Healthy Christmas Gifts to ask for!

Part of my cancer journey was to change so many things in my daily life.  Things that I never really considered before.  I realized that many of the external things in my home, make up bag, shower, etc. were just as important as the food I was putting in my body and the stress I was creating in my life.


The Food and Drug administration does not really monitor what goes into all of these items.  There is always the hope that they will, but we can never be too sure.  It is really my job to make sure that as much as I am able, I keep the purest things from going on and in my body.  You have to read the ingredients because they can say organic on the front and only have one organic ingredient.


Toxins come in many forms.  Foreign elements that create all kinds of problems in our body.  A recent study talks about the growing concern in the amount of toxins in our environment.  The study reveals individuals may be even more vulnerable to toxicants than previously thought. "It's even likely that there's an even higher burden of disease from our exposures to different chemicals because we are exposed to so many simultaneously," she says.  I learned through biofeedback that I had many toxic issues, so I began cleaning up my act.


My cancer was estrogen positive.  I learned from blood tests a year ago that my hormones were out of whack.  During my cancer "clean up", I learned that many products I use INCREASE the estrogen and make my hormones off balance.  My hormones now are completely normal.  I learned that all women my age, some older and some younger, have hormone issues that could be corrected by detoxing your bathroom and home.


Listed below are some of the items I have changed and what I do now.

Scrub brush natural fiber with
Jojoba oil and Sesame oil

1.  Take the chemicals out of your lotions.  Your skin is an organ, just like any of them in your body.  What you put on it is absorbed into your system.  Dry skin is just a symptom for a root issue somewhere else in your body that needs detoxing.  Lotion just hides the problem.
       What I do:  I dry brush before I take a shower for up to 10 minutes.  Rubbing in circles from my outer extremities to my heart.  This helps with ridding your body of toxins (pounds of them!), helps circulation and exercises the skin.  Then after I take a shower, I don't dry off.  I rub either organic jojoba oil or organic sesame oil on my skin with the water, even on my face.  In a few minutes, the water is absorbed into my skin with the oil.  I only use the towel for my back and hair.  My skin is soft and not dry.

Face lotion from the Optiumum
Health Institute; Face scrub from
Soul at Home and Face soap
from Mothers

2.  Change your face routine.  Have you seen the list of ingredients in your face products?  Are you a chemist?  My rule of thumb is "If I don't know what it is, I don't buy it"  At Mothers and Sprouts, they sell a plethora of facial products that are "healthy".  Remember, your face is an organ too.  You want to get rid of PARABEN.  It is a preservative that keeps the shelf life.  It mimics estrogen and causes cancer. Parabens can be found in shampoos, commercial moisturizers, shaving gels, cleansing gels, personal lubricants, topical pharmaceuticals and toothpaste.  So many things that you use.  Studies have also shown it can effect the reproductive organs, especially in children.  When there are safe alternatives, why would we use this?  They also use it in "food additives" so make sure you can read your food ingredients too.

My favorite shampoo and
conditioner

3.  Take the poison out of your soap, toothpaste and shampoos.  Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and its close relative Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) are commonly used in many soaps, shampoos, detergents, toothpastes and other products that we expect to "foam up". Both chemicals are very effective foaming agents, chemically known as surfactants.  The problem is they are poison.  In the same way as it dissolves the grease on car engines, sodium lauryl sulfate also dissolves the oils on your skin, which can cause a drying effect.  They are a variety of health issues that are related.  For more info read this article:   http://www.natural-health-information-centre.com/sodium-lauryl-sulfate.html

My deodorant

4.  Throw away your deodorant.  I know this sounds extreme, but it is so bad for you!  Your odor is caused by toxins on the inside and bacteria on your skin.  The chemicals you are putting on your skin are just masking the problem.  I am proud to say that I do not wear deodorant and I have no body odor.  You can be this way too!  I used to wear Mitchums for years because I sweat and smell, but no more.  One of the key ingredients in anti perspirants is aluminum chlorhydrate, a salt that reduces perspiration and it is linked to Alzheimers. They also have paraben in them too. More importantly, your body is trying to tell you something - you need a good detox and to eat healthier.  That is what it is saying when you have body odor.  I spray on liquid minerals to help with my intake of minerals and to keep my skin bacteria free.


5.  Buy new feminine products.  Most of us women have been using tampons every month since we went through puberty.  Did you know that cotton is the most heavily pesticide treated product in the US?  We don't eat cotton so there is no regulation on it.  BUT we make tampons out of them!  We put them in our bodies for hours and for days without thinking of the pesticides in them.  Studies have shown that it lengthens your period and causes a heavier flow, as well as releasing toxins into your system.  I have switched to organic tampons and pads.  They are a bit more expensive, but it is worth it.  

