What I Learned So You Can Heal

Introduction

Modern medicine is impressive. It has saved my life many times — when I was ten, I was bitten by a dog that had rabies; only the shots of modern medicine could have saved my life. My medicines make my life so much better. But then I came to a place where modern medicine could not help me.

Through endless experimenting, searching, and research spanning 49 years, I discovered answers that improved my health. I learned that what healed me was reducing toxins and increasing nutrition. These solutions transformed my life — from being severely ill to thriving at 71, free from age-related illnesses. My body is a toxic alarm system, which has led me to answers that not only healed me but will also heal you and our gorgeous Earth.

I'm not a doctor or an expert, simply a woman who sought answers and achieved miraculous results. My story combines personal experiences, reflections on what I didn't understand at the time, and insights gained along the way.

The illnesses we have today are not simple. Multiple causes must be addressed before your health will improve. If you are severely ill, you may need to follow many of these ideas. If you have mild symptoms, you may need only a few. However, all of these solutions will protect your health in the future, and many will heal our Earth, which is in crisis.

We are constantly getting messages. Our body talks to us with symptoms. You may hear a still, small voice that has messages for you. Listen to these and also to what feels right to you. This will help you choose which of these steps you want to follow.

Some parts of my journey are heartbreaking, while others are inspiring and full of hope. I encountered people and businesses that both harmed and helped me. Through it all, I discovered solutions that healed me.

As always, consult your doctor before making any health changes.

Let me show you where I started, how far I've come, and what I learned that led to health.

In my story, I do not have links to items I have purchased. The reason is that links often break or no longer work. Instead, I give the titles of the products, which is more reliable.

Please read each chapter to fully understand the transformative journey that led to my healing and the resulting miracles.

This is a work in progress — I am still updating this, so please check back to see my updates.

Chapter One 1975 - 1981

In 1975, at the age of 22, I took two aspirin for a headache, as I had countless times before. But this time, something went terribly wrong. Almost instantly, I couldn't breathe. My eyes and nose began pouring, and my stomach hurt. Recognizing the symptoms of an asthma attack, I was grateful I had just finished a graveyard shift at a convenience store where I could buy Primatene Mist. Without it, the situation could have been disastrous. My day was ruined, but I told myself the solution was simple: avoid aspirin.

I didn't realize how wrong I was.

Over the next year, my health declined rapidly. I lost my sense of smell, developed severe asthma, and began relying on cortisone to manage it. Asthma attacks would strike without warning, leaving me gasping for air and pumping emergency medicine into my lungs. I couldn't worry about safe levels of medicine; I needed to breathe. My sinuses and lungs were chronically congested, leading to frequent infections. Nasal polyps made it nearly impossible to breathe through my nose, and my ENT resorted to painful procedures to remove them. I also often had hives.

Despite cortisone pills, allergy shots, and a regimen of 40 pills a day, my symptoms persisted. Nights became battles for air as I coughed and struggled to breathe. I was also blowing my nose for hours, producing endless thick, yellow mucus. I began to feel so ill every moment of every day that it felt like a battle to survive.

Yet, I was young and strong. I did the best I could; I married, worked, and had fun. My doctor told me not to get pregnant; I was too ill. But I wanted my dream of a baby, and my husband felt the same way. My doctor was right; my symptoms became even worse. I was so afraid for my baby. I would imagine my baby to be healthy and beautiful. In 1981, my dreams came true when our daughter Heather was born so beautiful and healthy despite my health issues. I so loved being a mom. From the moment I held her, I was instantly in love. She has brought immeasurable joy to my life.

That same year, a pivotal change occurred. My new allergy doctor informed me that scented products, artificial colors, flavors, and three preservatives, BHA, BHT, and TBHQ, were all salicylates — compounds chemically related to aspirin. I eliminated these from my diet and also avoided foods containing salicylates, such as apples, oranges, and plums. I joined the Feingold Association, which provided resources to identify safe products, as many ingredients aren't listed on labels. Later, I reintroduced natural salicylates, such as fruits, without issue, but I never went back to the artificial ones.

Now, I knew why my health had gotten even worse when I was pregnant. I had been eating more of the foods that were causing me illness!

The results were remarkable. I no longer spent nights coughing, wheezing, or fighting to breathe. I was so thankful since good sleep is so important.

However, I still had all the other symptoms that made it so difficult to survive each day.  

The Feingold diet helped me initially, but I later realized it ignored over 2,000 additives allowed in our food supply. To safeguard my health, over time, we eliminated all processed foods from our diet.

The harm of artificial additives is increasingly being acknowledged today. Yet, companies aren't required to list all ingredients on their labels.

Why risk your health by eating artificial ingredients when natural foods are so delicious and give you so much nutrition?

As always, please consult your doctor before making any lifestyle changes. Avoiding processed foods can result in you feeling ill as your body begins to release toxins. Additionally, if you have diabetes, it is essential to monitor your condition regularly. You can use a home blood glucose monitor. If you prick the side of your baby finger, you barely feel it. Your blood sugar can improve, causing you to end up taking too much medication, which can be serious.

