Trust In Your Inner Wisdom

Posted on December 23, 2016 by Ken

Originally published at www.huffingtonpost.com on November 7, 2016.

 How often do you discount your inner wisdom? Do you allow the noise from the             outside world to overshadow the guidance and truth living within you?
Mindfulness

You don’t need any methods to get rid of the wrong ideas you have about yourself.            All you have to do is stop believing them.

by Annamalai Swami!!!

We are all influenced by life happening around us. It is natural to check in and see where we fit in with the rest of the world.  The problem arises, when we forget we have an inner guide we can trust to steer us  in a direction most aligned with who we are.  The problem grows into a giant monster, when we turn our back on that wise voice and allow our ego   to become the driving force of our lives. This is where true suffering is born.

There is no need to get ahead of ourselvesandpanicorfear our ego. We can          also always come back to the sacred place within us to get grounded and hear the gentle whisper of our truth. If we are out of practice, it may take a bit of time to figure out which voice is our ego and which one is our truth center. But it won’t take long, our truth is the voice that will feel right.

This voice is calming and non-judgmental. She will remind you all is well and to look around for the evidence to prove why this is so. She will drop gentle hints and nudges to  go in a particular direction, or to reach out to a certain person. This voice is your intuition and she is powerful and humble.  She is often overshadowed  by the booming voice of the ego.  But she understands  the ego has a place  and will add to the human journey you are on.  She will never leave you,  even if you lead long stretches of life from your ego. When you make your way back, she will dust you off & offer you the inner wisdom and guidance you had been tirelessly searching outside to find. She will always be there.

These 3 practices are the ones I go to when I need a bit of extra help to connect back in and hear my inner wisdom. These practices help me put all of the noise in perspective and find my way back home. If they resonate with where you are on your journey, give them a try and see how they fit.

1) Stop Justifying and You Will Quiet the Noise

Stop Justifying. We don’t have to validate why we feel the way we do, or why we are on         a particular path. In the grand scheme of life, the explanation isn’t necessary. Nobody is truly that focused on anyone else. Everyone is on their own journey trying to navigate the best they can. Others can’t make better decisions for us than our inner wisdom. Engaging in explanations to justify our inner wisdom only separates us from our truth.  When we justify, we send the message we don’t really trust what we are being guided towards and that we need external validation to hear we are okay and on the right track. It is like saying to our truth center: “I hear you, I trust you but hang on a second I am going to just check in with my friends over there to see if they think you are right first.” Our inner spirit and truth is truth, it won’t misguide us or hurt us.

Our inner spirit is pure, it is light and love and is within all of us who are walking a bhuman journey. It is okay, we all have one so it doesn’t have to be explained. It is much more empowering and valuable to the world, bwhen we honor bour inner spirit and then express ourselves from this place. Stepping into our truth will quiet the noise and remove the need to justify our place in the world. bWhen we trust ourselves to be ourselves, our suffering ends.

2) Be an Observer

Notice yourself, your words, your feelings and your reactions in your body. Are you holding your breath? What is the tone in the words you say aloud? Start, really listen to your thoughts and spoken words.  See if you can tell if it is your ego shining through or your inner truth.  When we practice listening, it becomes easier to detect which voice is truth and which one is not. This doesn’t mean we can get rid of our ego, let that thought go. We can make friends with her though and nurture her and give her productive jobs to do, like focusing on deep intentional breathing or taking in the sights and sounds around us.

What do you notice when you clear your mind of the need to talk, be noticed and be heard — is there space? Take in the people around you through this vast place, do you see love? You might even be surprised to see your own human self reflected in their eyes. When we become observers in our lives, we allow life to move through us — we become a conduit for love. We get to see the world through the eyes of love and through the heart of truth.

The stories and hurts that once occupied the space in our hearts and minds, become welcoming spaces to hear our inner truth. This truth will lead us to our higher path and help us see the good in other people and the world around us.

3) Believe What You Know is True

If your inner voice is pleading for you to make a move and you still aren’t budging, here    is your opening to trust yourself more.  I get what it is like to turn your back on yourself and not trust yourself to know what is best. I led long stretches of my life from the belief my voice wasn’t enough. Through continued practice, I have found the more I listen and trust myself with the little things in life, the easier it has become to believe what I know      is true in the bigger areas of my life.

If it helps, take baby steps to trust your wise voice, you don’t have to jump in all at once. Warm up to the idea you are magnificent, powerful and wise. Know that all the guidance you could ever hope for lives within you.

Having faith in yourself is the most powerful gift we can give ourselves and the most empowering place we can lead our lives from. Believe what you know is true.

Go to the profile of Emily Madill
Emily Madill

 Preview YouTube video Living From The Inside Out

Living From The Inside Out

Preview YouTube video Fall in Love with Your Life, One Week at a Time – Your Way

FalTrTrust your instincts.Love with Your Life, One Week at a Time – Your Way
 Merry Christmas to you & yours! 😄🎅🏼🍹🎉🍸🎊
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Life Itself Causes Cancer

Posted on December 22, 2016 by Ken

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It was five years ago tonight I took a leap of faith and started blogging with one HOPE,   the government wouldn’t shut me down. I don’t have a problem with taking a chance, but  when it comes to height, I have a fear falling and also hitting the ground. Therefore, in the above picture my brain  would have me running the other way,  long before my legs could get me there. Massive kudos to her for doing it though, assuming photoshop wasn’t what put her there or a harness that was photoshopped out.

With this blog a bit complex …let the links and videos guide you 🙂

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Fearless Fang.
There are daring humans of our modern civilization who are so brave that they would thread where angels dare not… 😨😨 …

The reason I mention this is because I always marvel at a cancer survivors determination to commit to the new lifestyle!!!  Its also the feeling when you have nothing to live for that creates dis~ease?

Preview YouTube video What is Entropy?