Our favorite toothpaste and
my lipsticks

6. Rethink your cosmetics.  We put foundation, blush, lipstick, etc. on our skin.  We wear it all day, so it should be something that is good for us, or at least not bad for us.  Most of us EAT on average 5 pounds of lipstick or lip gloss a year.  It is filled with parabens (a couple of different kinds), red dye 22 and 36 (linked to cancer and nervous system failure) and Tocopheryl Acetate, which causes itching, swelling, etc.  Not to mention, the squished up insects they use - Yuck!  For me, I have bought all of my lip products at Mothers.  They are made with hemp, vegetables and natural products.  They sure taste better and I feel so much better wearing them.


I have a few more items to discuss in another blog, but this should get you started.  Don't forget to check your cleaning products too.  If you can't read the ingredient and you have to be a chemist to know, then it is most likely bad for you!  If you spray it in your house, you inhale it and eat it!


Spiritual application:  So as always I see the spiritual side to all of this.  I really am beginning to see how the world has really strayed so far from God's original plan in so many ways.  I believe God wanted us to eat the food he created for us, not the junk that we have man-made.  Like when we sin, we have gotten so far off the beaten path.  America can hardly see another way of living.  The food and items that are so bad for us are so readily available.  Just like when we sin, temptation can be everywhere!  I am sad for the state of our world, for our sakes, for our kids sakes.  Like I tell my kids, if God intended us to eat "Goldfish", He would have made a Goldfish tree. If we all demand a better way, "they" will have to follow.  If the world rejected the fake foods, and only bought organic, things would be cheaper (supply and demand)!    When will we wake up America!   The statistic changed this year:  one out of every two Americans will have cancer before you die!  1 out of 2!  It used to be 1 out of 3.  They say that by the year 2020, 1 out of 1 Americans will have cancer.  Maybe then we will listen . . . maybe.  For me, I am doing my best to live the way God intended us to eat.  I am already part of the cancer statistic, but by God's grace I can live to see another day and help all of you who are ready to make a change!

Living the American Dream

 My dad passed into glory on Nov. 17.  I was there holding his hand as he breathed his last breath.  I was able to tell him that he was a great dad, the best I could have asked for and that I loved him and would miss him.  We were very close and saying goodbye is so difficult.


For those of you that don't know my dad, he lived the American Dream.  His name was Fred Carl Stolle and was born on September 30, 1928 to Heinrich and Gesiene Stolle in a small family farmhouse in Haschenbrok, Germany.  He was the middle child of five and enjoyed a simple childhood with two brothers and two sisters.  Growing up, Dad lived in the beautiful Neidersachen county, but the country of Germany was devastated by  depression like the rest of the world.  He often told stories of only having one pair of shoes and never getting to eat sweets.  Dad’s life revolved around school and helping daily with the family farm until Hitler came into power.  When he was 10 years old, he was automatically enrolled in the Hitler Youth program, which is similar to The Boy  Scouts.  They marched and played sports every Saturday.  Dad quickly became a leader and was sent to the North Sea to fortify the farms from Allied invasion.  While there, the officer in charge showed favor to my Dad, offering him the chance to enroll in officers school instead of being sent to the front lines.  Dad saw that 
God had a hand in his life and never forgot he most likley would 
have died if sent to the front lines. Fred soon found himself in 
officers school in Prague, Czechoslovakia learning military strategy.
 In the last days of the war, his commanding officer was ordered 
to send all boys to the eastern front in Russia with a Panzerschrek 
(a tank buster bazooka) and only one shell. Thankfully, Dad's
 commander didn’t obey that order and told Dad and the other boys to
 sneak home. Also, following his father’s advice “Whatever you do, 
never go to Russia”, he and another friend escaped and headed 
home on the train.  With all of the confusion in Germany, no one 
noticed them and they arrived home safely four weeks later.  He 
always said this was one of the smartest things he ever did.  

After the war, Dad went back to school and finished his six years of Latin and one year of English, making Abitur or graduation.  His father wanted him to become a veterinarian, but he had other plans.  He wanted desperately to leave his war-torn homeland for the land of opportunity.  Everything had been destroyed in Germany and Dad would have to wait five years to go to a university.  Unknown to his parents, Fred had applied for a visa to America when he was 16.  Once a week, he rode his bike 30 miles to talk to the American Consulate in Bremen. At the time,  America was only allowing scientists to come from Germany to America.  His persistence paid off and he was one of the first non-scientists to get a visa. He always thought that someone gave up their spot so he could go.  He was

 really proud of that fact. On August 25, 1949, his mother’s birthday...Dad 

left for America.  He was 20 years old.