The harm of scented products is now well known, and hospitals, gyms, and doctor's offices are asking people not to wear scented products. Fragrances are not only in cologne or perfumes but in shampoo, lotions, sunscreen, and every product. No one seems to consider fragrances in laundry soap, which is one of the most toxic forms of scented products, even as ads on TV encourage you to add extra fragrance to your clothing.

For more information on the dangers of fragrances, please visit:

www.fragrancefreecoalition.com

Safe, fragrance-free products are available. They offer not only better health but also peace of mind. Even if you don't experience immediate reactions to these products, the long-term risks to your health are significant. Look up this question on the internet - 'Are fragrances harmful?' and you will get a clear answer about the dangers.

Even essential oils, which are considered "natural," are harmful and make me very ill. Producing a single pound of oil requires hundreds or even thousands of pounds of plant material. This not only concentrates the oils but also the pesticides and toxins that come with them. Our bodies were never meant to handle such intense exposure.

I also want to add here that much later, when I was experimenting with a vegan lifestyle, the author of one of the books I read said processed foods are good for you; eat all you want. Since I had the excuse, I began to eat a lot of processed foods. Soon, I discovered I had high blood pressure! I had never had this issue before. This had happened in a few weeks! I stopped eating processed foods, and my high blood pressure was soon gone.

I learned this from the book The Miracle Morning, which I love. It takes thirty days to create a new habit. The first ten days can be very difficult. In the second ten days, it will begin to get easier. Over the last ten days, you will start to notice the benefits, which will help you stay on track.

Chapter Two 1982- 1985

I had seen that a change in my diet had improved my health, so I began to read mountains of books, looking for answers to improve my health.

I began eating organic foods. Over time, I switched to eating only organic foods. This simple act removes so many toxins from your life.

There are so many toxic chemicals used in our standard farming practices.

I also made this change because I had learned how farmers were dying from the chemicals used for their crops. I had read about how these chemicals harm our soil, air, and water.

Please watch the movie Organic Rising. You can find it at Organic Rising Film. https://www.organicrisingfilm.com/ The film is available for rent for $5, or you can purchase it. It is worth every penny. It explains so well why this change can have amazing health benefits and also how it can significantly reduce global warming.

Unfortunately, my marriage couldn't withstand the challenges posed by my health, and in 1983, my husband and I divorced.

In 1983, I had a major surgery; I risked death, brain damage, or blindness when I had a two-year-old daughter. I ended up with no choice but to have this surgery because of the pain, blockage, and constant infections. The result was the blockage, and the pain was gone, but the other symptoms remained.

I still would have frightening asthma attacks without warning, and I had no idea what the cause was. My sinuses and lungs were chronically congested, leading to frequent infections. I still felt so ill every moment of every day that it felt like a battle to survive. I also often had hives.

I was still going to different doctors and reading mountains of books, looking for answers.

Chapter Three 1986 - 1989

In November 1986, I met Keith, the love of my life, on a blind date. It was a rocky beginning since the first time he came over, I had severe asthma. It turned out his cologne and Irish Spring soap were the culprits. Keith switched to my products, and I no longer had asthma when he came over!

Soon after I met him, Keith looked up my symptoms on the internet. He found that I had the classic symptoms of Samter's Triad, which are loss of smell, sinus polyps, asthma, and a reaction to aspirin and NSAIDs. No doctor had ever told me I had Samter's Triad.

I suffered from depression. I had learned that it only made my life worse, made the day go worse, and made me feel worse, so I worked to be positive.

I used to ask, 'Why me, why me?' but I began to think that maybe I could find answers, and then I could help other people. This thought gave me hope, and I believe that hope is the only reason I survived.

I now know Samter's Triad is a form of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS). MCS is when you react to small amounts of harmful chemicals. Since my health improved as I removed toxic chemicals, it is clear that Sampter's Triad is a form of MCS.

MCS is not an allergy. An allergy is a reaction to something normally harmless, like pollens and foods. I don't have any reactions to these things. I also don't react to all chemicals. Many chemicals are beneficial and cause no harm. Harmful chemicals are those that off-gas, and the worst ones continue to off-gas indefinitely. However, each time I react to something, I research it and find that the ingredient I react to is very toxic and harmful to everyone.

One of our first steps was transitioning to whole foods, such as whole wheat and brown rice. I discovered that when refined flour was introduced, it caused widespread malnutrition issues such as beriberi, pellagra, and anemia. To address this, manufacturers began "enriching" refined flour with vitamins, but these additions cannot replace the full spectrum of nutrients lost during processing. Why is refined flour still used? Simply put, it benefits businesses by extending shelf life.

We began buying food and personal products exclusively from health food stores, which offer safer, less toxic options. Since Whole Foods stated that all its foods did not contain artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives, we began to shop there exclusively.