What is Entropy?
Why is it  disorder in our lives always seems to be increasing? No matter how much we      try to maintain order, we are all subject to the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics and a little something called Entropy. Entropy is about separation, disorder, disruption, violence. Entropy is responsible for the splitting of time into three parts: past, present and future. Most of all, (and this is key) entropy indicates a lack of interconnection. The opposite of entropy is interconnection. Why do we age? We age because our bodies break down, moving into further disordered states.
 However, interconnection (time as one interconnected block) will reverse disorder, making seemingly impossible events (such as a glass reassembling) possible. It can also reverse aging. Once one arrives at series C theory (time as one mass, mentioned in an earlier show) time has no established forward direction, events from the future can affect the past, and vice versa. Interconnection is like a glue that binds all time together.
Time becomes a fixed point, with all events congregating around it, a part of the same fabric. Looking at quantum entanglement, entangled parties are interconnected at the fundamental level. It has been noted by some scientists that black holes of sufficient size can halt time. Is it then possible to regenerate oneself physically by bathing in the presence of a black hole, which has high levels of interconnection in its depths? Perhaps. Interconnection is a field which manifests in our Universe, yet entropy drives the Universe apart into expansion and division.
The difference between time passage (which involves entropy) and time as a fixed point (which involves interconnection) is the primary difference between A and C series theory. With A series theory, time moves inexorably forward, and with C theory time can flow backwards or forwards. I would say that the second “law” of thermodynamics is not really a law, and once one accesses the field of interconnection the law can be bypassed. The field of interconnection is where everything happens simultaneously, time is a fixed point. Interconnection is responsible for all cases of time dilation and quantum entanglement.
Have you ever pondered the difference between an aged brain and a youthful brain? Let me assert that there is no difference whatsoever in terms of the amount of energy present in consciousness. Most people believe that when people get older, they have less energy, I assure you this is not the case. Decrepitude is merely a change from low entropy to higher entropy, the energy is transformed, not lost or destroyed. The high entropic energy is not as available for use, that is why people report feeling depleted or listless. Time passes at a faster rate for older people, because they exist at a vibration that is closer to high entropy.
 This effect can be induced and observed when one is inebriated, having ingested alcohol, anything that is destructive increases entropy.
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 A lower entropy youthful brain is fundamentally more interconnected, and therefore is closely linked to time dilation and timelessness. The youthful mind is closer to the interconnection of the quantum realm, it is also more compact and dense. In the aged brain there is an enlargement of the brain tissue, cells, and DNA, a general separation and divorce from connection.
 State changes do not need to occur in the quantum realm, they already inevitably exist. A state change is only a superposition or disembodiment of an entity (such as a photon), and in the quantum realm one can move from one state to another without regard for change, all states already prevail. They just have to be accessed.
The Universe’s entropic manifestation is one definition of reality, but not the only possible interpretation. In the quantum realm there is a different definition of causality and time. Relationships are augmented, time can be suspended, and interconnection can create phenomena.
Entropy is directly responsible for the changes we observe in our macro existence. We are mired in entropic time, but we can extricate ourselves from it. Entropy is about increasing disorder, such as what happens to an aging brain. Time is perceived by children as moving more slowly, by adults as proceeding more rapidly. Entropy increases the rate at which time passes. Entropy is about destruction, change, separation, erosion and breaking elements down, moving from lower entropy to higher entropy.
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For nearly a century and a half, beginning with Clausius’ 1863 memoir “On the Concentration of Rays of Heat and Light, and on the Limits of its Action”, much writing and research has been devoted to the relationship between thermodynamic entropy and the evolution of life. The argument that life feeds on negative entropy or negentropy was asserted by physicist Erwin Schrödinger in a 1944 book What is Life?. He posed, “How does the living organism avoid decay?” The obvious answer is: “By eating, drinking, breathing and (in the case of plants) assimilating.”
Recent writings have used the concept of Gibbs free energy to elaborate on this issue. While energy from nutrients is necessary to sustain an organism’s order, there is also the Schrödinger prescience: “An organism’s astonishing gift of concentrating a stream of order on itself and thus escaping the decay into atomic chaos – of drinking orderliness from a suitable environment – seems to be connected with the presence of the aperiodic solids…” We now know that the ‘aperiodic’ crystal is DNA and that the irregular arrangement is a form of information.
 “The DNA in the cell nucleus contains the master copy of the software, in duplicate. This software seems to control by “specifying an algorithm, or set of instructions, for creating and maintaining the entire organism containing the cell.” DNA and other macromolecules determine an organism’s life cycle: birth, growth, maturity, decline, and death. Nutrition is necessary but not sufficient to account for growth in size as genetics is the governing factor. At some point, organisms normally decline and die even while remaining in environments that contain sufficient nutrients to sustain life.
The controlling factor must be internal and not nutrients or sunlight acting as causal exogenous variables. Organisms inherit the ability to create unique and complex biological structures; it is unlikely for those capabilities to be reinvented or be taught each generation. Therefore, DNA must be operative as the prime cause in this characteristic as well. Applying Boltzmann’s perspective of the second law, the change of state from a more probable, less ordered and high entropy arrangement to one of less probability, more order, and lower entropy seen in biological ordering calls for a function like that known of DNA. DNA’s apparent information processing function provides a resolution of the paradox posed by life and the entropy requirement of the second law.

In 1982, American biochemist Albert Lehninger argued that the “order” produced within cells as they grow and divide is more than compensated for by the “disorder” they create in their surroundings in the course of growth and division. “Living organisms preserve their internal order by taking from their surroundings free energy, in the form of nutrients or sunlight, and returning to their surroundings an equal amount of energy as heat and entropy.”

Evolution-related concepts:

  • Negentropy – a shorthand colloquial phrase for negative entropy.
  • Ectropy – a measure of the tendency of a dynamical system to do useful work and grow more organized.
  • Extropy – a metaphorical term defining the extent of a living or organizational system’s intelligence, functional order, vitality, energy, life, experience, and capacity and drive for improvement and growth.
  • Ecological entropy – a measure of biodiversity in the study of biological ecology.

