We're back in AZ.

Hi Everyone, we're back in Arizona.  Things have been a little crazy so I haven't had to a chance to put some new updates.  I'll try to back fill some of the updates later tonight.  Dhondi

Church in Tijuana

We just wrapped up a small church service here in Tijuana, Mexico.  Lariate and I hosted 10 of our new friends in the community space for a time of prayer and scripture reading.

We began by acknowledging the Sovereignty of God in every situation (Romans 8:28-39).  We acknowledged that we are not here by accident or fate, but because of the gracious and powerful hand of our God who has led us here.  We took some time to proclaim God’s sovereign control over our illnesses and praise Him for the ways in which He has shown Himself powerful and in-control over this past week. 

Next, I shared the account of Jesus healing the paralytic in Mark 2:1-12.  We noted how Jesus—sensitive to this man’s physical needs and able to heal him —addresses this man’s greatest need.  2,000 years later, the question that Jesus poses to the scribes finds it’s relevance in our lives:  “Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise, take up your bed and walk'?” (v.9) 

Which is easier?  Physical healing?  Jesus Christ—who is God—can easily bring physical healing.  In this passage, He does it with a single verb;  “Rise!”  Oh, but how the shadow of the cross falls heavily upon our Savior as He considers the weightiness of saying “Your sins are forgiven.”  We praised God for the willingness of the Son to endure the road to Calvary, to suffer and die in our place, for our sins, as a willing substitute.  We praised God for salvation and acknowledged His ability to meet all of our needs—physical and spiritual.

We closed our time by praying for one another—for healing, comfort, strength, and joy.  Our God, who is faithful, has already begun to answer those prayers.  Rejoice with us!

On Mission in Mexico,
Dhondi & Lariate

The Power of Creativity

My mom sent me this video (see below) that shows how creativity is often the cure to hopeless circumstances.  We’ve found the same to be true here at the Gerson Clinic in Mexico.  After only one week , I can honestly say “I’m getting tired of the food.”  We’ve learned that the success of this therapy often depends on our willingness to be creative and experiment.  Each meal invites the possibility of combining vegetables, soups, and juices in new ways to make them more enjoyable.  If the Gerson Therapy is the cure to cancer, then creativity is the cure that makes Gerson enjoyable.

How to pray

We’ve had a few email requests for specific ways in which you—our friends—can be praying for us while we are here.  I wanted share some specific things you can be praying for:

• Please pray for our bodies as we adjust to this new regimen of fresh organic produce.  Yes, I said “our” bodies, I have to eat the same stuff as my wife.  =)
• Lariate is operating at about 70% of the full Gerson Therapy and is anxious to get on the full regimen.  Pray for patience for her and wisdom for the Doctors as they continually monitor her progress and response to the therapy.
• Pray that our time here will sharpen our awareness of how thoroughly God has already and always been at work in every detail of our life.
• Pray that our eyes will be open to the opportunities to serve others while we are down here.  Pray for creativity in this! 
• This weekend, we start planning for life at home.  Pray that we would have wisdom in how to arrange all these new activities into our already busy schedule with 3 small boys.
• Pray for God’s abundant provision of organic produce.
• Pray for peace and that we would continue to trust in Him.
• Pray for God’s miraculous healing of Lariate’s cancer.
• Lastly, pray that we would cherish Christ above all else and that our lives would be a testimony to the sufficiency of Christ in all things.

Thank you for your partnership in this trial.

Grace,
Dhondi

Peanut Butter & Jelly

There are many things in life that go well together:  Peanut Butter & Jelly, Chips and Salsa, beer and wings, etc. (If you think of others, leave them in the comment section below).  When it comes to healing the Gerson way, good nutrition and coffee enemas are two sides of the same coin.  Not only are coffee enemas good for a laugh ("With milk or sugar?"), but this bizarre-sounding treatment is very effective in stimulating the liver and expelling toxins from the body.

The enema has been called one of the oldest medical procedures still in use today.  Tribal women in Africa, and elsewhere, routinely use it on their children.  The earliest medical text in existence, the Egyptian Ebers Papyrus, (1,500 B.C.) mentions it.  Millennia before, the Pharaoh had a "guardian of the anus," a special doctor one of whose purposes was to administer the royal enema.  (would that be considered a royal flush?)

