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.