In a study titled “Natural selection for least action” published in the Proceedings of The Royal Society A., Ville Kaila and Arto Annila of the University of Helsinki describe how the second law of thermodynamics can be written as an equation of motion to describe evolution, showing how natural selection and the principle of least action can be connected by expressing natural selection in terms of chemical thermodynamics. In this view, evolution explores possible paths to level differences in energy densities and so increase entropy most rapidly. Thus, an organism serves as an energy transfer mechanism, and beneficial mutations allow successive organisms to transfer more energy within their environment.

Life is Organization

Dis~ease Seen in retrospect, evolution as a whole doubtless had a general direction, from simple to complex, from dependence on to relative independence of the environment, to greater and greater autonomy of individuals, greater and greater development of sense organs and nervous systems conveying and processing information about the state of the organism’s surroundings, and finally greater and greater consciousness. You can call this direction progress or by some other name. — Theodosius Dobzhansky

Progress, then, is a property of the evolution of life as a whole by almost any conceivable intuitive standard…. Let us not pretend to deny in our philosophy what we know in our hearts to be true. — Edward O. Wilson

Life is organization. From prokaryotic cells, eukaryotic cells, tissues and organs, to plants and animals, families, communities, ecosystems, and living planets, life is organization, at every scale. The evolution of life is the increase of biological organization, if it is anything. Clearly, if life originates and makes evolutionary progress without organizing input somehow supplied, then something has organized itself. Logical entropy in a closed system has decreased. This is the violation that people are getting at, when they say that life violates the second law of thermodynamics. This violation, the decrease of logical entropy in a closed system, must happen continually in the darwinian account of evolutionary progress.

Most darwinists just ignore this staggering problem. When confronted with it, they seek refuge in the confusion between the two kinds of entropy. [Logical] entropy has not decreased, they say, because the system is not closed. Energy such as sunlight is constantly supplied to the system. If you consider the larger system that includes the sun, [thermodynamic] entropy has increased, as required.

An ambitious treatment of entropy as it pertains to biology is the book Evolution as Entropy, by Daniel R. Brooks and E. O. Wiley. They acknowledge that the distinction between the different kinds of entropy is important :

It is important to realize that the phase space, microstates, and macrostates described in our theory are not classical thermodynamic constructs….

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The entropies are array entropies, more like the entropies of sorting encountered in considering an ideal gas than like the thermal entropies associated with steam engines….

In fact the authors acknowledge many kinds of entropy; they describe physical entropy, Shannon-Weaver entropy, cohesion entropy, and statistical entropy, for example. They rarely use or mention Boltzmann’s constant. One of their main arguments is that although the progress of evolution seems to represent a reduction in entropy, this reduction is only apparent. In reality, evolution increases entropy as the second law requires. But evolution does not increase entropy as fast as the maximum possible rate. So, by comparison to the maximum possible rate, entropy appears to be decreasing. Our eyes have deceived us!

In another book entitled Life Itself, mathematical biologist Robert Rosen of Columbia University seems to have grasped the problem when he writes, “The Second Law thus asserts that… a system autonomously tending to an organized state cannot be closed.”

But immediately he veers away, complaining that the term “organization” is vague. Intent on introducing terms he prefers, like “entailment,” he does not consider the possibility that, in an open system, life’s organization could be imported into one region from another.

Non-traditional Treatment of Cancer

The development of cancer usually takes many years. Therefore, full treatment also can take several months or years (one has to be patient). What is important is to reverse the process in order to stop and reverse cancerous growth. There are no silver bullets to accomplish this task. People have to do all things right in order to have the best chance of reversing the process. In the majority of cases (probably in 90-95%) total reversal of cancer is possible.  🤒

Here are major factors contributing to good health and cancer reversal:

  • try to live in a healthy macro-environment which means one with good air quality, water, soil, light, humidity, temperature range, local organic food supply, void of asbestos mold & radon etc. Play a pro-active role in preserving a safe macro-environment for you and others living there.

  • try to live in a healthy micro-environment, one which you create at home and at your workplace. This means one with good air quality, water, light, humidity, temperature range, etc. Play a pro-active role in preserving a safe micro-environment for you and others living and working there.

  • try to find if there are any internal carcinogenic pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, parasites, fungi and other foreign substances. They should be eliminated using available safe and natural methods such as cleansing diets, herbs, etc. This will minimize the number of produced cancer cells and it will lower the burden on the immune system.

  • the diet should be low-entropy, organic, raw food-based and calorie-restricted. Acidity and pH balance should be monitored (with a pH meter or lacmus/litmus paper) since consumption of some foods can increase acidity (for example sugars) which promotes cancer and creates a toxic and cell-damaging environment.

  • chemicals should be eliminated from your home. Dishes could be washed with just warm water. Most of the things around the house can be cleaned with warm water, soap and vinegar. Chemicals should be eliminated also from your backyard and garden (such as pesticides, herbicides, etc.).

  • don’t keep things totally sterile – small amounts of viruses and bacteria are vital to good health, since they keep your immune system “informed” about what is out there and they help to build better immunity. Bacteria and viruses are an integral part of the environment and the ecosystem and they play an essential role in evolution (exchange and modification of genes) and natural selection (testing of “new genetic designs” and elimination of genetic errors).

  • a proper amount of sleep in a comfortable bed with no metal parts (they change electromagnetic fields around the body) and in a well-ventilated, dark and quiet room.

  • avoidance of radiation from underground water and “Swiss Net” which are claimed to suppress or even block the immune system (some people claim it to be EMF at frequency 1420 MHz or wavelength 21 cm). Diviners (people who can find underground water with a divining rod) can find this radiation, since they are highly-sensitive bio-detectors of this low-level energy.

  • a person should lower the stress level and increase the level of happiness and satisfaction (stress produces a lot of harmful chemicals and free radicals).

  • a person should be involved in non-strenuous exercise such as walking, biking and swimming (strenuous exercise suppresses immune system probably due to free radicals and tissue damage).