There is hardly a region of the world where people did not discover or adapt the enema.  In pre-revolutionary France a daily enema after dinner was de rigueur.  It was not only considered indispensable for health but practiced for good complexion as well.  Louis XIV is said to have taken over 2,000 in his lifetime.

But why coffee? This bean has an interesting history. It was imported in Arabia in the early 1500's by the Sufi religious mystics, who used it to fight drowsiness while praying.  It was especially prized for its medicinal qualities, in both the Near East and Europe. No one knows when the first daring soul filled the enema bag with a quart of java.  What is known is that the coffee enema appeared at least as early as 1917 and was found in the prestigious Merck Manual until 1972.  In the 1920s German scientists found that a caffeine solution could stimulate the liver and gall bladder to discharge bile.

Dr. Max Gerson used this clinically as part of a general detoxification regimen, first for tuberculosis, then cancer. Gerson noted some remarkable effects of this procedure. For instance, patients could dispense with all pain-killers once on the enemas.  Many people have noted the paradoxical calming effect of coffee enemas. 

If you would like to learn more about coffee enemas, you can click here.  For now, it’s time for another “coffee break.”

Grace,
Dhondi

Why We Are Here

This morning, I spent some time remembering the road that led us here.  I thought it would be good to share it with you so that you know we are not here by accident, fate, or circumstance.

When my wife was first diagnosed with Cancer, everything in life seemed to speed up.  With only days in between Dr. visits, it was impressed upon us that time was critical and our available options grim.  Neither of us had any relevant experience with Cancer nor had we witnessed first hand the suffering a cancer patient goes through.  Not knowing what to do, we simply began to pray:  “Lord, comfort and lead your servants thru this trial.”

Truth guided and protected our hearts during those first few days.  We know that God is in control, that He loves us, and that the Sovereign King can heal in a instant.  We also know there is not an authoritative chapter on cancer treatment buried in the pages of the Old Testament and therefore, we prayed again:  “Lord, give us wisdom and guide our path.”

God is Sovereign; He can heal thru any means.  We looked into every option—both allopathic and alternative—and kept all of the doors open.  We met with different oncologists, a radiologist, surgeon, nutritionist, and counseled with friends and family.  We faxed in applications, researched on the internet, and asked for referrals.  After two weeks of intensive reading, studying, and praying, there were many options laid before us.  We were not ready to shut any doors and asked God once again to lead us:  “Lord, make our path straight; close the doors You don’t want us to pursue and lead us towards Your will.”

Boy, did He lead us!

• On August 8th, we received the full picture of Lariate’s diagnosis:  Stage II A Rectal Cancer. 
• On August 11th, we completed our application to the Gerson Clinic and learned we needed one additional lab analysis.  After speaking with our Doctor, we found this lab and results could take up to two weeks.
• On August 12th, our Doctor called and said the lab results were in and we could pick them up on Monday morning. 
• On August 15th, we picked up the lab results and faxed in our completed application.  We were enthusiastically accepted by the Gerson Clinic doctors that same day and told we could start on September 10th.
• That afternoon, we had our first radiation dry run.  This is a procedure that involves making marks on Lariate’s body, taking a reference CAT Scan, and lining up the machine to start radiation the following Monday.
• That night, we went to The Healing Room.  Lariate made a connection with Cathy Holder, a former students’ mother and Special Ed teacher turned nutritional consultant.  Cathy’s journey gave wisdom and confirmation to the path we were considering in Gerson Therapy. 
• On August 18th, our oncologist (chemo doctor) called to inform us that he was sick and could not see us for 2 weeks.  We rescheduled with another oncologist, Dr. Paul.
• On August 22nd, Lariate’s radiation treatment was scheduled to start but was postponed a week because we had not met with our oncologist.  Chemo and radiation therapies are supposed to start in tandem.
• On August 26th, we met with our new oncologist, Dr. Paul.  We presented him with the information we had gathered about the Gerson Therapy.  Although he did not endorse this path of treatment, he did agree to oversee Lariate’s care, follow ups, and order the tests needed for follow up by the Gerson Clinic.  He also informed us of a national shortage of the needed Chemo-therapy drug, 5FU that would prevent us from immediately starting chemo.
• On August 29th, the morning our radiation was scheduled to start, we received a call that their radiation machine was broken and we could not start that day.  We did not re-schedule.
• On September 7th, we met with our surgeon, Dr. Kim to share the road so far.  Like Dr. Paul, he did not endorse Gerson Therapy, but was supportive of our decision and presented us with alternative surgical options that would be minimally invasive should we require them while on the therapy.
• On September 8th, my parents arrived back in town from Nova Scotia to oversee the care of our children and we departed for San Diego on the 9th.

