It’s been two years since my journey with cancer began.
What started out in Mexico with discovering a small but dense bump where my lymph nodes lay was followed by multiple visits with medical experts whose diagnosis preceded an intensely emotional and physical full spectrum journey that fully consumed me over the next many, many months ahead. It was an unparalleled experience. An experience for which ( even at its worst ) I am still grateful. Today, two years later, and in the Spirit of Giving Thanks, I am still in the “All Clear” status, and am no less moved to continue expressing my gratitude for the unimaginable community support I received, and the wisdom journey on which I was taken. To all of you, nearby and far away…those whom I know and have yet to meet, your kindness, your support and your generosity is reflected upon constantly (and honestly, it still overwhelms me). You cared for me, supported me, encouraged me, rooted for me and held prayer circles for me. The way you, as a community, came to my aide, and to my support was my lifeline - and your love was my lifeline’s thickest strand. Thank you for believing in me. When first diagnosed (going on Stage 4) I radically changed my diet: I dropped wheat, meat, coffee, sugar, alcohol, dairy and grains. In doing so, I became alkaline, and then…my asthma evaporated! For the first time in decades I found myself back on the trails, running again, with a fully expansive set of lungs…and I have been running ever since. And, to-date, I am also back in the gym, and I still hyper “nutritionize” my body with my juice cocktails of turmeric, ginger, celery, beets, carrots, lemon, green apple, romaine lettuce and wheatgrass. Supplementing my health continues to include a dynamic range of antioxidants as well as anti-cancer herbs (Artemesia, Andrographis) and CBD/THC…and faith. So, as such, I am grateful to report that again this month’s latest MRI (scan) came back with squeaky clean results and continues to reveal that I am cancer free. This I can attribute to the many ways I approached cancer – from the traditional to the non-traditional. I changed my diet and I exercised every day - regardless of how terrible I felt. I researched and underwent some excellent alternative clinical treatment involving herbs and intravenously delivered antioxidants, I was juicing 8 pounds of vegetables a day and taking up to 40 different supplements a day, including a wide range of medicinal mushrooms. I was also gifted a significant amount of medical grade, organic THC/CBD, which is still part of my daily regime. But perhaps the biggest piece of self-care came in the form of these five words, five words offered up by a stranger, five words by which I lived and, confessedly, at times struggled to remember, but ultimately these five words persevered: “Don’t take on the diagnosis”. From the beginning I told my self that I was not going to die from this diagnosis, I was not going to die from this - I was going to live from this! Aliveness is all I have, and no amount of fear was going to get in the way of embracing my aliveness. So whomever you are, and wherever you are in your life, integrate the essence of those five words…and live by them. They apply to everything in life. Simply put: Don’t let your story own you, especially when it comes to disease. Disease is opportunistic – so seize the opportunity, or it will seize you. And remember to take care of yourself, remember to embrace your aliveness…your spirit, your soul, your being. And remember, you are only as healthy as your last meal. Life is sweet, life is short: Youth wisely and age beautifully. My thanks for you is eternal. Martin/Dragonfly Author - Martin Andrew Link to original Post - https://www.facebook.com/Martin.DJDragonfly/posts/10213720002330766 |
ArchivesCategories |