  • a person should eliminate smoking, alcohol, an unhealthy environment (radiation from various sources such as cell phones, microwave ovens, cell antennas, X-rays, isotopes, chemicals, etc.). Even flying can be dangerous due to ionizing, cell-destroying cosmic radiation at high altitudes and pesticides often sprayed in the cabin to kill insects (sometimes during the flight).

  • various things such as special herbs, specific food supplements and massage (in particular one which involves the acupressure and adjustments of the chi-energy flow), relaxation and meditation techniques, music and sounds, etc. can be used to boost the immune system. Also a device such as BIO-EMI – Immune System Stimulator can be used to further improve the immune system.   http://www.digital-recordings.com/publ/publifef.html

 

Philosopher John Searle ….  lays out the case for studying human consciousness — and systematically shoots down some of the common objections to taking it seriously.  As we learn more about the brain processes that cause awareness, accepting that consciousness is a biological phenomenon is an important first step.  And no,  he says,  consciousness is not a massive computer simulation.  https://www.ted.com/talks/john_searle_our_shared_condition_consciousness

Medical illustrator and animator David Bolinsky has devoted his career to displaying scientific and medical concepts in a clear, fresh light.

Why you should listen

“The Inner Life of a Cell,” highlighted at TED2007, represents the leading edge of medical animation,  in both its technical achievement and  focus on compelling, memorable action. Created as part of the BioVision initiative to help explain cellular processes to students at Harvard’s Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, the clip has captured the imagination of the press — and reportedly, of Hollywood.

Natural selection can and does create new DNA structure, it’s how evolution works. You talk about natural selection as if it were a conscious being picking and choosing which dna it likes best to allow to exist in a changing world, which is not the case (natural selection is no God).

It’s widely accepted that natural selection is driven by mutations that occur when DNA is either damaged or doesn’t copy correctly (changing it in a random way), causing a greater change in the organisms body … that either helps it or hurts it.  If it helps, the organism is more likely to live long enough to bear offspring that share that mutation, and the species as a whole adopts that mutation into it’s regular structure. Thus, evolution 🙂  http://tvo.org/video/programs/the-agenda-with-steve-paikin/bill-nye-creationism-is-bad-for-us

What others say

“Who would have thought the inner workings of a white blood cell could be visually stunning? For those who fell asleep during high school biology classes, David Bolinsky’s presentation at the TED conference was a revelation.” — Wired News

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How do downhill mutations which cause cancer and genetic disease get selected out of the DNA genome when the disease only occurs after reproduction. Drawing on the Genetic entropy and Mystery of the Genome, the mechanisms of adaptation and genetic disease are explored. Evolution becomes impossible when the mathematical and logical clarity of the processes of downhill mutation, uphill mutation and natural selection are explored https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lN8U8s3nGp4
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Cheryl Broyles

Posted on December 17, 2016 by Ken

I am always keeping an eye out for “top stories,” since my research began March 2006. Amazing December 21st will be five years since… I began blogging and  in that time Cheryl Broyles would have to be rated TOPS.  Is so nice to see Cheryl Broyles sitting on top of the world and recently updating her website and Facebook page. Your story will be the last one I blog for 2016 … Merry Christmas Cheryl !!!! 🙂

Image result for cheryl broyles

I am  ALIVE:

In June 2000, I was told by a really horrible uncaring tech that did my radiation –“Don’t worry about the risks of the radiation, damage from it only come 10+ years later, and you with the GBM will be dead by then.” Not lying, he really said that! Well I guess he did tell the truth, the statistics did predict I would die within a year.

BUT now 16 years later I’m still alive and wondering what else will come along with me being a “long term survivor”. I know that not many people make it this long, so the docs don’t really know what to expect. But hey, I will keep recording my roller coaster ride & will share it with ALL of you other brain tumor fighters ( that will ALSO become “long term survivors” along with me!) YES, there are more and more long term survivors out there. The statistics are looking better and better over time. So plan on being one!

Also In January I will be going through surgery to remove the ugly scalp carcinoma skin  cancer, and replace it with some healthy skin form somewhere else.  I keep telling myself, “no big deal”,  it just comes along  with being a long term survivor after radiation.  And WELL worth it!!! I do NOT regret having the radiation 16 years ago. If I went back in time, I would choose to take it again!  Each day I’m blessed with;  it’s well worth the fight.  I’m willing to take a scar here and there. Then life goes on!

Thus….. to celebrate the Merry Christmas this year, we are heading south to Arizona!

Yes I LOVE the cacti. So instead of a fir tree here in Oregon for Christmas, we will be celebrating with a little cactus!  I always try to NOT let the “things” that come along with the brain tumors slow me down.  Well,  I do have to admit,  it is slowing me down a little, but I keep getting out having fun, just slower. Hey, maybe I’m getting slower, because I’m getting older! YES, this Jan 11th, 2017 I turn the BIG 50 years old. I never thought I would hit the 50s. I was diagnosed when I was only 33 years old, and told I would die within a year.

So you brain tumor fighters, keep planning on getting older and older, it’s possible!

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UPDATE after UPDATE.

Update 6/19/16It is now June 2016, and I have survived the grade 4 GBM brain tumor   for 16 years (dx June 2000)!  My last recurrence was August 2015 and was treated with Gamma Knife Radiation. Within four months after the… Gamma Knife, the GBM shrunk down to nothing seen. Since then, my brain MRIs have continued to look the same, no seen tumor! Unfortunately, I’ve started having simple partial seizures, from the radiation damage.

So I have had to start taking anti-seizure meds for the first time since I was diagnosed.

Currently, I am not on any “western medicine” treatments. I continue to fight the cancer by taking many supplements, also some “off label” prescriptions, exercise 5 days a week, eat an organic low carbohydrate diet, leaning on God for strength, and other “alternative” treatments.

You can read about what I do to fight the cancer on my web page at www.cherylbroyles-gbm.com Have HOPE you fellow brain tumor fighters, don’t listen to the statistics. I was told I would die within a year, and now I’ve survived the GBM 16 years! All is possible.  And I am still out having FUN with my family. I am over here in Oregon USA cheering   you guys on – GO GO GO. https://virtualtrials.com/survivecheryl.cfm

UPDATE after UPDATE.

