Tuesday, MAY 29

Tuesday,  May 29, 2012

We had a fairly good weekend.  Actually, it was more than fairly good, considering how badly Leland felt while doing the power dosing for 10 days, which ended last Thursday.  He seems to retain a low level of nausea, which gets more pronounced when he needs to eat;  makes  it a little hard to face a large salad at lunch time!

He was feeling well enough on Sunday to do some weeding in the raspberries.  Today he did a few chores as well, and has been feeling well enough to “fly” his Flight Simulator and watch a movie or two, which does not seem like much unless comparing with this time last week. 

We lead a very quiet very scheduled life at the present, grateful for the peace we have and the ability to walk down the road three times per day and eat well.

I still continue my research and study into nutrition and cancer, have learned much, some of which I will share in the future in small doses : ). 

Thank you so very much Kathy, for coming over on Sunday and helping me get the lettuce, chard, cabbage and broccoli planted.  It would probably still be in the GH without you!

3 Miles Today

We are mid week already, and things have changed again for which we are thankful!  In speaking to Dr. D yesterday, he assured us that the reactions Leland was having are normal, expected and encouraging.  It is easy to be optimistic when things are going well, and he has some energy; it is more of a challenge when he is feeling sick and weak for 3 days in a row.

Yesterday was better, and on the spur of the moment, we took off to Yakima Cost Co to buy a blood pressure cuff so we can monitor his blood pressure during this detoxification period and make sure nothing is getting out of hand.  We are very grateful for Dr. Ds oversight, sound counsel and expertise especially when things are outside our realm of experience. It was a good trip, Leland felt strong enough to drive the whole way while I read to him.  It was really nice to have him along, as initially I thought I would have to go by myself.

Fighting cancer in this way requires a rigid schedule of rising, supplements, fresh juicing, meals on time , and walking as some supplements and meds must be taken on an empty stomach. It also requires very careful thought and study in meal planning in order to get the nutrition needed without feeding the cancer which basically means NO sugar and NO refined foods of any kind. It also means restrictions on the kinds and amounts of fruit, no more than one or two servings per day of low sugar, low vitamin c and low glycemic fruit. Two is really pushing it! I think the restriction on fruit is the most difficult to deal with, as it has always been a staple in our household.

Today he has been a little more tired than yesterday, but walked all the way to the mailboxes and back (1.4 miles round trip)  this am, which is probably twice as far as he was able to do over the weekend. We went  just 20 minutes after lunch which was probably only ½ a mile,  but before supper tonight, we will go to the mail box again to pick up the mail making more than 3 miles for today. 

We are grateful for the many blessings we have, family, friends, neighbors, all of whom assure us often they are keeping us in their prayers.  “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”, even deal with stage IV cancer.

A Rough Weekend

A Rough Weekend

These last three days have probably been the most difficult to date.  Leland has been taking an increased dose of his meds on Dr. Dan’s recommendation, and it is making him feel pretty rough.  Our lives are absolutely turned upside down, every plan and project we had for the summer is on indefinite hold, and we are not sure what to expect from one day to the next. Sometimes, I just don’t know how to do this. 

 A good friend gave me a wonderful little book, Jesus Calling.  The author, having read and meditated on Micah 7:7 and Romans 8:31 and 32 paraphrased those two verses together in these two powerful paragraphs which I really needed this morning and shared with Leland.

“I, the Creator of the Universe, am with you and for you.  What more could you need?  When you feel some lack, it is because you are not connecting with Me at a deep level.  I offer abundant Life; your part is to trust Me, refusing to worry about anything.

It is not adverse events that make you anxious as it is your thoughts about those events.  Your mind engages in efforts to take control of a situation, to bring about the results you desire.  Your thoughts close in on the problem like ravenous wolves.  Determined to make things go your way, you forget that I am in charge of  your life. The only remedy is to switch your focus from the problem to My Presence. Stop all your striving, and watch to see what I will do. I am the Lord!” Taken from Romans 8:31- 32 and Micah 7:7

There is little I can add here, this about says it all for today as we are watching, waiting and walking with Jesus through the worst trial of our lives.

Doing Well

Leland continues to do well, some days are better than others, but overall, he is stronger and has more energy now than he did a month ago.  Yesterday we went to The Dalles to do some needed shopping; it was really nice he felt well enough to go, and even to drive one way.  We took our lunch to the park overlooking the town and the river, lovely view; beautiful day.    We had a very good trip  and accomplished all we needed to do.  When one lives in Goldendale, it is a real treat sometimes to drive to The Dalles!