Anyone coming to America in 1949 needed a sponsor.  Dad sent letters to

 Germans in America and asked if he could work for them on their farms in 

return for his airplane ticket to America.  A family in New Jersey accepted

 him and he worked for a year on a farm to pay off $346 - the cost of his 

ticket. Dad couldn’t speak much English and didn’t learn the language his 

first year in America because he lived with Germans.  After that, he moved to 

Long Island, New York moving from job to job - first a landscaper, then a 

button factory worker, a painter, a carpenter and finally a storm door and 

window installer.  His first job wouldn’t give him a paycheck until the next week and he only had 50 cents for food for the whole weekend.  He went 

to the farmers market and found the cheapest thing he could - bananas.  He ate bananas Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday until he got a paycheck.  Times were hard in the beginning because Americans didn’t like Germans.  Dad endured many snears, jokes and doors slammed in his face.  Because of his tenacity, he eventually, owned his own business in New York, a window and door installation company.  He was proud to have installed all the windwos and doors on Governor's Island.  He often spoke of the cold ocean air he endure while installing those windows. 

In 1950, Jane Ostertun came over from his hometown and they were married that year.  Dad adopted her son, Tony and they were a family.  Dad saved all of his money and bought his first house with a private beach in Long Island.  He continued to buy real estate throughout New York and 

worked very hard at this time with his pool construction company.

Dad loved America.  He took the nationalization test and passed becoming an American citizen on June 14th, Flag Day, 1956.  He was proud to be an American and always had a flagpole in every one of his eleven houses to show his patriotism - always flying the American flag.

Christmastime 1959, Dad and Jane took a vacation to California.  He got his first sunburn at the Rose Parade and vowed never again to live in a cold climate again.  He went back to New York, sold everything and moved west to Long Beach, California.  He purchased the Penthouse and remodeled it.  Originally Dad wanted to make his career in real estate, but found himself in the car business by accident.   After relentlessly grinding a sales manager on price when buying a new car, the owner saw great talent in him and offered him a job on the spot.   Dad had a knack for sales and in total sold 99,987 cars in his career, serving as the General Manager of Cormier Chevrolet for many years. He once was quoted saying “I have traveled the whole world.  I have won every contest with Chevrolet and have gone everywhere first class.  America is the best!” While living the American Dream, Dad did experience tragedy when in 1966, his wife Jane, died of bone cancer and Fred was a widower.

Nearly two years later, Dad was ready to marry again and went every day 

looking for a wife.  When he met, Diane Sliger, he was certain she was the right one.  He asked her to be his wife on their second date.  After a fewmonths of “grinding” my mom, Fast Freddie finally won and they were married on March 2, 1968 at high noon.  Later that year, I was born, their first child and then my brothers, Fred Carl the next year and Garrett Lenz the year after that.  

In 1970, my parents bought 42 acres of land in Valley Center, CA.  They 

cleared the brush, dynamited rocks, built roads, installed an irrigation network and began planting avocado trees.  They worked their ranch tirelessly and planted 4,200 trees themselves.  They went to the ranch on every day off Fredhad from Cormier and created their dream home - a custom adobe home with many arches.  Fred put thousands of hours and endless amounts of blood and sweat to build the ranch just they way they wanted it.

In 1982, the Stolle family joined the Long Beach Church of Christ and Dad accepted Christ as his Savior and was baptized.  He loved his church family and helping with the building facilities.   He and my mom taught a young a young married class

and was know to speak to the young group at graduation.

Tired of working so hard and feeling the need to relax, Dad retired from Cormier in 1994, sold the ranch in 2001 and the Penthouse in 2004 and moved to La Quinta full time.  Here he cherished life, traveled the world and loved their ten grandchildren with number eleven due in February.  He learned to play golf and slow down.  He still had continual “projects” around the house and loved to dance and be invited to a good party.  He kept up with his German family, visiting his homeland 52 times in his lifetime and last year, he got the pleasure of showing his grandchildren the farm he was born on and the land of his youth.

My dad will be remembered as bigger than life - with the best stories, the most energy and an unrelenting zest for life.  He was a man with incredible work ethic and sheer determination.  He stood for all that America is - life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  Many of you will remember his famous motto: 

 “Look your best, Do your best, Be your best!” 

  My Dad would want you to remember him that way!

Please pray for our family this weekend as we say goodbye to my Dad with a burial today and a memorial tomorrow afternoon.  He was loved so much that it will be so hard for all of us!  Goodbye Dad, I miss you already!

Eating a cancer free diet . . . Jeanna what are you doing?