I know I’m in a “Win Win” situation. I WIN if God wants me to be on earth longer with   my family. And I WIN if God calls me home to heaven. Sometimes I get caught up in fear, when I think about what physical challenges  I may get in the future fighting cancer. Like being paralyzed, not able to take care of myself, etc. As soon as I begin to worry about the future, I get sucked down into depression.  I always tell myself that I WILL NOT let this cancer “kill” my life, while I’m still alive.

I feel ALIVE while I’m living with my Lord. Day by Day. I feel empty and dead when I   take my eyes away from Jesus. So I just always give it ALL over to God. With confidence, TRUE confidence that I am in good hands. I don’t have to worry about it. I don’t have to “earn” anything from God. It’s God’s mercy.

I feel very blessed, whether I stay here on earth, or go to heaven. Again, it’s a WIN WIN situation. So it’s easy for me to pray, “May your will be done”. Then I sit back and smile, living in the moment. Enjoying each day here on earth I have, but also EXCITED about  the future, with my eternal life in heaven!!!!

It’s been over two months since I last posted on Facebook and I’ve been getting many caring messages and emails asking “How are things going”? Some even asked “Is she still alive”? YES I’m alive and it’s been 16 years and 4 months since I was first diagnosed with the ugly grade 4 GBM.
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These last few months have been a struggle with seizures. They have only been the simple partial seizures, but they can still take you down! Finally, it seems they are under cont…rol. I have not had a seizure for over a week now. YA! 

The seizures hit me hard both physically and emotionally. Physically the seizures sucked away my energy and made me feel completely mentally “out of it”.  It totally ruined my summer, which is the season I LOVE to go backpacking into the wilderness. It was too scary to even get very far from my home. Talk about an emotional bomb!

I know others battling brain tumors are hit hard both physically and emotionally too. What helped me make it through this struggle was; Determination! (my husband calls it stubbornness) Either way, I was NOT going to let it take me down! (My Lord gives me the strength to work through it).

I always love to include a picture along with any post I make on Facebook. So I went looking through my picture taken this year and found 1 that really seems to speak out to me; a Redwood tree. Redwood trees are HUGE! The massive size of the Redwood trees, seem like the size of the mental and emotional struggles I go through fighting the GBM brain tumor. Completely overwhelming. It’s like standing below the Redwood tree and looking up. WOW.

However it’s inspiring thinking about how strong the Redwood trees are. They make it through pretty much all of the forest fires that have hit them in the past. You can see the dark black scars on their bark, but they still look beautiful. What inspires me most is how long they live! Hundreds of years!!! 

I’m determined to be like a Redwood tree; to be long living even with all my physical        and emotional scars. Yes, I’m inspired by a tree. I admit it. Now every time I get hit by          a seizure, I’m going to visualize a beautiful redwood tree. Telling myself that I will be           as strong as they are and able to make it through the fires.

I hope that others out there struggling with the brain tumor battles, will think of the    Redwood trees, and be determined to live LONG like they do!
 

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Giant Sequoias and Redwoods: The Largest and Tallest Trees

     Redwood trees reach the sky in California’s Big Basin Redwoods State Park.

Giant sequoias and California redwoods (and also called coast redwoods) are nature’s skyscrapers.  These enormous trees exist  primarily  in Northern California,  and though  they have a number of common characteristics, including distinctive cinnamon-red bark, they are different species.

One giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum), known as General Sherman, is the world’s largest tree, while a redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) called Hyperion is the tallest.

Giant sequoias and California redwoods (also called coast redwoods) are nature’s skyscrapers. These enormous trees exist primarily in Northern California, and though  they have a number of common characteristics, including thedistinctive cinnamon-red bark, they are different species.

One giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum), known as General Sherman, is              the world’s largest tree, while a redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) called Hyperion is         the tallest. Sequoias grow naturally along the western slope of the Sierra Nevada mountains, between 5,000 and 7,000 feet above sea level and far inland. That elevation provides these trees with dry mountain air necessary for their cones to open and release seeds. AND The snowpack from the Sierra Nevada provides sequoias with the thousands of gallons of water they drink every day.  Sequoias have shallow roots and require well-drained soil.

Because of its brittle texture, the sequoia is not a valuable lumber species.  And It was, nevertheless, logged extensively around the turn of the 20th century. Originally, sequoias could  be  found  throughout the Northern Hemisphere.  Today,  they are found only in 77 scattered groves in Northern California. Among the places that preserve giant sequoias are Sequoia National Forest, Sequoia National Park,  and Giant Sequoia National Monument.

Redwoods

These tallest of trees reach heights of more than 350 feet (107 meters). The tallest tree in the world is named Hyperion, which reaches 379.7 feet (115.7 meters). Redwoods can also achieve a diameter of 24 feet (7 meters), and 1.6 million pounds (725,700 kg). These giants can live to be 2,000 years old  and have graced the planet for more than 240 million years. Though they once thrived throughout much of the Northern Hemisphere, today redwoods are only found on the coast from central California through southern Oregon. They do not live more than 50 miles inland, and are usually found in long belts, rather than small groves.

True to their name, coast redwoods need a moderate, coastal climate to survive. They require the area’s frequent fog to protect them from dry spells and drought. Like sequoias, redwoods require abundant water to drink and have shallow root systems.   Redwoods, however, get their water from rain rather than snowmelt, and therefore require consistent rainfall throughout the year.  They even  “create”  their own rain by trapping fog in their lofty branches. With the right amount of moisture, redwoods can grow two or three feet   in a year, making them one of the fastest-growing conifers in the world.

In contrast to their size, redwoods have extremely small cones — about one inch long. They have appropriately large root systems, however, often extending 100 miles (161 kilometers) and intertwining with the roots of other redwoods. Baby redwoods often sprout at their parents’ base, latching onto their roots for nutrients. For this reason,       they often grow in circular clusters sometimes called fairy rings.