I no longer recommend Whole Foods; we now shop at Sprouts Farmers Market. The reason is that Whole Foods has reduced the size of its produce department. I found I could not buy the organic foods I used every day. Additionally, I discovered that simply eating a salad would make me feel unwell. I went to Whole Foods and asked what they use to wash their produce. The woman showed me the product they used — it was a chemical! I have recently rechecked this, and once again, I was shown a chemical. Sprouts only uses water to wash all their organic produce.

Keith and I married in June 1989. He has always been such a wonderful Dad to Heather and so supportive of me. I am so thankful I met him.

The second major surgery I had to address my sinus polyps was in 1989. Once again, my sinuses were blocked entirely with polyps, I constantly had sinus and lung infections, and the only solution was surgery. This time, it was as an outpatient; the improvements made since my first surgery were impressive.

After this surgery, my doctor told me to use a sinus spray that contained a steroid. He said this would prevent me from needing more surgeries. I have found this is not true; if this was true, why didn't the steroid pills I took for seven years ever stop my polyps? Why do people with Samter's Triad generally need sinus surgery every four to seven years?

Something else caused my health to improve significantly. I have not required this surgery since 1989. I did not realize it at the time, but the changes I was making were having an effect! Eating only organic foods and making other changes is why I never needed this surgery again.

The blockages in my sinuses were now gone. However, I still would have frightening asthma attacks without warning, with no idea of the cause, constant sinus and lung infections, and no sense of smell. I still felt so ill every moment of every day that it felt like a battle to survive. I still often had hives.

Desperate for answers, I was still reading countless books and implementing changes based on what I had learned.

Every action I took reduced the use of harmful chemicals, and the result was incredible, as you will see.

Chapter Four 1990 - 2001

Switching to an organic garden has been a transformative step in my journey toward healing. Avoiding toxins has improved my health in countless ways, and I love knowing I'm doing what's best for the Earth. Although it took time to experiment with different solutions, I now find organic gardening both simple and deeply rewarding.

One product we love using is Organic Corn Gluten Fertilizer — GMO-Free, All-Natural Lawn Care for Healthy Grass (available on Amazon or the Old Cobblers Farm website). It acts as both a fertilizer and a weed preventer, and it's so safe that quail and doves in our yard enjoy eating it! In Arizona, our gardens are rocks since we live in the desert and water is limited. Quail and other birds kick the rocks to get to the corn gluten. To prevent rocks from being kicked onto cement pathways, we water it in along walkways and patios. We use it throughout our garden in the spring and fall, and it works wonders, leaving us with very few weeds.

While the label claims it's organic, I contacted the company and learned that it's not officially certified organic — it is non-chemical and GMO-free. Still, it's been a fantastic addition to our organic garden care routine.

To give our plants even more nutrition, we also use Down To Earth All Natural Fertilizers, which are also available on Amazon. This combination has made our garden flourish!

When we mistimed our pre-emergent application and ended up with too many weeds, we found a great solution: a weed hoe from Ace Hardware. Keith says it's much faster and easier than spraying or hand-pulling weeds.

I love that organic gardening helps me avoid harmful toxins and promotes healing, and I avoid tracking all those chemicals into my home. It's so fulfilling to cultivate a thriving, Earth-friendly garden!

Nothing seemed to help. I kept reading book after book, searching for answers, and trying to implement everything I learned about healthy living. Then, I realized a simple truth: almost everything I ate was loaded with sugar.

Sugar was in my jelly, peanut butter, bread, ketchup, and countless other foods. I was hooked. I'd eat three Mrs. Fields cookies in one sitting, and even though I felt sick afterward, I still craved more. That's when it hit me — I was addicted to sugar. I could never be satisfied eating sugar.

Determined to make a change, I started looking for sugar-free alternatives and discovered Food for Life Ezekiel 4:9 Bread, the only whole-grain bread I could find without added sugar. I committed to cutting sugar out of my diet entirely — not just processed sugar but honey, maple syrup, dates, and even alcohol, which is essentially pure sugar.

The journey wasn't easy. Going off sugar can make you feel unwell as your body detoxes, but there are ways to ease the process. I found that eating plenty of fresh fruit helped curb my cravings and reduced my symptoms. Unlike processed sugars, the natural sugars in fruit come packed with essential nutrients and fiber. Over time, I learned that sugar cravings often stem from nutritional deficiencies — your body isn't getting the nutrition it needs.

I have also learned that fruit is incredibly delicious; it tastes as good to me as candy. In fact, it tastes so much better because it doesn't have the flavor of those artificial ingredients.

We are designed with a sweet tooth because we are meant to eat fruit. The World Health Organization says the two most significant risks for your health are high blood pressure and lack of fruit. See Chapter One for a solution to high blood pressure.

As always, please check with your doctor before making lifestyle changes.