This morning I went out to breakfast with my girlfriend, Tami, and she treated me to a "Goddess of Green" juice at Mothers Market.  We did some shopping where I had the chance to find some more options to eat.  I have been eating a very limited diet - a detox diet.  After surgery, I went on "the maintenance lifestyle diet" and that is where I intend to stay to that I will not become a "happy" environment for cancer to grow.  I learned all of this at the Optimum Health Institute and through much research.  I believe that God is glorified and will continued to be glorified as I eat the wonderful food that He gave us to eat in the first place.

Many of you have asked what and how I am eating.  So in this blog, I will briefly describe my eating habits for those of you that are health challenged, for those of you who want to be more healthy and for those of you who are curious.  I know that it will seem extreme for those of you who are not health challenged.  But when you here the "C" word, you just might do it.  Especially if you have four sweet kids loving on you that you want to see grow up!

Basically I am eating a RAW diet with proper food combining with proper transit time for digestion.  There is a focus on my body being the temple of the Lord where I am balance in all areas.

Detox diet

When I learned I had cancer, this was my protocol right away.

1. 2 oz. of whetgrass twice daily.

2.  I drank water based on my weight (ex. 140 pounds divided in half = 70 ounces of water a day)  We have Mountain Valley Spring Water delivered to our house.

3.  I ate a diet of only organic sprout, fresh vegetable, fruits, buckwheat, sunflower greens, sauerkraut (raw), seed sauces, sprouted grains, sprouted seeds and foods dehydrated at 105 degrees. (I ate no fruit or starchy veggies - i.e. carrots, beets, jicama, etc.)

4.  I went on a liquid diet one day a week. (Juicing once per week keeps toxins from building up)

5. TMI for some of you - I did enemas and colonics daily to flush out toxins.

They say it takes three months to detox complete.  Detox is complete when you have no body odor, no coating on the tongue, a feeling of well-being, mental clarity, increased energy, consistent elimination of the last meal that was eaten (at least 2 times a day) and all conditions are clear (if there was a health challenge).

Supplements

I incorporated into my diet a variety of supplements to aid against cancer.  They included:  Vitamin C (Lemon extract capful in water), Vitamin D, a probiotic (Tru Flora), Vitamin B and Bee pollen, Jason Winters Tea, Hemp Oil  and Ezzeac Plus and Cats Claw.

Maintenance Diet

Now, I have added in some fruit, some grains, beans, and a few items that are cooked.  I eat at least 80% raw and 20% cooked per day.  I only have 2 oz. of wheatgrass a day.  Colonics or enemas rarely.

The 5 Rules of Food Combining:

1.  Liquids Alone (juice, water, etc.) takes 0 - 30 minutes to digest

2.  Melons Alone (takes 1 hour to digest)

3.  Fruits Alone (takes 1 hour to digest)

4.  Do not combine acid fruits and sweet fruits

5.  The most important one:  Do not combine dense proteins (nuts, avocados, seeds, for some of you, meat, dairy, etc) with dense starches (corn artichokes, squash, potatoes, grains, beans - also pasta, rice, bread, etc)  At OHI, we learned to say "Starch and Protein - NO, NO, NO"

Here are all the things I avoid:

No Sugar (sweetners, etc.)

No microwaved foods and water

No Pasteurized juices

No carbonated drinks

No meat, fish, chicken or dairy

No Mayo products, flour products, white foods or soy

No peanuts (they have terrible mold that is linked to cancer)

No caffeine

No pepper

I do allow myself oil, vinegar and salt which are on the list to avoid but in small quantities and I think it is okay.

My typical day looks like this:

Breakfast:  Vegetable juice that we make at home

About 1/2 later, I have 2 oz. of wheatgrass that we juice at home too (wait 1 hour for digestion)

Lunch:  Salad with homemade dressing - lots of sprouts, kelp flakes, etc. (wait 2 hours for digestion and then drink water)

Snack:  Rice cakes with seaweed

Dinner:  Lentil salad with avocado  and nuts (wait 2 hours for digestion and then dates for desert)

I know it seems crazy, but God has honored my new lifestyle change.  I wish that all of the food we eat in America was not so filled with toxins.  If I could go back to the days of old, I probably could eat meat, grains, etc. off the land, but unfortunately times are different and for me and my cancer, this is what God used.

"Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God"  2 Cor. 7:1

Here are a couple tips I recently read on a friends facebook page as she was giving awareness for Breast Cancer.  These are the food related tips.  Thought you would like them:

Tip #1: Avoid ALL types of Sugar.  Try to eliminate Sugar or artificial sweeteners, MSG, or any kind of excitotoxic chemicals and glutamates. These have been found to be enormously powerful stimulants for cancer growth and invasion. It is vitally important for cancer patients to limit sugar intake, as cancer cells create energy to grow and spread by fermenting sugar. 