The coast redwood’s lumber has been highly valued historically. It is durable, resistant to rot and termites, non-warping, and relatively soft. For this reason, it has been extensively logged.  Since logging began in the 1850s,  95% of old-growth coast redwoods  have been cut down, according to the Sempervirens Fund. Today, many redwoods exist in protected forests and parks.

Interesting facts

Preview  GBM Brain Tumor Surgery Survivor

GBM Brain Tumor Surgery Survivor

 Preview YouTube video Redwood National Park

Redwood National Park
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Believing in Yourself “

Posted on December 16, 2016 by Ken

Image result for believe in yourself and you will be unstoppable

How to Believe in Yourself

By Leo Babauta

There was a long time when the lack of belief in myself was a major factor in my life.

I didn’t pursue an ideal career, or start my own business, because I didn’t think I could.      I didn’t stick to habits because I didn’t really believe I had the discipline. I was shy with girls, I had a hard time making new friends, I didn’t assert myself in the workplace.             I didn’t push past my comfort zone.

All because I didn’t really believe I could.

While I’m not free of self-doubt these days, I can honestly say I believe in myself like   never before. That doesn’t mean I think I’ll never fail or quit: I will. Probably often.

And that’s OK.

The trick is that I learned it’s completely fine to try and fail, to put yourself out there and not be perfect, to say hello to someone and have them not instantly love you, to create something and have people judge you.

Failure, not being perfect, mistakes, not having people agree with me, not being completely accepted: these are not negative things. They’re positive.

How is failure positive? It’s the only way we truly learn. For example: you can read a book on math, but until you try it and fail, you’ll never see where your lack of understanding is. The best way to learn something is to study it a bit, then try it, take practice tests, make mistakes, then learn some more.

How are mistakes positive? They’re little pieces of feedback necessary to grow and learn.

How is being rejected positive? It means I’m growing beyond the absolutely socially acceptable realm.  The best people in history were not socially acceptable: truth-tellers   like Socrates,  Jesus,  Gandhi,  Proudhon  and Bakunin,  Martin Luther King Jr.,  animal rights philosopher Peter Singer, unschooling pioneer John Holt, women’s rights activists, abolitionists, and many more.

These things we’re afraid of — they’re actually desirable. We need to learn to see them    that way, and embrace them, letting go of the fear.

When we can get better at this — which takes a lot of practice — we can start to remove  the things that hold us back.

So practice:

  • Push past your discomfort, growing your discomfort method.
  • Put yourself out there, and be OK with not knowing if people will accept you.
  • Stick to a habit, not listening to the negative self-talk that normally holds you back.
  • Stick to it some more, and learn to trust yourself.
  • Go into situations not knowing, and learn to be OK with that.
  • Learn through repeated attempts that it’s OK to fail, that you can be OK in failure.
  • Learn through repeated experiments that you are stronger than you think, that you   are more capable and more tolerant of discomfort than you think.

And in this practice, you will find yourself. And realize that you were great all along.

 

Connected Through Comedy, Living *The Life*
If you’re not Laughin, You’re not Livin!  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Only you and god knows when your time is up and never forget that  
🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽❤❤❤👊🏽👊🏽👊🏽 so just keep fighting.
<3 Confidence, Life Happiness, Love & Belonging so just believe in yourself with all your heart <3 don’t be comparing yourself with others, confidence will transform your life, hiding your true self, how can I be more confident, how to believe in yourself, I am afraid to be myself, I don’t believe in myself, I want to be more confident, I wish I was more confident, I’m afraid to be myself, I’ve never believed in myself, lack of confidence and unhappiness, reasons to believe in yourself, stop comparing yourself to others, the problem with not believing in yourself, the secrets to being confident, unstoppable confidence, why am i so unhappy  🙂 Just believe In Yourself  🙂
 “When you doubt your power, you give power to your doubt.”                 ~Honore de Balzac

You know what that voice in your head says…

You can’t do it. You’ll never be good enough. You’re going to fail.

This voice taunts you whenever you set a goal. It criticizes you when life gets difficult.        It beats you down when you struggle to stand up against its running commentary.

You know you shouldn’t let self-doubt bother you, but it’s a sneaky critter. Sometimes,  you just can’t contain it and it slips past your barriers.

And self-doubt is greedy. When it’s loose, it devours your confidence, strips logic and reason from your mind, and steals happiness from your heart. In return, it leaves you   with only fear and insecurity.

You try to remove self-doubt by forcing yourself to “think positive,” which usually doesn’t work as well as you think it should.

The more you fight your self-doubt, the more it fights back. However, with self-knowledge and understanding, you can use self-doubt for your benefit.

For years I stopped myself before I even tried. I did it because I was afraid.

I was afraid of what people would say. I was afraid everyone would hate my art. I was afraid of failing as an artist.

When fear grabs you, your beloved goal forever feels out of reach. But it doesn’t just stop there, does it?

If left unchecked, the infectious bite of fear and self-doubt can spread. You unconsciously start questioning your knowledge and abilities in everything you do. And if you’re like me, you desperately want to find a cure.

One fateful day I realized that trying to beat out my self-doubt wouldn’t rebuild my confidence.

If I wanted to believe in myself, I needed to face my self-doubt and be willing to take care of it.

Before, I imagined self-doubt as a life-sucking monster. Now, I realize it’s actually a fearful, angry, and lost creature secretly crying for help.

Like fear, joy, and sadness, doubt is part of human nature, and it needs understanding.     If you want to improve yourself,  you need to tame your self-doubt,  not fight with it.

That means paying attention to how you react to things, understanding the root of your insecurities, and taking steps to address your fears.

Stop listening to people who bring you down.

Some people are convinced that everything is impossible, and they are quick to shoot down ideas. They’ll poison your mind into a state of hopelessness.

Don’t let them steal your energy just because they’ve lost theirs.