We continue our physical exercise program; walking three times each day.  Leland has also been able to do some outdoor chores such as working on our drip watering system,  mowing the lawn with the lawn tractor and just today he assembled a kitchen cart we bought in town yesterday to give us a  little more storage and counter space in the kitchen.

We are grateful for every good day, of which there have been several lately!  We are grateful for our children, extended family, church family and great neighbors.  Our lives are full of blessings and we thank God for each one of them!

Thank you Del, for delivering our Azure order today : )

Note from Leland

5/17/2012

I have the greatest kids.  They have all been so helpful.  I also have many friends and family that have done things to help and so many have prayed for me.  Thank you each one.

At the end of April Chaunda (daughter) came and stayed for several days.  She burned two big piles of limbs and debris.  She helped around the house and made vegetable juice for me.  It was real nice to have her here.

Wednesday the 9^th Mark (son) came over and stayed through the weekend.  He did some more burning, fell a tree, limbed it and cut it into firewood lengths.  Friday Todd and Cherilyn (daughter) came with their motor home and brought Tina (Mark’s wife) and Grant (Mark’s son).  We had a good time visiting on Sabbath even though Todd went for a run on the back roads and got lost.  Some nice people brought him home.

Sunday they all got busy weeding, burning and laying down bark dust.  They did a great job and our place looks ever so much better.  Thanks for your help.  I love you all.

On Tuesday Del (sister) & Chuck came over and worked in our garden getting it ready to plant.  We both appreciate all this help.  Kincaids and Paynes have also helped a lot.  Thanks to all of you.  It makes me feel loved.

Leland

66 Miles and NFE #2

66 Miles!

Today I figured out that three  20 minute walks per day seven days per week,  have added up to 66 miles in the last month that we have been on this program.  I should have counted the carrots celery and lettuce Leland has drunk in that time period too : ).

He continues to be stronger and Dr. D says from all the signs that he is doing well, and the Protocel is doing its job. We are grateful for every good day.

Mark is here for a few days which is very nice for us.  He cut down several scrawny trees and one medium size tree today, burned a lot of brush and generally made himself useful.  We had lunch outdoors in the wind and the sunshine watching over the fire.  For supper he made wonderful crepes from whole grains which we filled with sliced partially frozen dark cherries and cashew cream which had vanilla and a little stevia in it.  Very nice treat, and all on Leland’s plan.

Notes From the Experts #2

50 percent of the immune system is in the gut. Care and respect for the immune system is a matter of life and death.  Good nutrition, truly healthy food and regular exercise are vital to a well functioning and protective immunity against the many threats to health. Dr D. says that chewing one’s food to the consistency of applesauce is necessary for good digestion, and Dr. Blaylock maintains that unless food is thoroughly chewed,  that only about 30% of the nutrition is available to the body.

Dr. Blaylock also states that a wide variety of vegetables is very crucial to supporting the immune system, that plants contain numerous and often powerful phytochemicals in their leaves and stems which not only suppress tumors, but are also protective of the cardiovascular system.  Eating just a few favorite vegetables repeatedly is not sufficient for this protection. Our vegetables for today included peppers, yams, eggplant, zuchinni, tomatoes, lettuce and carrots.

Just last week the American Cancer Society made a statement that the most important predictor of a successful recovery from cancer and best chance of no recurrence is a good diet and regular exercise.

Notes From the Experts

Notes From the Experts

On the personal side, the last few days have been much better than last week.  Leland is feeling a little better, has a little more energy.  He is still losing weight-2 more pounds this week. He told me the other day if this keeps on I will have to tie him on a string and fly him down the road when it is windy.  : )    He is keeping the laundry folded and yesterday was able to turn on our outside water and part of the drip irrigation system.  He was tired when finished with that and rested the rest of the day except for taking his walks.

Thank you Kathy and Dan and Kathy W for coming out this weekend to mow, sow, smash and sweep, deliver groceries and help with other chores besides visiting.   Very much appreciated!

Our spirits are good, we are still walking faithfully and eating very well in spite of the deletions which had to be made, and he is getting plenty of rest. God has promised to be with us in trouble, and He has been!