Tip #2 Eat Organic.  It is significantly hight in its content of vitamins and minerals.  It does not contain the meriad of toxins from pesticide.  In an analysis done over two years by John Robbins (The Food Revolution), the mineral content of organic vs. conventional.  Here are the stats:  63% hight in calcium, 60% higher in Zinc, 73% higher in Iodine, 59% higher in Iron, 138% higher in Magnesium, 125% higher in potassium, 390% higher in selenium, and 78% gigher in chromium.

Tip #3: Neutralize and eliminate toxins in the body.   The key organs to do that are the liver, kidneys, and the lymphatic systems. For a simple detox for the liver, take a fresh lemon every morning, cut it in half, squeeze the juice out of both halves, and pour it into six to eight ounces of water.  For an intense detox, enroll at the Optimum Health Institute in San Diego for a week.  

Tip #4: Incorporate Turmeric (the spice) into your diet.  It is one of the most powerful cancer inhibitors. Try cooking with it or you can take it in a form of a supplement.

Tip #5: Natural folic acid (found in leafy green vegetables, broccoli, brussel sprouts, kale, cauliflower) boosts the body's natural defenses against cancer.

Tip #6: Pay attention to how many carbohydrates you consume at one time, as eating too many will increase your blood glucose level. Sugar fuels cancer and precancerous cells and produces excess insulin, which acts as a second stimulating factor for cell growth, cell division, and ultimately multiplication of these "bad" cells. Most carbohydrates contain Omega 6. Cut back on omega-6 fats and increase omega-3 fat intake to reduce inflammation.


Tip #7: Aspartame, also known as Nutrasweet, is an artificial sweetener used in more than 6,000 products. Experiments conducted on rats have already shown that it is capable of inducing cancer in multiple body regions, and its carcinogenic effects are increased when exposure begins in the womb. Aspartame is metabolized inside your body into wood alcohol, methanol, which is a poison, and formaldehyde, which is used to embalm tissue. Since it is not eliminated from your body through the normal waste filtering done by your liver and kidneys it can increase your risk of cancer.


Tip #8: If you eat meat, avoid: meats grilled or broiled at high temperatures. It is the manner in which the meat is prepared that determines whether it is carcinogenic. When broiled or grilled at high temperatures, meat forms many potent carcinogens, including toxic lipid peroxides and heterocyclic amines (HCAs). These compounds are extremely harmful to breast tissue. Research has shown that women who ate a lot of grilled, barbecued, and smoked meats and very few fruits and vegetables had a higher risk of breast cancer compared to women who didn't eat a lot of grilled meats.

Steps you can take:
- Choose lean cuts of meat and trim the fat to avoid PAHs.
- Grill at lower temperatures.
- Consider precooking (roasting or baking) meat before grilling to cook off fat.
- Don't use recipes for "blackened" foods.
- Trim off any charred or burned parts of food.
- Avoid overcooking (and undercooking) by using a meat thermometer to cook meat to the correct temperature indicated on the thermometer.
- Marinade meats in herb mixtures to reduce HCAs. Research shows the herbs in marinades reduce HCAs.
- Not cooking food directly over the flame, because fat or marinade dripping on briquettes or gas flames can create flare-ups that contribute to HCAs and form other potential carcinogens.

A Harvest of Blessings

I am grateful today for so many things . . .

. . . for a day where I feel kind of "normal" after having a bad five day stretch.  Feels amazing to be out and not laying down every minute.

 . . . for a uterine sonogram that shows I shrunk my benign tumor by .5 cm.  Still have to have it removed as it causes many problems, but fun to know tumors are shrinking.

. . .  for another cancer free scan from Claudia, my holistic scientist and an amazing boost of energy after treatment.

 . . . for my dad going home today from the hospital.  Wow!  He has 15 lives . . . Seriously though, he has such a survivor, fighter spirit.  I love him and am grateful for the holidays with him.  Thank you for praying for him!

. . .  for a wonderful Feldenkrais class that stretched my chest muscle and loosened my spine.  I have been having a hard time standing up straight, but it is easier today.

. . . for my loving friends and neighbors who drive me to appointments, take me shopping and to lunch.  Who doesn't love girl time with good friends?  Thanks Christina, Lisa, Marilu, Dyanne and Sandra!

. . .  for Dawn, our helper at home, who schools my kids, keeps the house clean, makes the meals (and juice for me), takes the kids to practices and fun outings, who has stepped in to keep the Young household moving!