Instead, surround yourself with supportive and passionate people who can both inspire you and bring out the best in you. You can find them among friends, family, books, or blogs like Tiny Buddha.

They will lift you up when you feel down and help you see the bright side of your darkest fears and doubts.

Recall your successes.

This one is tough. When you’re down, you’ll more easily remember the bad instead of the good. And oftentimes, the “rah-rah” pep talk just doesn’t cut it.

So, I suggest writing a list. Grab a piece of paper or small notebook, or open a blank document. Now write down your successes, big or small.

If you’re a bit bashful about your achievements, ask someone you trust to tell you the great things they think you’ve done. It’s refreshing and a great confidence boost.

And finally, keep your list with you at all times. It will help you find your way back to yourself whenever you get lost.

Trust and love yourself.

You probably spend more time being your own worst enemy instead of being your own best friend.

But you deserve to treat yourself better. After all, you have the rest of your life to spend with yourself.

Think of it this way: Would you mentally abuse or condemn your loved ones? Would      you let them suffer in their time of need? If not, then why would you do it to yourself?

So, be kind to yourself. You are more capable and worthy than you give yourself credit for.

Are You Determined To Fail?

Do you notice the theme throughout all of the questions? There is an undercurrent of     self – doubt and vulnerability.  The unspoken thought that  drives these questions is,         “I don’t believe these ideas will work for me.” Or, stated another way, “I don’t believe           I can make these ideas work. I don’t believe in myself.”

Worrying about not being able to implement a few diet changes is just one, tiny example  of this fear. But a lack of belief in yourself will limit you no matter how great the ideas or opportunities are that you are exposed to.

My biggest question to the reader above would be this: Why are you determined to make these ideas not work for you? Why are you searching for reasons why these ideas won’t succeed instead of figuring out a way to make something good happen?

The biggest difference between successful people and unsuccessful ones (in health,            in business, and in life) is that successful people are determined to make the situation work for them rather than playing the role of the victim and searching for reasons why        a situation won’t work.

No idea will work for every person on the planet, but many ideas can work for most   people … if you believe that you can make them work. You have to be willing to not just think differently, but to also to experiment with new ideas and trust that you’ll discover     a way to make them work.

Believe in Yourself

The biggest difference I’ve noticed between successful people and unsuccessful people  isn’t intelligence or opportunity or resources. It’s the belief that they can make their goals happen.

We all deal with vulnerability, uncertainty, and failure. Some of us trust that if we move forward anyway, then we will figure it out. As I sit here on Thanksgiving, I’m thankful that I’m one of these people.

When I started my business, I was the only entrepreneur in our family in the last century.  I didn’t have anyone to learn from, but I trusted that I would figure it out anyway.

When I was kicked off a train in the middle of the night while traveling through Hungary,  I was lost and confused.  I couldn’t find anyone who spoke English,  so as the train pulled away I ran along side, hopped back on, and trusted that I would figure it out anyway.

When I’ve discovered an opportunity that sounds awesome but that I’m not qualified      for (which happens often), I trust that I’ll figure it out and go for it anyway.

I believe in myself. This confidence has made the difference for me again and again.            I didn’t need intelligence or opportunity or resources. Just a simple belief in myself.

Do You Believe That Change Is Possible for You?

One of the most foundational beliefs of this community is that you can become better.

We believe that it is possible for human beings to improve. We believe that it is possible    to raise the bar in your own life even if the world around you accepts average. We believe in ourselves and in each other. We believe that if you want better health or more happiness or a more meaningful job that you can make those things happen.

And because of this belief we are willing to test, experiment, and try new things even when we feel uncertain.  If you don’t believe that it’s possible to make new things work,  then it’s hard to make any progress.  I don’t care how good the ideas are,  nothing will work for you if you don’t believe in it.  And more importantly,  nothing will work if you don’t believe in yourself.  http://jamesclear.com/motivation

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.
—John F. Kennedy

An inspiring motivational video featuring motivational speech from Evan Carmichael.

Preview  Believe in Yourself – Motivational Video

Believe in Yourself – Motivational Video

 Preview YouTube video Believe Josh Groban

Believe Josh Groban
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20 Life Lessons + 12 More

Posted on December 16, 2016 by Ken

BEATING the Big C can teach you what really matters,

By Rachel Carlyle

cancer, health, disease, survivor, lesson, Rachel Carlyle

 As a middle-aged software developer,  Chris Geiger never intended to be an inspiration.  Aged 24  he was told he had   non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and given three months to live.  Now,  24 years later,  he’s still alive and well – and passionate about giving hope that there’s life after cancer.Two years ago he set up The Cancer Survivors Club website to collect other survivors’ stories, which have now been published in his book.
“I was desperately looking for ordinary people’s stories of surviving cancer when I was ill, but all I found were celebrities,” says Chris, 48, from Bristol. “It sounds strange but most people say they’re glad they had cancer because of the new perspective it brings. It’s sad that it should take cancer to do this – perhaps everyone can learn from our stories.”
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You are stronger than you know
“People often told me how brave I was,” says Claire Duffett, from Bristol, who was 32 when diagnosed with breast cancer five years ago. “But I wasn’t brave, I took each day as    it came. God forbid you get cancer, but I guarantee you will find an inner strength to deal with it.” Why waste time? Chris is sure cancer killed his lazy gene. “If I’m awake I have to get up,  which drives my wife  Catherine mad  as sometimes it’s 4am. 
It was never like that before, but I feel I have wasted so much time in my life I cannot waste another minute.”Cancer is random“ I was 24, had run a marathon, never smoked and didn’t drink much – yet I got cancer,” says Chris. “I remember saying to my consultant, ‘Why me?’ He wiggled my big toe then said, ‘You’re unlucky.’”