 If you have diabetes, you need to monitor how you are doing. You can use a home blood glucose monitor. If you prick the side of your baby finger, you barely feel it. Your blood sugar can improve, causing you to end up taking too much medication, which can cause hypoglycemia and be serious.

The health benefits of removing sugar are profound. I read in the Wellness Letter produced by The UC Berkeley School of Public Health that every time you eat sugar, your immune system gets damaged for five hours. I have also learned that sugar is implicated in many types of cancer. Going off sugar has many benefits.

Later, I discovered sugar in any form would immediately result in depression and a sinus or lung infection for me.

This is from my sister Laura: "Most of my pain is gone. I still have some stiffness in my fingers, but they're bending so much better now. It's so wonderful! YAA-HOO!!! It's like a miracle. I thought I'd probably need to get a knee replacement because one of my knees was so swollen & sore all of the time. Now, it's almost completely fine. Tight pants are getting loose, and loose pants are falling off!"

This is from my sister Darcy. "I'm doing really well! I realized I was falling asleep easily, sleeping better through the night. My mood is better, and yesterday, I had no pain!!! This is so different than when I've eaten healthy before. I always felt crummy. But I'm still not eating avocados, tomatoes, hummus, or red peppers. Perhaps I'm sensitive to those foods? I'm avoiding gluten, dairy, alcohol, processed food, and sugar. It's pretty much an anti-inflammatory diet. So far, so good!!!

Chapter Five 2002 - 2009

I was doing everything my doctors told me, but my health was not improving. My severe symptoms persisted. My lungs had been at 30% capacity since not long after my first symptom. Keith had often taken me to the emergency room, but after hours, I would only feel slightly better, so we stopped going.  

Then, I developed new illnesses.

I began to be exhausted all the time and learned I had hypothyroidism. I took a medication that resulted in good blood tests, but it made me so nervous that it was often unbearable. My doctor kept changing the amount; however, she couldn't find a solution.

Then I found out I had osteoporosis from the seven years I took cortisone.

I began to get bruises all over and was diagnosed with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), an autoimmune illness; my body was attacking and killing my blood platelets. The proposed treatment was to remove my spleen and go back on cortisone. I did not want to lose my spleen, and I did not want to ever go back on cortisone pills. I left that office and never went back.

I now know why doctors and alternative doctors could not help me. When I had such a severe reaction to aspirin in 1975, I had developed Multiple Chemical Sensitivity or MCS. Many medications and supplements have chemical ingredients or are made from chemicals, which is why I had so many reactions to medicines.

I wrote this during this time:

"I woke and braced myself for another day. It wasn't easy to feel ill every moment. It wasn't easy to wake up screaming in total terror and not know why. (We later came to realize it was night terrors caused by too low oxygen.) It wasn't easy to be unable to hear 80% of what was said to me. I even came to the point where it was difficult to talk at times from so much congestion in my throat. I'd cough and cough to clear it and be unable to. Imagine feeling so ill it is hard to be able to make it through the day, even to get enough air or a good night's sleep, and in addition, have difficulty communicating! And no one could help me!"

I also wrote this:

"I couldn't hear a Coke can bouncing on the floor in my car, the wind rushing by, the tires on the road, my footsteps on the carpet, my hand brushing against the material of my clothes. I couldn't hear most of what was said to me. I came to where I pretended to hear because it was too difficult for those around me to talk loud enough for me to hear them. Keith had to yell for me to hear, which didn't do too much for intimacy. I couldn't hear what was on TV. Keith figured out how to have the sound on for everyone and words on for me so that I could read what was going on rather than hear it."

My ENT told me my hearing loss was permanent, and my allergy doctor was worried.

I now know why doctors and alternative doctors could not help me. When I had such a severe reaction to aspirin in 1975, I had developed Multiple Chemical Sensitivity or MCS. Many medications and supplements have chemical ingredients or are made from chemicals, which is why I had so many reactions to medicines.

I would not give up. I would find solutions. Keith and I shared the motto, "Never give up, never give in." It has seen us through a lot.

I had read piles of books for many years, searching for answers while no doctor could help me.

Then, on Thanksgiving Day 2002, a miracle happened: my ears popped many times, and I could hear everything. After years of limited hearing, my dream had come true; my hearing was perfect! Then I had more miracles! My bruises disappeared, and my platelet levels returned to normal. The constant, severe, instant asthma attacks and that horrible, sick feeling that made it challenging to survive each day were also gone! I also stopped having hives!

It is hard to believe that natural steps can have so much power to heal, but in time, I realized that the healing was coming from me, from these ideas!

In my previous chapters, I have reported the steps I took for this miraculous healing so you can see the details.

I avoided all scented products, BHA, BHT, TBHQ, artificial colors, and flavors.

I ate organic foods.

I ate only whole foods such as whole wheat and brown rice.

I switched to an organic garden.

I stopped eating sugar in any form.