. . . for my kids who are just wonderful during all of this.  They are growing and learning so much.  As we thank God for times of difficultly, I know that the kids will take it into their lives to help others.

. . . for a husband who serves me and makes me rest.  One who slept in the hospital, who encourages me and loves me.  This trial has been good for our marriage.

. . . for the scale that read my first year wedding weight this morning.  I have lost 31 pounds.  Unbelievable!  I even had a carob/date shake today.  I am not starving.  I just love how God is allowing me to eat in the way that my body likes, but that cancer doesn't like.  I wonder where the scale will stop.

 . . . for being able to take a shower by myself in record time without crying.  Yes, that is something to be grateful for!

. . . for my birthday weekend coming up!  Looking forward to dinner at 118 degrees with friends and a movie.  I didn't think I would feel up to it, but looks like its all a "go"!

. . . for the Princess Parables series that is moving forward.  Zondervan has trademarked our brand and given us the green light for the Christmas and Easter stories to write.  The I Can Read series is being branded and covered this week.  They are thinking of doing an activity and doodle book.  I am overjoyed!

. . . for all of you for praying for me and supporting me!  Thank you for all of the love, calls, cards and meals!  Please contine to pray for the OncoDX test to come back LOW RISK.  I don't have to take the test, only my tumors do.  They are doing it next week.  I am glad it's them and not me!

"He provides for those who grieve in Zion - to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.  They will be called mighty oaks, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor"  Isaiah 6:13

Testing the "mystery"

I do not believe that things happen by accident . . .  I do believe each circumstance in our life is orchestrated by the Living God.

I also believe, sadly that there are so many people who don't believe in Him and reject His miracles.

But there is always that unexplainable silence . . . disbelief that comes with a miracle.  I know I experience it now often.

Just so you know, when you become a "medical mystery" they really aren't sure what to do with you.

Currently, the oncologists are requesting a test that costs us $835 to test the possible "recurrence" of the cancer elsewhere in my body.  Based on that test, I would get a rating 1-4:  1 being low risk (no chemo needed) and 4 being high risk (chemo needed).  I know that they are all covering their basis so that I won't sue anyone for being a "medical mystery" and them not knowing what to do with me.  Because in their words, "the cancer was so widespread (the four tumors and in situ/ invasive) that it should have been in the lymph nodes"  This would have made me a much high stage of cancer demanding that I have chemo.

Just when I was thinking I was off the hook . . .

 So my prayer warrior friends, please pray again.  Please pray that we make the right decision whether or not to take the test (doctor bills are piling up on my desk).  Please pray if I do take the test that it would come back at LOW RISK.  Thank you in advance!  While you are at it, please pray for my dad too in the hospital with pneumonia in ICU.  I can't get out there to see him . . .

Isaiah 26:3-4  "You keep him in the perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.  Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock"

"Medical Mystery" . . . God's MIRACLE!

Our pathology tests have been delayed.  Many of you were asking for the report, but there was none to give.  So Bruce and I went to the surgeon today to learn again that they have not been officially released . . .

The doctor walks in with a funny look on her face saying "I've never seen this before . . . it's a medical mystery . . . we have discussed your case in three different tumor reviews . . . it's going to take a while to figure it out . . "  While she is talking, Bruce looks at me and winks.  Thank you Lord - it is only YOU!

Here's the scoop:  the surgical pathology report showed only 4 cancerous tumors instead of 8 and smaller than originally measured.  My original biopsy showed two types of cancer - one slow growing and one fast moving (HER2).  I saw the three HER2 tumors (grouped together) that they biopsied on the screen, myself.  My pathology report AFTER surgery shows only one cancer - the fast moving HR2 cancer is NOT there at all!!!  Lord you are too good to me!

It is not a mystery to me at all - God healed me through your prayers and through the diet/ cancer cleanse that I have been on for two months.  Plain and simple.  God performed a miracle!  God says "I will restore you to health and heal your wounds" Jer. 30:17

So what does it all mean.  I saw three medical oncologists prior to surgery that told me I would most likely have to do 4 months of two different types of chemo: Andromiaxin and Carboplatin where my hair and nails will fall out, etc. and then I would have to do one year of Herceptin.  NOW with the "medical mystery" as it currently stands, no chemo is necessary.  Isn't that amazing?  All of you praying . . . thank you, thank you!  God, our sovereign, amazing God, answered YOUR prayers and mine.  It's awesome!

I do believe that God took my body, the body that He made, His temple and He has made it so it wants to heal itself.  Then he got MY attention (yes much harder to do at times but a cancer shock will do it).  Next, He used the good organic (not sprayed with chemicals) vegetables He created as the tools to help me rid my body of cancer.  He used other holistic people to speak truth and help me cleanse my body of toxins.  Lastly, He used the surgeons to take out the final pieces.  God does not make junk - our bodies are amazing and by the grace of God, they want to heal.