So, why are we here?  The Sovereign King has led us here.  We are encouraged by this cancer treatment path that strengthens and restores our immune response.  However, our confidence is anchored in the God who heals and we know that He has led us to this place.  We are not seeking a miraculous cure (although that would be exciting), rather we are trusting in the journey and to know His purposes for us in this place.

We are aware that many of the patients here need more than just physical healing.  They need hope.  They need to be set free from the cage of fear that cancer often places us in.  To that end, we believe that God has sent us here here as missionaries first, and as patients second.  We ask that you would pray for us to that end—that the good news of Jesus Christ will bring about spiritual renewal, hope, and remove the sting of death.

At the end of each day, the Spirit gives us strength to utter one last prayer:  “If it pleases the King to heal the Servant and receive the Glory, then let it be done according to Your will.” 

Trusting in Him,
Dhondi

Workday in support of Team Lariate

September is the time to plant and the work has already begun at 401 N Beverly Way.  The three young Wieglets (Calvin, Jonathan, and David) have donned their working gloves and started digging garden beds at Grandma & grandpa’s house  in support of Team Lariate. Fresh organic produce is the cornerstone of Lariate’s cancer treatment (click here to find out more).

If you are interested in helping out, there is going to be a workday this Saturday (Sep 17) to remove sod and prepare the sites.  Breakfast is provided.  Please contact Jim & Judy Wiegel for more information and to RSVP.

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Healing Reactions

One of the common things you’ll hear people talk about down here at the Gerson Clinic are “healing reactions.”  Healing reactions are temporary symptoms that occur only on deep healing regimens in which the body retraces or goes back and heals old infections, wounds, injuries, or other imbalances from the past.  Many are related to eliminating toxic substances, healing chronic infections, or metabolic shifts that take place as a body heals and its vitality increases.

Healing reactions are an essential feature of all true and deep healing methods. They can be unpleasant and rarely are frightening. However, they are welcome signs of healing. If they did not occur, one may presume that a healing method is only offering symptomatic relief, not true healing of the underlying cause.

I had my first healing reaction yesterday.  To be clear, I’m not the patient.  My wife, Lariate, is the patient.  But as her companion, I’m limited to the same diet of fresh organic produce as she enjoys along with fresh juices at mealtime.  As my body starts to take in all of this nutrients and vitamins, it begins to expel toxins.  I’m assuming it was the build up of these toxins that brought on my first “healing reaction.”  It occurred after a short walk on the beach.  I began to have flu-like symptoms (body aches, nausea, loss of appetite).  I ate a little fruit, drank some tea, and took a nap.  Today, I feel much better. 

It’s these kinds of bouts that can be common when healing the Gerson way.  Other bouts may include depression (since the brain itself is an organ that is healing).  At times, “healing reactions” become the butt of many jokes over our long mealtime conversations with the friends we’ve met.  But each of these reactions are welcomed when they arrive, and celebrated when they depart.

If you’re interested or want to learn more about the Gerson therapy, click here.  If you have any questions, leave them in the comment section below.

In His Grip,
Dhondi

72 hours

This mid-morning marked 72 hours since our arrival. It’s been a lot to take in but extremely slow-paced at times (Probably feels so slow to me because it is not typical for me to have “down” time and now I am saturated with it).

Saturday was everything new…exams, doctor consultations, explanations of my “Hourly Schedule for Clinica Nutricion y Vida” with my supplement pill-box, introductions, getting settled in our room, instant diet change, & a restless night
Sunday, our first morning, was  met with oatmeal, fruit, and fresh squeezed o.j. Yummy!!! I fumbled up my supplements and at one point was utterly confused about what I’d done. We both struggled through abdominal irritation. We met more patients and shared stories and learned, “we are all in this together.” I feel like I am amongst family. The day ended with another restless night. (Humph! Isn’t rest a big part of this healing process?)