These steps reduced toxins and increased my nutrition, leading to incredible improvements. I now share my journey to inspire others. Best of all, most of these steps will also heal our planet!

This journey taught me that miracles can happen and filled me with deep gratitude for my improved health.

Now you know what took me years of struggle and discovery to learn—and even more. I hadn't yet realized that avoiding all processed foods is far more powerful for healing than simply cutting out a few harmful ingredients. I also had not begun to eat only organic foods. With the steps I took and this knowledge, your healing journey could be even more remarkable—and much faster. I'm absolutely thrilled to share this life-changing information with you!

I had healed so much, and I was so incredibly thankful. However, I now had a constant cough, which I now recognize as relentless asthma. Continuous sinus and lung infections plagued me, and restful sleep remained elusive.

I sought answers everywhere, still reading mountains of books and working with both traditional and alternative doctors — but nothing brought relief.

In 2009, Keith and I visited Arizona, as we had many times before. The beauty of the Southwest always captivated us, and during this trip, we made a life-changing decision: we would move there.

Chapter Six 2010 - 2013

On New Year's Day 2010, we began our new chapter in Arizona. The sheer joy we felt was immeasurable. The vibrant light, untamed landscapes, and stunning vistas were a dream for our photography business.

But despite my best efforts, my health deteriorated. My asthma worsened to the point of disability. For three long years, I felt so ill or exhausted that I could do very little. Keith shouldered nearly all the household responsibilities — shopping, cleaning, laundry, and cooking — while I contributed as much as my limited health and energy allowed. Ending up in the hospital became frequent as I struggled to manage my illness.

My pulmonary doctor prescribed various medications to help control my asthma, but I often reacted severely to them. Some medications worsened my asthma; one caused triple vision. On one occasion, a severe rash from a prescription landed me in the hospital; my doctor called ahead for me to be admitted immediately.

In June 2013, we moved to a home closer to town to better support our photography business. Though Keith took on most of the packing preparing for our move, I amazed both of us by unpacking and setting up our new gallery in record time. Remarkably, my health improved almost overnight. The transformation was astonishing.

What had changed? How had the woman who was so sick and exhausted that she became disabled suddenly regained her strength and vitality?

The answer was hidden in a simple, unintentional shift. At our previous home, we had installed an outdoor kitchen, and Keith — excited to make use of it — had barbecued nearly every night. When we moved to our new home, the outdoor kitchen was uninviting, and barbecuing became an occasional activity rather than a daily one.

Without even realizing it, reducing barbecued foods had dramatically improved my health.

I didn't realize how much our barbequed foods had been affecting me because we suddenly had a catastrophe.

Just nine days after we bought our home, we learned it had black mold! I cried half the day when we got the news. I had worked so hard to get our new home all set up. I was already ill, and now this. Keith was beside himself, trying to comfort me.

We sought help, only to find that our realtor, insurance company, home warranty company, and home inspector would not take responsibility and help us. We felt alone and overwhelmed. After consulting a lawyer, we were advised that even a court victory wouldn't guarantee a payment. Going to court brought too much grief and would do nothing to resolve the situation. Instead, we decided to move forward. We moved to a hotel, hired a restoration company, and then received good news — after remediation, tests showed the black mold was gone.

This ordeal taught us how a crisis can eventually bring benefits. Initially, we relied on an ozone air purifier we owned, misled by claims that it would remove all pollens, germs, and even mold. Not only did it fail to help, but I also learned that ozone purifiers add pollution, which can harm your health, particularly for people with asthma. You can see more about this here: https://w w.epa.gov/.../ozone-generators-are-sold-air...

Our restoration company used only HEPA purifiers for mold remediation, so we followed suit, purchasing three Idylis HEPA air purifiers after their work was complete.

I was so thankful! My years-long invalid state was now gone, my health was so improved, and I was back to my energetic self.

However, I would still lose days because I was so sick or exhausted. I continued to have a constant cough and continuous sinus and lung infections. I never had such severe depression again, but I still suffered from depression.

I was still searching for answers.

Later, we bought a whole house air purifier, and I gave our three Idylis air purifiers away. What a mistake! I became so ill. It turns out whole house air purifiers don't work. There is only one intake location, and they don't run when your heater or air conditioner isn't running. Even when we ran our fan all the time, it still did not help me feel better. This was confirmed on the EPA website listed above. I repurchased the three Idyllis air purifiers; what a difference! I felt so good with them running.

These air purifiers have shown themselves invaluable for my health. They cleared out air pollution and wildfire smoke from our home; they cleared out the toxins when a cleaning woman showed up who had used Tide, and they made my home safe when I became so ill from reactions. I simply would be incredibly ill without them.

