to appear in the middle of the street from nowhere and dry eyes ruled the day. Sharp pains pieced my eyes from time to time. My eyes were so off balanced that trying to descend stairs were traumatic; I had to really focus and hold on to the railing to keep from missing steps. Even in a well lit room only blackness appeared when I closed my eyes or entered a dark room; it was as if someone had thrown me into a pit of darkness. When I went to renew my license at the DMV it would be the first time I could not read any of the letters on the screen; it all looked like Chinese. I was instructed to take a form to my eye doctor for completion and have them check my eyes. The eye doctor prescribed bifocals as my vision was 20/40 in each eye; he prescribed some medication for my dry eyes and completed the form for me to take back to DMV so I could get my license.

​

My back became discolored and scarred from scratching due to the constant itching. For the itching my PCP prescribed some medicine in a tube; it made me psychotic.  My cognitive ability was leaving me, trying to write my name, let alone a sentence, was difficult.  My legs swelled measurably; I had sepsis from a parasite I was convinced but the hospital found no infection even as they ran blood tests and nothing showed up in my urine. Since I had not traveled overseas the doctor refuted the idea that I had a parasite. 

​

At home, I could not lie down at night; I slept in a recliner for fear of choking on my spittle. I ate no food for 2 weeks as the toxins spewing into my mouth were so disgusting.  My weight fell from 176 lbs in 2020 to 119 lbs in 2021. The lab results came back. Now knowing what I was dealing with, for my recovery, I got busy employing some natural strategies that I had learned. I was able to get rid of the sepsis and all the other accompanying conditions including the dry eyes. After some 54 years food sensitivities had become a thing of the past. Finally, I could enjoy foods again, which meant that I no longer had to have restaurant outings built around my digestive issues; I could now, not only enjoy foods from the typical restaurant, but now I could travel.

​

A subsequent lab analysis showed an eradication of the H-Pylori, my normal bacterium had improved considerably; only a couple of additional dysbiosis/overgrowth bacteria remained.  With no more kidney infection or incontinence I was able to return to work.  Having survived this episode I knew what I had to do; continue my education as a health practitioner. Years ago I had begun the process; now I knew I had to finish.  Working full time as I pursued my studies proved difficult but I persisted.  I wanted to give to others what that health coach had given me--a natural approach to addressing their health issues and a new and improved quality of life.