Yesterday, was difficult with abdominal discomfort and soreness. I consulted with Dr. Ramos who listened, examined and assured me that my body was intelligent and was letting me know what it was up to. I felt cared for, reassured, and helped by the “castor oil pack with warm compress” he advised. How soothing it was. We left the clinic for a walk to the beach with another patient and companion. It was refreshing and relaxing…we even made it back within the hour to receive our next juice at the top of the hour.

My vitals are taken twice every day and it is joke around here that the kitchen staff delivering hourly juices and doctors and nurses making their rounds will ALWAYS find you. You cannot hide from them! Last night, Dhondi darted behind the couch when he saw nurse Sergio coming. I was inspired…I think I will literally try to hide from him next time he does rounds. The medical staff is kind, abundant, available, attentive, and light-hearted.

Save money, buy groceries!

I just found a deal online that allows you to buy a $20 gift card for Whole Foods markets for only $10. If you regularly shop there, this is a great deal for you. If you do not regularly shop there, consider buying us one. Once we return to AZ, Lariate will need to be consuming 140lbs of fresh organic product each week.

Here’s the link: https://livingsocial.com/deals/123805?ref=conf-jp&rpi=27463911

Additionally, if you know of any other ways for us to save money on fresh organic produce (it has to be 100% organic), please share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Thanks for being a part of Team Lariate.

Grace, Dhondi.

In a different country

Arriving here, only two blocks away from the ocean, instantly brought me back to time spent in Morocco and Maui. I associate all these experiences by their similar climates, being able to walk short distances to the ocean, and the fact that life, in this climate, dictates open windows. I enjoy hearing life going on around me in a different language. I enjoy looking out our second story window and seeing the ocean on the horizon. I enjoy peeking out the window occasionally to see (although we hear it all the time) the activities at the car wash adjacent the clinic. I enjoy the cool breezes that blow thru. The green growth and tropic plants are lively. This clinic, which we shall call home for two weeks, is a different way of life, but one I am finding relaxing.

Lariate

Why blog?

I wanted to take a few minutes and share with you one of the reasons why I put this blog together.  When my wife was first diagnosed with cancer, we looked into every treatment option available.  On the allopathic side (conventional therapies), there is a lot of “statistics, evidence, and documented scientific research” to support the case that chemo/radiation/surgery is a well traveled and reliable road.  However, when looking into alternative therapies, I had a hard time finding relevant stories, updated pictures and documentation to support a decision to pursue an alternative treatment.  We had read through Healing the Gerson Way.  The book was helpful, but did not answer all of our questions.

Our questions were simple:  What does the Gerson clinic look like?  Where will we be staying?  Can I drive my car?  I wanted to be able to talk to someone who had been down this road before and hear first hand what it was like.  Through prayer and the gracious hand of God, we found what we were looking for.  We had the opportunity to meet Sharlene, a beautiful and hope filled gal that graciously came to our home, shared her story with us, and described her Gerson journey.  She gave us the tools to start off right and the incentive to pursue this further.  This was such a blessing to us.

I hope that this blog can do that for someone else who may be looking into, wondering about, or even considering Gerson Therapy.  You may have simple questions like we did, or more advanced ones.  Feel free to use the comment section below and we’ll get back to you.   As we share our story, we hope you will find the encouragement you need to take your next step.

Gerson Clinic Walking Tour

After a day…

It’s been a full 24 hours since we checked into the Gerson Clinic in Baja, MX.  We’ve met a lot of wonderful patients at the clinic.  In all, there are 8 patients, and about another 8-12 companions along for the journey (some have family in town visiting for the weekend).  Many of the patients have stage 4 cancer, ALL of them are filled with hope, beauty, and excitement.  Each of them have been eager to share what they’ve learned with us, even though some have only arrived days prior.

• Put some honey on your rye toast, it makes a great desert.
• Scoop your baked potato into the “special soup” to add flavor and texture.
• They limit you to one teaspoon of brown sugar in your oatmeal, but they don’t say how much you can pile onto that teaspoon.
• Use chamomile tea as a chaser for your green drink.
• Tell yourself “This tastes great!” before each meal.  it' helps.  after about 3 days, your body will begin to like the meals--except for “the soup.