Recently, I wanted another air purifier for our spare bedroom. Since Idylis units were no longer available, I tried alternatives like GermGuardian, Levoit, and Honeywell. They all made me very ill soon after I turned them on. I also bought a Foust 400 Series air purifier. I had it for several months, and then I woke up unable to stop coughing. I could not get dressed, eat, or do anything since my coughing was so severe. None of my usual remedies made any difference. Since it was the newest item, we put it in our garage. Very soon, my severe coughing stopped. It turned out that this product, created for people with MCS, had a design flaw. The air entered the HEPA filter first, then the charcoal filter, and then a thin filter. This is the reverse of every air purifier I have owned. It caused the charcoal to enter our home without adequate filtration and build-up in our home, which led to severe illness for me.

My friend Lucy recommended the AirDoctor AD 5500 HEPA and VOC purifier, which I also bought on Amazon. I love it! No reaction, finally success! It has an ionizer, which I have never used, and I do not recommend using it. I have not had any issues, and I am feeling better the longer we have it. Finally, a solution! I had been worried since I would need a replacement solution if any of my Idylis air purifiers failed.

I recently purchased an AirDoctor 2200 air purifier, and it’s been working wonderfully! In fact, my health improved using it, so I ordered another one. I have now replaced all my Idyllis air purifiers with AirDoctor air purifiers. I highly recommend the AirDoctor air purifiers; I rely on them daily for my health.

A crisis prompted me to start using HEPA air purifiers, a decision that ultimately safeguarded my health. A crisis had brought an unexpected benefit.

I have now realized what we didn't realize during that catastrophe. Barbequed foods make me very ill every time I am exposed to them, even if they are leftovers from a restaurant that Keith brought home and put in our refrigerator. My research has shown that they are harmful to everyone. Why is this since, in the past, our food was cooked over a fire? It was not cooked over gas and charcoal! These are not healthy products, and they, as well as fires, add to the air pollution of our planet.

In August 2013, we started walking with our neighbors Lori, Rick, and Paula five days a week, which was great. This exercise and knowing them helped me survive and heal from what happened next.

Chapter Seven 2014 - 2015

In July of 2015, I ended up in the hospital for the third year in a row with pneumonia. This time, the pain was so intense that it felt like it would kill me. Morphine did not faze the pain in any way, so the doctors in the emergency room gave me cancer medication for the pain. When I got out of the hospital, I was covered in bruises from my ITP. At the time, I thought my ITP was caused by not having enough vegetables and fruit. However, since then, I have been on diets where I only ate two or four foods. Still, it did not come back. ITP is caused by exposure to toxins. In the hospital, I was exposed to toxins in my food, fragrances, and other toxins I didn't even know about at the time.

When I got home from the hospital, my neighbor Paula told me about the Paleo diet. I decided to try it.

You did not have any dairy, grains, or sugar — the sugar part I was already doing. The stomach pain I had every day stopped! You also were supposed to never cheat on their plan. One meal a week with wheat could cause issues.

Why avoid dairy? Calves increase their weight seven times from birth to six months — clearly, their food is not designed for us. Humans are the only mammals that consume the milk of a different species. Also, many rainforests are being destroyed to raise cattle. Keith and his brother have never had allergies; they grew up on a farm, having dairy all their lives. They both can no longer have it; it causes too much congestion and severe coughing. Keith and I discovered this was a problem for him when we ran out of milk.

Why avoid grains? Grains can be very inflammatory because they have been bred to be hardier and more profitable, but there has been a cost to our health. All of these changes were done before this tampering was recognized as GMOs. It is best to avoid grains until you can determine if they affect you. I have never been able to add them back to my diet, and I don't miss them. I love feeling good more!

Before this, we always went out to eat once a week, and despite knowing artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives affected me, I ate whatever I wanted because it was so fun. I completely stopped cheating. When we went out to dinner, I only ate plain foods — a steak with nothing on it, a dry baked potato, and a salad with lemon. I added salt, and they tasted so good to me, and I was happy knowing I was keeping myself safe.

Following the Paleo diet, I was feeling so much better. I had been having extremely severe depression. I kept thinking about stabbing myself in the throat. I'd think — I have a husband who loves me, a beautiful home, a daughter, family, and friends I love so much — this doesn't make sense. I looked at the side effects of the medicines I was taking. For Montelukast, suicidal thoughts were listed. I stopped this medicine, and the thoughts of suicide went away. My body never noticed that I went off of it.

I was also able to stop taking Zyrtec. Then I began to have intense reactions — Zyrtec had been covering them up!

My feet burned so bad I had to jump in the shower. I realized it was the laundry soap we were using. I found I reacted to the shampoo and soap we were using. I had been reacting to so many things, but this medicine covered up the reactions. Yet these reactions were still happening underneath, which I felt was why I kept ending up in the hospital with pneumonia for the last three years.

During this time, I did find three medications that I didn't react to - Flonase, which you can buy over the counter, and Flovent 220 mcg, which I take morning and night every day. These medications do not stop or improve any reactions. They both contain cortisone, and they both list infections as side effects. Since sinus and lung infections are an issue I deal with, I have tried to go off of them, but then I feel much worse. Later, Flovent was no longer available. I was so worried that I would react to the generic replacement, but thankfully, I did not. I now take Fluticasone Propionate HFA by Prasco.