I am starting a new section of this update which I will call Notes From the Experts in which I will be sharing abbreviated observations from the reading which has become an on-going project for me. I will appreciate comments on this, particularly would appreciate them being made on the blog itself so others may read them.  You do not have to identify yourself if you don’t wish to.

Please read the instructions Mark posted last week if you are having difficulty figuring out how to make a comment.  Leland did that yesterday and it worked. 

Notes From the Experts # 1

1.       One of the easiest anti-cancer  strategies to implement is getting rid of fluoride.  If in municipal water district, filter it.  Use fluoride-free toothpaste and mouthwash.   It requires a little searching but can be found in health food stores, Fred Myers Health Food section, and in numerous other places. 

Why this helps:  Fluoride is a very toxic and carcinogenic substance. It can boost the potency of other carcinogens and increase tumor growth by as much as 25 percent…..Cancer death rates are higher in cities with fluoridated water, and especially higher for those over age 65.

Fluoride can damage the DNA repair enzymes with are especially important in preventing cancer.  

Fluorididated water should be filtered before drinking or cooking with it.  As the water is evaporated away during the cooking process, the fluoride is concentrated and clings to the food. Many commercial fruit juices are manufactured from concentrates; are  then reconstituted with fluoridated water, bringing the concentrations even higher.

2.       Stay hydrated!  The body rids itself of toxins including those detoxified by the liver,  by dissolving them in the fluid between the cells, which is derived from the water we drink. Most people are chronically dehydrated and especially after the age of 50.

The above information is derived from Natural Strategies for Cancer Patients by Russell Blaylock, MD.

Giving Back a LIttle: From the Other Daughter

Last weekend I was able to head out to Goldendale to spend some time with Mom and Dad.  I have been so frustrated with finding myself unemployed yet again, but realized that at this moment in time it has been a blessing that has allowed me to spend much more time with my parents than I would have been otherwise been allowed.

I arrived Friday afternoon to find both Mom and Dad in good spirits, feeling fairly well but tired. 

Sabbath, after Church we went on a beautiful, albeit windy walk.  Dad seemed to have more energy than I've seen in him for awhile. 

I stayed an extra day and spent all day Sunday burning a big pile of brush and feeding that fire with another big pile of branches.....the same branches I helped Dad stack the last time I was there from a sad tree that fell into the garden in the most recent storm.

It felt good to do something for Dad; to carry some of the load for him.  I did all the heavy lifting and then we sat in lawn chairs babysitting the fire and just talking.  Dad told me some stories I'd never heard and at the end of the day I felt I had gotten to know the most important man in my life just a little better.

It's strange how something like this can bring people closer.  The long drive, three and a half hours one way for me, doesn't seem nearly as long as it used to and I would go a lot further than that if I needed to.  In a few days I'll be back to burn more brush, stack more wood, and maybe even make a retaining wall by the driveway.  And I'm sure I'll juice a few carrots too.

Dad has spent years, most his life, sacrifising and working for me,  my brother and sister, and our mom.  It feels good to be able to give a little back to him.

Love you, Dad.

~Chaunda

Walking in the Windy Sunshine

May 2, 2012

Since it has been a few days since an update, I will do one today.  The weekend was good.  We were able to go to church on Sabbath which was wonderful, then in the afternoon take a short hike at Catherine Creek in the windy sunshine.  Lovely views of the Columbia River with many wild flowers at our feet made for a perfect day, as did the many friends who were also along.

Sunday was also a good day, along with Chaunda who was here for the weekend, my brother Jerry and his wife and grandsons were here. It was so nice to be able to visit with them.  The little guys are really growing.

Thanks for coming you guys, and thank you Chaunda for burning those huge piles of brush and everything else you did to help.

The last two days have been harder, Leland not feeling so well, and having no energy.  But we have still walked three times each day, and done the other things we need to do.  We were wishing his body had a little port with a computer readout attachment so we could push a Status Button, and get an update on what is going on inside! “Cancer receding-keep on walking”  would be nice : ).  Or “Cancer receding, need more carrot juice  please resupply”  would be great!

Our Pastor came out for a visit on Monday night-Thanks Pastor Tim, we appreciated you and your prayer for us.

Today is starting out better, he seems to have a little more energy today.

Thanks to those who have sent messages and cards, we appreciate them so much. And also thank you for your continued prayers.

Eileen