Lastly, the most frequent thing we’ve heard is “This is BETTER!”  A lot of the patients we’ve met have endured conventional surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation.  Everyone agrees, this is a better path.  I’m looking forward to getting to know our new “graduating class of 2011.” 

Grace,

Dhondi

Healing the Gerson Way

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Gerson, here we come!!

Right from the start, we feel blessed.  We have wonderful family, wonderful children, wonderful friends, wonderful community, wonderful church, and each other.  This journey is already bursting at the seems with blessings. 

One of those blessings was the drive over here.  From Tolleson to San Diego, we encounter NO traffic.  The whole way, it felt like we were following this big cloud that kept us in the shade.  When we woke up this morning, we made haste to the border and—thanks to Google earth—made our way to the clinic as if we’d been several times before.  (I spent hours flying over the route in Google earth, checking out the landmarks, and experiencing the street view). 

We arrived at the clinic and were greeted by the patient director who is very friendly and nice.  After breakfast, he gave us a quick tour, told us what to expect, and then we got started.  First a chat with the doctor, then a quick physical for Lariate and an EKG, then juice, then another juice, then lunch, then juice, then another….well, more on this later.  For now, we are enjoying the BEAUTIFUL weather and relaxing. 

We’ve got a lot to learn and we’ll fill you all in shortly.  Thank you for your prayers.

Grace, Dhondi.

Everything Causes cancer?

We arrived safely in San Diego.  Our goal was to rest up and enjoy a night alone together before starting Gerson Therapy.  Since we were staying in the famed downtown gaslamp district, we decided to walk to dinner at the Yard House.  Once inside, we were greeted with a friendly sign which reads: 

WARNING:  Chemicals known to the state of California to cause cancer, or birth defects, or other reproductive harm may be present in the foods or beverages sold or served here.

We chuckled at the irony of this.  it seems like everything is attributed to cancer (what you eat, what you don’t eat, cell phones, water, etc).  As a result, it’s easy to think that our cancer is a fluke, a random occurrence, luck of the draw, etc.  We know and trust in the Lord’s sovereignty and we believe this cancer is a part of the story that He wants to tell thru our lives.  This blog, therefore, is not our story, but His story.  We invite you to listen to and participate in God’s story as it unfolds in our lives thru our present circumstance.

Because He Lives,

Dhondi & Lariate Wiegel

Update

Hello family and friends,

Dhondi and I continue to place our hope in the eternal promises of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is our strength, our wisdom, our healer and the place of our faith.

I personally have been encouraged by Matthew 11: 28-30 as we continue on this journey of faith. This past month has been so overwhelming and detailed and urgent and Jesus urges me to "Come to Me all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest." In the past week alone this passage has been spoken to me three times in different setting thru different people. I so need that "rest for your souls" as Jesus states.

Monday, August 22 was the scheduled start date for radiation. Radiation has been "postponed" by our choosing and Monday night my dear husband stated it was time I remove the water-resistant patches covering the three radiation target-marks spread across my abdomen. "No need to keep them if that's not the route we are choosing." We shall cancel radiation at some point.

Chemotherapy treatment was intended to start alongside radiation, however, the Lord willed the cancelling of our consultation last week due to doctor illness (we know nothing of his condition, but we pray for his healing). We were wavering as to cancel or not cancel that appointment... the Lord made known clearly His plan for that day. Rescheduling wouldn't be for two weeks out contingent on the doc's recovery, so we stated we would get back with them later about that. As of now we do not plan to consult in that direction.

To detail the journey with all the intricacies of God's guiding hand thru exploring cancer treatment options would take more time than I am available to give right now. In short, Dhondi and I have graciously been lead to choosing the Gerson Therapy as the cancer treatment option best for our family. Who knew!? It's a strange place to be in sitting here typing to a crowd of loved ones that my husband and I are peaceably residing in a decision of "natural" cancer treatment rather than orthodox oncology.

However strange it feels to go "against" traditional treatment we declare that our hope is secure in the power and purpose of Jesus to heal! We cannot in any way trump God's plan for healing by choosing "this or that" treatment plan. Psalm 139:16 "All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to pass" reminds me always of that.