I also take Ventolin when I have a severe reaction. I have found recently that an orange or an apple will often end an asthmatic reaction. Another miracle! What I have learned is that it is food, the right nutrition, that heals us.

I also went to an alternative doctor. He told me he had hypothyroidism, and the medications affected him also. He told me he took three GTA capsules made by Biotics Research, so I decided to try them as well. Finally, my nervousness was gone, and blood tests showed my thyroid was doing well. I was so thrilled! This was the only time that an alternative doctor was able to help my health improve.

I have never made any changes to my medications since 2015. I am too afraid of severe reactions. I have reacted to so many medications for asthma with severe asthma.

After these changes, I never ended up in the hospital again. This was a true success!

Exercise is so important because it moves your lymph system. Otherwise, your lymph system gets stagnant. Find something that you love to do so you will keep doing it. It is hard to be truly healthy without exercise.

On October 22, 2015, my neighbor, Lori, introduced me to the book "The Ancient Secret of the Fountain of Youth." I found this book so enjoyable. It discussed the benefits of five Tibetan Rites, which are poses that use every muscle in your body. I started doing them and have been doing them most days ever since. When I started this, I could only do one of each! The book said just to start and do what you can, and you will improve. Slowly, I built up strength and got to where I am today; I can do all five rites 21 times each in about fifteen minutes. I love that I can get great exercise so fast! Just do your best each day, and you will improve.

You can see these rites and learn more on this YouTube video:

5 Tibetan Rites - full demo so you can join in - English - chakra info

I also love to go on a walk in my neighborhood. It feels so good to be out in the sun or rain, to see our neighbors, to hear birds singing, or to see flowers in bloom. I also love hiking to explore and photograph our world. If I can't go on a walk because of thunderstorms or other weather outside, I love to do this dance routine on YouTube. It is so much fun! It is called 10 Minute Dance Cardio Workout — Fun Dance Workout for Beginners.

Exercise doesn't need to be elaborate or time-consuming. The goal is to start, and you will begin to see improvement.

Benefits of Regular Exercise

Boosts Immunity: Stimulates lymphatic drainage and detoxifies the body

Enhances Mood: Releases endorphins, reducing stress and anxiety

Improves Flexibility and Strength: Engages muscles and joints, preventing stiffness

Supports Heart Health: Promotes circulation and cardiovascular wellness

Chapter Eight 2016 - 2017

I absolutely love this book! On January 3, 2017, I began applying the ideas that Hal Elrod shares so powerfully in The Miracle Morning. His story is incredibly inspiring — he shows us that to achieve our dreams, we must grow as individuals. One of the most eye-opening insights is that 80% of our daily thoughts are repetitive and negative. Hal studied the habits of successful people throughout history and created a simple yet transformative daily routine that delivers extraordinary results.

From 1975 to 2017, I learned many valuable lessons that healed me. However, since I started practicing The Miracle Morning, the speed of learning what heals me has accelerated exponentially.

This routine has shifted my thoughts, habits, and beliefs at an incredible pace, and the results have been nothing short of fantastic! I have had miracles happen! If you've struggled to bring your dreams to life, this process can help you turn things around.

I recently found myself wondering — what could have been possible if I had followed this practice daily from the start? I'm now reading and loving Hal's updated version of the book, and I'm fully committed to practicing The Miracle Morning every day. I've realized that over time, I wasn't doing it quite right before. Now, I am on the right track, and I am thrilled.

I've downloaded The Miracle Morning app on my phone, watched the movie, and immersed myself in the book again.

This simple practice is so fun, and I feel that it results in me becoming a better person every day.

Every morning now, I have a shower and do my five Tibetan Rites. Then I do my SAVERS, which the Miracle Morning book explains so well. I begin to get this incredible feeling of wellness; it is as if every cell in my body is rejoicing. I am so thankful that I found this book and that I am once again practicing these ideas every day.

Here's My Magical Treatment:

Over the years, I've developed a simple yet powerful treatment that has consistently worked for me — whether it's pneumonia, bronchitis, sinus infections, or even a partially collapsed lung. This routine has helped me bounce back quickly, and the best part? It's affordable, accessible, and all-natural!

1. Saltwater Gargle — The First Defense

At the first sign of illness, I mix one-half teaspoon of non-iodized sea salt in 1 cup of warm water and gargle three times a day, more often if needed, until any sign of a sore throat is gone. This usually stops the virus almost instantly. If the soreness or symptoms persist, I increase the frequency. This method helps to reduce inflammation and flush out bacteria before it takes hold.