Before we went to my surgeons office for the "good news",  I was at my holistic scientist doctor.  She said that my body does not show any cancer degeneration, even in the smallest form.  My cells were rebuilding normally and my energy flows were perfect (has not happened ever in the last three months with my visits with her).  So I was already excited before we hit the surgeon's place.

Some of you may be thinking that I should have waited to see if I could have rid the cancer completely on my own and not have had the surgery.  No, I heard the small still voice that said to do the surgery and I will not doubt it now.  I also believe God provided very sound and wise counsel.  I believe God has me just where he wants me; there are so many opportunities to give Him glory!  I know that I am right in His will.  Plus the blessings which are too numerous to count tonight have definitely made it worth it!

My surgery is healing and I am up getting around.  I still can't drive and do alot of things, but who cares??? I am cancer free and feel great (except for the pain in my chest :)  You can pray for healing on my right breast so that I will not have to do another surgery.  It seems like such a minor prayer for all you incredible prayer warriors, but lift that one up for me.

My husband (and father-in-law) want to thank everyone for bringing the delicious meals.  Also thank you to my in-laws have been a God-send this week too.

Thank you all again for praying - daily, hourly, every time you thought of me . . . our God listens and answers.  Thank you Lord Jesus "Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.  My soul clings to you, your right hand upholds me."  Ps 63:7

Just hours before the knife . . .

Whew!  Everything is done . . . all the things on the list are crossed off . . .

Well almost.  I have one person I was trying to track down to clear my conscience with.  I felt God convict me of something that happened 4 years ago.  I tried hard to get a hold of her and she had moved, but it will just have to wait for a little bit.  God knows that I tried to make it happen, but she didn't return the call.

I have a peace about tomorrow - maybe not the days ahead, the pain, etc.  But the good thing about me is that I live one day at a time.  Tomorrow morning, say 4:30 a.m. I may not be so jolly, but tonight life is good.  We had a wonderful dinner and a pillow fight with the kids.  I gave tickles to the kids at bedtime and told them all how special they were.  I made lunches for Elements tomorrow (the kids will go to class without me).  A normal night . . .

Today I took all of my verses that you all have texted me, written me in cards, emailed me, facebooked me and all the verses God has given me and put them on index cards to take to the hospital.  I asked for more today on facebook and 39 people sent verses.  I have close to 100 index cards that God will use to speak truth to me.  Truly a gift of his word accessible in a time of need.  Thanks God for the inspiration this morning.  I knew my Bible would stay in the bag.  It is too heavy and I won't be able to hold it after tomorrow, but the index cards will have what I need, when I need it.

I actually feel perfectly normal today.  I feel the best I have felt in years because of the diet.  I don't feel sick in the least bit.  I definitely don't FEEL like I have cancer.  So the thought of waking up at 4:30 a.m. to go and have surgery for something I don't feel like I have is a bit surreal.  Really incredible actually!

I think I am going to mourn these breasts that are part of my identity.  When I was in Jr. High all over my yearbook you can't find my name.  Only nicknames:  "Dolly" "Jugs" "Boobs" "JJ" and more.  I was a very early bloomer.  I have spent half of my life hiding them and the other half connecting with them in breastfeeding.  What a gift from the Lord to connect with my kids!  So trying to look on the bright side . . . I will get new perky ones that I won't be able to feel.  Some say I can even slam them in door and I would never know.  Not a pretty picture if you ask me.  But the years of breastfeeding did take their toll so they will be lifted, reshaped and reborn.  Ah, the blessing of modern medicine!

I ask those of you to pray for me from 7:30 a.m. - noon tomorrow -Oct 7th. for:

1.  For courage and boldness in the hospital.
2.  For the surgeons as they perform their jobs and for my body to respond properly.
3.  For all those who care for me, grant them wisdom to know what is needed and how to help.
4.  For my family and friends comfort as they wait for news.
5.  For the surgery to be successful and that nothing has spread to tissue or lymphnodes.
6.  For a quick recovery at home and the ablity to detox soon.

Thank you for standing with me, friends!  For praying for me and encouraging me!

See you on the other side of surgery . . . Blessings!

What Cancer Cannot Do

This was sent to me by my sister - in- law, Amy:

What Cancer Cannot Do
Cancer is so limited . . .
It cannot cripple Love.
It cannot shatter Hope.
It cannot corrode Faith.
It cannot kill Friendship.
It cannot suppress Memories.
It cannot silence Courage.
It cannot invade the Soul.
It cannot steal Eternal Life.
It cannot conquer the Spirit.