We have been reading and researching and praying our way thru this journey. Some of the encouraging aspects of the Gerson Therapy we have come to understand are that it addresses the entire organism (the body) to stimulate it to do the very thing God intended our bodies to do. This is from page 62 of Healing the Gerson Way, “Where Gerson most clearly diverged from orthodox oncology was his realization that, in cancer, the tumor is NOT the disease, only the symptom of the underlying breakdown of the body’s systems; in other words, cancer is not a thing (i.e., the tumor) but a process involving the entire organism.” We are humbled as we delve into a deeper understanding of our bodies, and cancer itself, and realize how deeply intricate and crafted we are by God our Creator. Our immune systems are created to detect these mutant cells that our own body makes, and are probably 99.9% just like all the other cells in our body, and destroy them. Sadly, the body of the cancer patient is not doing this life sustaining task. We are encouraged to work toward detoxifying my body and enabling my immune responses to be restored and foster healing to the point that the life threat (cancerous tumor) is broken down.

This is the war we are declaring on my cancer, and like any war, we have a lot of preparation to do in order to be effective in the fight. This cancer treatment is strategic and intense and will require the the help of many who are willing to become part of Lariate's cancer treatment team. Dhondi and I are scheduled to check into the clinic in Tijuana, Mexico on September 10th. We will stay for two weeks (minimum allowed) and begin the intense regime of healing that we must learn and carry out for two years. We will come home and take a week without the children to get accustomed to the new regiment in our home while simultaneously working out the quantities of organic produce needed to sustain this treatment, finalize schedule details with our volunteer "cancer treatment team members" and hopefully begin to train some of those who will be singing-up for once-a-month shifts to aid in our kitchen.

I invite any of you interested in understanding the road ahead of us to read, Healing the Gerson Way. Again we declare, this is not our hope! It is a part of the journey of healing God has laid before us, just as chemotherapy, radiation, surgery is for some as well. We are not, and never will, rely on Gerson's wisdom to manifest our healing, that is the work of Jehovah Rapha, The Lord who heals (Exodus 15:26). In reading this book, however, you will better understand the totality of this regime, how and why it works in the body. We need you all to be an advocate of encouragement to my family and I as we may weary but shall not discontinue...for this is war...and gosh darn it doing nothing about cancer is not an option.

I do want to take a moment and say thank you to all of you who have sent and forwarded your contacts, stories and connections regarding treatments and dear ones who have experienced the war on cancer. We have read all, considered and looked into and saved each name and phone number sent to us. Thank you also for the letters and cards of encouragement, your prayers, every loving text, every loving voice mail, each email and again your never ending prayers. Your love and kindness to me in this most darkest shadow of fear and turmoil have been life giving. Don't ever stop praying. I know it has made a difference in me...my circumstances have not changed, my trial is ever before me, but God's power is being perfected in my weakness and I am stronger now than I was just weeks ago. What a journey and all of you play a part and we appreciate the puzzle pieces you have sent our way that have pieced together the path up till now.

Thank you so dearly for partnering in this difficult journey with us.

In His grip,
Lariate

Where it all began...

Dear Family and Friends,

We wanted to take some time to share with you what God has been doing in our lives through a present struggle. In sharing this, we want you to know that we are confident that God is good and that He will--in all things, both joy and sorrow--accomplish His perfect will and our eventual joy. Some of you will be hearing about our trial for the first time. We want you to know that we are confident in the Lord that this trial comes from Him and that He is in complete control. For others, this will be the first of many updates on how God is using this trial for His glory and our joy.

Lariate, my wife, has cancer. Specifically, she has Stage IIA Rectal Cancer.

On July 21^st, Lariate had her first colonoscopy—the result of a concern that our family doctor shared. During the colonoscopy, the doctor found a mass which was biopsied and later diagnosed as invasive Adenocarcinoma. We met with a G.I. Surgeon, Dr. Eugene Kim, on August 1^st. He is not an oncologist, rather he specializes in colorectal surgery. He was kind, knowledgeable, insightful, and provided us with the picture of what we are dealing with. Dr. Kim sent us off to obtain a PET Scan and a special type of ultra sound. The results from these procedures indicated that Lariate’s cancer had not metastasized (spread), had not invaded the lymph nodes, and had penetrated into the outer wall of her colon, but not thru. For those of you who are medically inclined, this means that Lariate’s cancer is Stage IIA (T3, N0, M0).

