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View Full Version : Hello from Albuquerque - Sorry, a little long



Jack
08-22-2007, 11:03 PM
Well, I've been lurking for about a week and I was so touched by the encouraging spirit that each of you share with one another I decided I wanted to come into the garden.

I'm soon to be 48, happily married to Bill, a police officer, and mother to Adam 26, a navigator in the air force and Sara 25, a police officer and now currently completing her degree in criminal justice.

I've known for a long time that I need to take off about 50lbs and revise my eating habits but knowing and doing are two different things. I work as a production coordinator for feature films so when I'm working I don't really have a life and I don't cook. We have a caterer that provides all our food and not all of it is healthy. My days are, on the average, 14 hours in pre-production and upwards of 16 hours when we're shooting. Eating healthy is next to impossible and exercise is a rarity. While on my last show I purchased Natalia Rose's book "The Raw Food Detox Diet," and found it very interesting though the food combining is a little confusing at first.

Ten days ago a suspicious spot in my mammogram sent me to a wonderful Breast Doctor who is very pro-active and a supporter of a diet that is close to 75% raw. After setting me up for additional tests and an appointment with an oncologist she mentioned, almost in passing, about Natalie's book. My doctor told me that even if the tumor is benign that I need to make a lifestyle change and I need to do it "today." My family history puts me at high risk for breast cancer and my younger sister (by 10 yrs) is currently in stage III breast cancer. My mother, grandmother and great grandmother have all had breast cancer and are all survivors. My great grandmother got breast cancer at 35 and still lived to be nearly 90 years old. The prognosis does not look so good for my sister but God can and does still work miracles so we've not given up hope.

I started my raw journey almost two weeks ago and although I not completely raw (I still steam carrots and broccoli and sweet potatoes) I'm getting closer each day. My problem is I'm not feeling that well. I seem to have a slight sinus infection, a scratchy throat and though not severe, an annoying headache...and I'm soooo tired. I guess a little of this could be from stress, or the fact that I just finished an extremely difficult show and was away from home for 3 months but then again, some people have mentioned it could just be the detoxing. Whatever it is, I hope it passes soon.

My biopsy is tomorrow and though it's not looking good at the moment, I know prayer can change everything and I have a great support team. (even though they think I'm a little nuts about the raw food diet they're happy if the doctors think it will help the cancer). My sister is in Germany and I need to fly over there for her surgery so I'm hoping everything goes well for me here so I can be of help to her.

So that's pretty much it...sorry for being long winded but it feels kinda good to get all of that off my chest and share with others. Thanks for listening.:)

I'm looking forward to visiting the garden often.

Blessings of Shalom,

Karen AKA Jack

Evie
08-22-2007, 11:29 PM
Welcome! I mostly "lurk" at this forum. It is a great place.

I live in Moriarty. It is great to "see" another person from my area on this board. Good luck with your health issues. I personally know someone who was healed from Cancer eating a raw vegan diet. It is a great lifestyle choice.

Good Luck

Carla

spicyfull
08-23-2007, 12:30 AM
I wish you everything you need to Stay RAW.........Welcome to MY World.

ChaiLife
08-23-2007, 08:43 AM
Karen (or do you prefer Jack?),

Welcome to the garden. :) Congratulations on your journey to health. The problems you are mentioning are classic signs of detox. Your body is trying to get rid of some of the crud. It's part of the process. Just hang in there.

Regarding the tumor and breast cancer, you may want to read an incredible book called The China Study. It has some unbelievable information that could solidify your decision to eat raw.

Looking forward to getting to know you on the board!
Kelly

lafsalot
08-23-2007, 10:36 AM
Hi Karen, and welcome aboard!! I know firsthand what you are going through, and can attest to the effectiveness and healing powers of raw. You might also want to check out Revvell's interview with Mike Anderson, and upcoming one with Dr. Ruth Heldrich at http://www.bigmediausa.com/show.asp?sid=420. Feel free to e-mail me anytime ~ Cathy

Judy
08-23-2007, 11:18 AM
Hi Karen,

Welcome on board. I wish you a lot of strength, and your sister as well.
Sending prayers your way,

Judy

StarFire
08-23-2007, 03:54 PM
AloooHAaaa and Welcome to RFT JACK!!! RAWK ON!! Amazing testimony. Thank you so much for sharing with us about your family and your back ground! (and never worry about being long winded... I think I'm the gabbiest blogger on the site ~ and so far they haven't kicked me to the curb ~ lol!! well.... yet that is! ;) :D )

blessings on your journey.... I know that the raw and vibrant foods will make a wonderful difference in your health in time. If you don't have Alissas book - I highly recommend it! Alissas book and DVD made my transformation to raw lifestyle so easy, fun and delicious.... I've never looked back!

I pray your check up and test will go wonderfully... I pray that you will be covered in light and love ... and that everything will be okay. blessings Jack.... and I really look forward to getting to know you!!

Please keep us posted and let us know how everything is going. Oh - and before I forget -- healing to your family too....

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s43/FireStar_830/welcome.gif

Jack
08-23-2007, 04:17 PM
Thank you everyone for the warm reception. The biopsy procedure went very well and the doctor inserted a titanium tag to make finding the tumor easier when they do surgery. Why they didn't just take it out now, I'm not sure but I feel as if they are taking very good care of me. I'm very sore but no worse for wear.

Evie - It's good to know you're close by and that you've been lurking as well. :D

Spicyfull - Thank you! I think I will enjoy your world.. ;)

Chailife - Karen or "Jack" is fine. Jack is just a nickname and I wasn't sure how much I would be posting....Thank you for the info on the detoxing..I was a little concerned I was doing something wrong or just had bad timing. It's good to know that this is part of the process and from what I'm hearing it's always a little different for everyone. I will definitely seek out "The China Study," as I want to know all my options for being and staying healthy. Thank you!!

Lafsalot - Thank you for the information - I feel like an information junkie lately but I'm not complaining. My sister is miserable on chemo and dreading the radiation therapy but her doctors have not talked to her about changing her diet so I feel like I'm learning for both of us right now. I will certainly take you up on your offer to email, thank you, Cathy.

Judy - Thank you, I appreciate the prayers.

StarFire - Thank you for such an energetic "aloha, " I love it! I do have Alissa's book, purchased a juicer (which is awesome but I'm still a little slow at it) ordered a dehydrator and shopping for both a food processor and a mandoline - I enjoy being in the kitchen but just haven't done it a lot so I have a great deal to learn. I also purchased Ann Wigmore's book on sprouting which has been very helpful.

You're all very kind and gracious and I look forward to searching out information on all the various threads. It's amazing the number of people that visit this site. Thank you all again.

Blessings of Shalom,

Jack

ChaiLife
08-23-2007, 04:25 PM
Jack,

DO check out the China Study. It is one of the most amazing books that really solidified my commitment to raw.

Blessings and shalom on raw. :)

Kelly