For all of my friends battling these nasty things, remember how limited cancer is.

The steps of a man are established by the Lord;
And He delights in his way.
When he falls, he sall not be hurled head long;
because the Lord is the One who holds his hand.  Psalm 37:23-24

God is the great Healer!

There is such a satisfaction in working really hard and then seeing results, isn't there?


I wonder if God ever feels that way about us? . . . He works really hard in His sovereign, holy way at helping us become more Christ-like.  I wonder if He gets satisfaction from seeing results in us . . . 


For the last 6 weeks, I have been going to a holistic scientist who does a scan of my body with radio frequencies.  She tells me what is going on and then she administers treatments.  I love that she is the only person who was able to explain ALL of my 13 crazy symptoms I had (without ever seeing the list).  She has amazed me and I continue to believe that God is working through her.  Every time I see her she is always moving quickly and telling me that the cancer cells are metastasizing to other parts of my body.  This of course has not alway delighted me, but I know that these suckers do fight harder once you change their environment so I was not shocked.


Today is the first time that they are NOT active!!!! Whatever I am doing and God is doing in me (through so many of your prayers) is working!  Of course it is, right?  Why do I ever doubt that?  Today we actually got to work on the tumors present in my body and got to deal with things at hand without putting out fires elsewhere.  Yes, God is healing me.  He is good all the time!


Also another praise is that I met an oncologist who doesn't want to throw me on chemo right away.  She said she will even see me and be a lifelong friend and doctor to me, even if I reject traditional methods and stay my holistic route after surgery.  Wow!!  I was so excited to meet her that I could have kissed her!


As I am meeting all the doctors and so many people along this cancer road I am on,  I am reminded of the sermon at church on Sunday that Kenton Beshore, our pastor gave on Acts 3 and 4.  A quick summary:  John and Peter healed a lame man and got thrown into jail for it.  The leaders at the time did not know what to do with them because they gave Jesus all the glory and people were praising His name everywhere.  They let them go but told them don't ever speak the name of Jesus again.  HA!  Here is the prayer that they gave back at their home church:


“Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David. . . Indeed, Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed.  They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.  Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus"  Act. 4:24-30


This prayer has stuck with me ALL week!  First, they told God he was Sovereign and in charge basically.  I copy this prayer by agreeing with them.  God is sovereign and completely in charge of my journey.  I am grateful to be in His very capable hands.  Second, they asked for GREAT boldness!  They didn't pray for safety or comfort, but boldness.  Lord, let me have GREAT boldness with all the doctors, nurses, people I meet along this journey and bring you glory through it.  Lastly, they asked for God to perform miracles - not for them, but for others.  So Lord, I pray that you heal and perform miracles in others lives, not mine, but others so that they might know you!!!

Just to clarify though, it would be okay with me God if you did choose to heal me in a miraculous way too. . . that would be kind of fun.  But if not, I'll take the normal healing path and give you ALL the glory along the way because ultimately YOU are the Healer!

I found a restaurant!!!!

After eating weeks on a raw, organic diet, I have been bit challenged in the taste buds lately.

You see, I only eat green veggies, tomatoes, occasional carrot or bell peppers, seeds, sprouts, gabonzo beans, wheatgrass and a special cancer tea.  No fruit, no meat, no dairy, no wheat, flour, no sugar, no drinks . . . pretty simple.  This is the diet I learned at the Optimum Health Institute.  Once a week, I treat myself to a baked sweet potato or a cup of quinoa.  One day I broke down and had 20 dates!!!  That is the only sugar I have had for 6 weeks.

My diet is not that boring actually.  I have terrific friends who make me recipes from the Optimum Health Institute - dehydrated onion rings, sunflower crackers, "pizza", spagetthi with squash "noodles" and soups. I juice daily and I love my hummus and seed cheeses.  I get my protein from the sprouts and seeds.

This week I found a raw, organic restaurant in Costa Mesa that is AWESOME!  118 Degrees is the name of it and Chef Jenny Ross makes things taste amazing.  I know there is a little coconut oil or olive oil in some of the recipes, but for a once a week thing, it's okay.  So if anyone wants to go to lunch or dinner, we can!!!  Also, Bruce is getting me food from here when I am in the hospital and I can't wait!

Why the crazy diet?  I am still detoxing and trying to rid my body of cancer.  I do believe that once the cells know how to make cancer they will keep doing it, so I am trying to create a body that they don't like - alkaline, oxygen-filled, non-toxic, non-stressed and sugar-free.

My verse:  “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food."  Gen. 1:29