Heather and our grandson Noah recently came to visit us. They both had a virus, and soon I had it too. Since I had a sore throat, I started gargling with salt water. Soon, the sore throat was gone, but now I was aching. I decided to gargle again, and soon, the aching was gone; I never needed to take any Tylenol! When I began to feel ill, I gargled again. For every symptom, I gargled with salt water, and soon it was gone. I also had green tea all day long. I never needed any of my other treatments, and I recovered so fast; it was amazing! I have also been gargling to reduce the time for a reaction or at the first sign of any infection. Just this with green tea has been amazingly powerful, not just for a sore throat but for every symptom!

2. Green Tea

Green tea is simply amazing! I drink it as needed. I only use Choice Organic Green Tea. Sprouts no longer offers it, so I found it on Amazon. The brand does matter in everything. I love it because there is no plastic used anywhere, and the teabag is encased in paper only. I will not try anything else. It is such a powerful anti-inflammatory treatment. If I am very ill, I drink it day and night. It has no effect on my sleep; it does not make me nervous, no matter how much I drink it. It is because my body needs it so much. Then, as I heal, if it does interfere with my sleep, I have less of it. I now have eight cups every day, and I love it! It has been incredible. It quickly reduces inflammation from a reaction. It is so magical.

3. Ventolin — When Needed

If green tea doesn't ease my lung discomfort from asthma, I turn to Ventolin. It provides quick relief from asthma, although I rarely need it now.

4. Tylenol — Fever and Pain Relief

When fever strikes, I take two regular-strength Tylenol every four hours — never exceeding this amount. A higher dose can cause kidney damage. Fever is often the culprit behind that terrible, sick feeling, and Tylenol can make a world of difference.

5. Heat Therapy — A Natural Soother

For lung, sinus, or other pain, I swear by Thermipaq Reusable Hot Cold Pack Ice Pack for Injuries, which is available from Amazon. Made from a clay-like material, it provides comforting heat without causing me any skin or lung reaction at all. A hot shower also works wonders (as long as there's no high fever).

6. Self-Massage — Relax and Heal

Another powerful healer is self-massage. This can decrease pain so well and relax muscles.

7. Fruit — A very powerful healer

I have seen apples, oranges, blueberries, and so many other fruits make huge improvements in how I feel. Fruit is so amazing.

Using these steps as needed, I always stop all progress of illness within hours or a day or two! I am so thankful!

Chapter Nine 2018

For years, I battled lingering health issues. Despite experiencing significant healing, I couldn't shake off persistent depression and a chronic cough, and I could never sleep well. Days or even weeks would pass when I felt too unwell or exhausted to function. Frequent infections left me constantly searching for solutions.

Then, everything changed on October 3, 2018. I watched the documentary What the Health, and it resonated deeply. That day, I became a vegan. The compelling evidence in the film aligned with everything I had read — a whole food, plant-based diet could offer the best nutrition.

I was a vegan for four years. However, I no longer believe being a vegan is healthy. There is not any culture that practices veganism, and I have found the answer as to why. I love the book The End of Alzheimer's Program by Dale Bredesen. This is where I read what I had learned for myself — that our health issues today have many causes that must be addressed before our health will improve. I have been so surprised that he reports in his book all the things that I have learned that are so incredibly healing. He explains so clearly why you simply can't get all your nutrition as a vegan unless you take supplements. I had already found that almost every vegan recipe used processed foods and sugar, which I did not eat. Since supplements have never benefitted me and I am not an imaginative cook, it became clear that being a vegan was the wrong plan for me. After reading his book, I decided to no longer follow a vegan lifestyle. Dr. Bredesen is amazing; I am so thankful for his knowledge.

He recommends many tests and working with a doctor; however, since medications have been unable to improve my health and what I am doing has led to my healing, I did not follow this part of his book. He also mentions many of the toxins I have learned that caused me so much harm. However, he did not have a solution for them.

I have found solutions. Each time these toxins made me so ill, I would research them and find they are harmful not only to me but to all of us as well as to our Earth. Then, I would research until I found the product that I didn't have any reaction to. This has led me to incredible health today.

One undeniable truth emerged: increasing my intake of vegetables and fruits had an immediate, profound impact.

The results were once again miraculous. The constant, never-ending cough that had plagued me for years completely stopped at times. I realized that this had been endless asthma. My depression was gone! I felt as though a fog had cleared, and for the first time in all these years, I could identify what triggered my symptoms. I have never suffered from depression since, even when I lost days or weeks because I was so sick or exhausted, which I found incredibly surprising. I was so thankful and thrilled!

Now, since I was no longer constantly coughing, I began to pay attention when I was coughing. This led me to uncover so many toxins that contributed to my severe symptoms. In the chapters to follow, I will outline all that I learned that made me ill and the solutions I discovered. I have been so surprised and shocked by what I have learned about what is impacting our health and how we can protect ourselves.

_________________

Stay Connected

If my story resonated with you, I'd be grateful if you could give it a heart at the end of my blog.  Your support means the world to me. I also always love to hear from you; please leave me a comment below.

If you would like to be notified when we have new content, please sign up for our newsletter here.