“Rectal cancer is treatable.” These are the confident words of the Radiation Oncologist we met with on August 10^th. There is a standard treatment for rectal cancer in America which involves Chemotherapy, Radiation therapy, and surgery. There is a good prognosis for a full recovery but equally a risk of severe and lasting side effects. Presently, we are scheduled to begin treatment on August 22^nd. The three-pronged attack will consist of 5 ½ weeks of Chemotherapy AND Radiation. This will be followed by 6 weeks of rest to recover from the side effects of these powerful treatments and then surgery will be scheduled to remove the tumor. During surgery, a six inch section of Lariate’s Colon will be removed and the remaining colon re-attached. Lariate’s small intestines will be re-routed to an opening in her abdomen and she will use a colostomy bag for approximately 10 weeks while she recovers from surgery. A second surgery will follow to re-attach her small intestine to the large intestine (colon). She will then follow surgery with ongoing chemotherapy—for up to 1 year.

We are reading and learning all that we can about our options, trusting in Jesus's peace to guide us to the path that will be most beneficial for us. We believe in God and we know He is the one who heals. We also believe that God is not limited to a specific treatment plan and that He can use any means we choose. It is from this conviction that we feel a sense of peace to pursue alternative treatment options. We envision a treatment plan that would work by boosting Lariate’s immune system to do the very thing God created it to do, rather than chemotherapy which depletes and weakens the immune system and can have permanent and damaging side effects. These types of treatments are referred to as Alternative Therapies.

Alternative Cancer Therapies refer to products and practices that are not generally considered part of conventional medicine. According to the 2007 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), more than one-third of adults (about 38 percent) have used some form of Alternative Therapy in the treatment of cancer. About 40 percent of cancer survivors reported using some form of Alternative Therapy and 18 percent reported using multiple Alternative therapies (taken from National Institutes of Health, www.nih.gov) .

Below are some of the Alternative Therapies that we are currently researching. We invite you to share your stories, thoughts, and wisdom with us as we continue on this journey.

Alternative Cancer Therapies that we are investigating:

· GcMAF – Because cancer sends out an enzyme that neutralizes your immune fighting capabilities, GcMAF is used to trigger our immune response to cancer. Dr. Nobuto Yamamoto has shown that laboratory preparation and injections of GcMAF bypasses the cancer's deactivation process and allows your immune system to attack the cancer. This procedure has resulted in 100 percent cure rates for 4 to 7 years, the length of the studies to date. (See how GcMAF works)

· Gerson Therapy – A powerful, natural treatment that boosts your body's own immune system to heal cancer and many other diseases. The Gerson Therapy is a highly regimented diet that is high in vitamins, minerals, enzymes, micro-nutrients, extremely low in sodium and fats, and rich in fluids. Most of the vitamins and minerals needed come directly from juicing fresh fruits and vegetables. There are also frequent detoxifications of tissues and blood thru the use of enemas that stimulate the liver and bile ducts. Click here for a short video.

· Naturopathy – Just like it sounds: A combination of diet, herbal teas, and supplements. We have spoken to a few individuals here in Arizona who have had good success treating their cancer through a combination of natural herbs and supplements. One clinic we have been looking into is Arizona Integrative Medical Center. They have recently opened a new Cancer Treatment Center.

· Dichloroacetic Acid (DCA) – Normal cells have a mechanism in them that detects abnormality in cell reproduction and causes the cell to destroy itself if it’s DNA is corrupt. In Cancer cells, this mechanism is turned off allowing the cells to continue to replicate unchecked. DCA has been shown to turn on the mitochondria of cancer cells, allowing them to commit “cellular suicide.” Learn More.

We welcome any feedback or thoughts you have on these treatments or any other treatments (standard or alternative). Please respond via email. It seems like the more we read and learn, the more options we find available. This gives us hope. Along with your wisdom, and the Grace of Jesus Christ, we are ready to fight!

Sincerely,

Dhondi & Lariate Wiegel