I don’t worry about the small things that consumed life before cancer. Instead I have a list of things to achieve

Chris, cancer survivor

You can prevent people irritating youMany cancer survivors say they can distance themselves from angry or rude comments. “People who were once irritating ceased to be – not because they had changed but because I was more open-minded,” says Andrea Paine, who was diagnosed with breast cancer at 45. “I don’t let things or people get to me as much as I once did.”Your true friends may surprise youMany cancer patients discover people they thought were good friends melt away after diagnosis, whereas others they wouldn’t consider as close step up. “Some friends even avoided me and my family, which at the time I didn’t understand,” says Katie Patterson, from South Wales, who was 20 when she had leukaemia five years ago. “I now understand different people deal with situations differently.”You can learn confidenceConfidence isn’t something you either have or you don’t have; it can grow out of situations where you have no choice but to push on. “The stories in the book The Cancer Survivors Club will attest that everyone has the ability to be tenacious,” says Andrea.You’re a better personIt sounds utterly bizarre but most survivors wouldn’t go back and undo their cancer. “It’s definitely changed me for the better,” says Jessica Smith, who had bowel cancer at 27.“I never put up with rubbish from people or waste time doing jobs I hate. I still have the stresses of everyday life but I never forget I’m lucky to have another chance.”

cancer, lessons

‘I don’t worry about the small things that consumed life before cancer’

Material things don’t matter“That credit card bill I used to worry about every month suddenly wasn’t an issue – it would get sorted out,” says Chris. “I also wasn’t bothered how much I earned any more. I don’t worry about the small things that consumed life before cancer. Instead I have a list of things to achieve.”Take care of your bodyAlmost all the survivors realised they needed to take better care of their bodies. “I eat better food, more organic and don’t eat processed food any more,” says Shelly Ostrouhoff, who had non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma 10 years ago.Friends and family before workCancer survivors are usually aghast at how their jobs consumed their lives before their diagnosis. Many change their jobs for something that interests them more, with far fewer worries. “My family and friends always come before work now,” says Chris.Life’s about small pleasuresFor Chris  it’s the joy of fermenting his own bread;  for Andrea it’s seeing her daughter smile.  “I’m more grateful for things like a beautiful moon or the joy of hearing the waves while I walk along the beach,” she says. “These things may have given me more joy before but      I now notice them more and have a new-found tendency to see the glass half-full.”Who cares what they thinkSo much of our lives are governed by what other people think of us – from our job to      our clothes or how we bring up our children. But when you have survived cancer you   don’t care as much; you are far more attuned to what you truly want from life.Moaning is pointlessGrumbling is one of life’s constants, but many cancer survivors find their new sense of confidence and perspective prompts them to change their job rather than moan endlessly about it.Appearance isn’t important“I’m way less bothered than I have ever been about my appearance,” says Helen Gorick, from Devon, who has had non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma twice. “I am much happier about who I am and if someone judges me because I look like a bag lady when I pop into Tesco, they aren’t worth knowing anyway.”Anyone can get depressedNot everyone finds their true path in life after cancer – studies say 40 per cent get anxious or depressed after treatment ends. “It’s important to take small steps at first,” says Mark Davies who had colorectal cancer at 31. Risks give you a thrill Whether it’s climbing Everest, or having the courage to start dating, many survivors say they wish they’d taken more risks before diagnosis. “You really understand the phrase   ‘life is too short’.” says Chris. Fitness feels goodAmanda Baird ran the 5k Race for Life two weeks after her last dose of chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer. In the five years since she has taken part in a triathlon and the London to Brighton bike ride. “I push myself constantly,” she says. Live in the momentCancer survivors understand they must savour life. “When I’m invited somewhere I give   it my full attention,” says Andrea. “I don’t leave half my thoughts at the door because I’m too busy thinking of the lengthy to-do list waiting at home.”Don’t give up“If someone says it can’t be done, I’m determined to prove them wrong.” says Chris. “Having cancer shows you that you can be persistent.”

We’ll all die one day

All the book’s contributors agree that this fact only properly dawned on them following their brush with cancer. “That’s why we should all aim to live each day to the full. We shouldn’t need to have had cancer to realize it,” says Chris.

Everything is backwards in this world.  People think the more you have and the more      “you are”  the better,  when the truth is  we have to become like nothing to get the taste        of everything.  We have to get rid of desires, illusions, needs, prejudices etc. and become content with that which is. The truth about life and death has been revealed and nothing could be more important than to surrender to it;  Google truthcontest,  click the Earth icon, read the present.

“12 Life Changing Lessons”

 1. Less is More   2. Time to Grind  3. Post & Prioritized  4. Do What You LOVE  5. Expect The Best Outcome   6.  It Only Takes One   7.  Go Overboard   8.  Television is a Waste 0f Time  9. Take Care of Yourself 10. Prepare Like Hell 11. Track & Measure  12.  Be Daring !

Preview  Life Lessons from Cancer – Josh Cantwell

Life Lessons from Cancer – Josh Cantwell

 Preview  Stephen’s Story – When life gives you cancer

Stephen’s Story – When life gives you cancer
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For Erin Purchase. . . . How frightening!

Posted on December 15, 2016 by Ken

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Recently I have became Facebook friends with Erin Purchase,  realizing what type of genes a person may have acquired through birth …that helps them survive cancer.

 That  provides   “determination in crucial situation.”  Today Erin  posted  this … on her timeline, I made a mistake this morning and drove to Portland, a blizzard started  while  I was there  and  I had to drive 200 miles home in it. I am thankful to be alive, home with my family right now.

  I am thankful for my mother for teaching me to drive in the snow so well, I am thankful for life, my family, the cop who helped scrape all the ice off my windows when I couldn’t see and had to pull over, I am thankful for the rumble strip for telling me I was driving off the road in 100% white out weather, I’m thankful for the truck drivers that actually pulled over instead of putting lives in danger, ultimately… I’m thankful to my higher spirit… for protecting me during the most terrifying drive of my life. The universe wants Oregon to have a white Christmas.    Drive safe out there with an attitude of gratitude 🙂
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  After reading this thought provoking comment it got me thinking. Could this be the reason some people survive cancer naturally while others fail. Its a strong constitution      that keeps you going through a blizzard …. so you can have surgery in the morning. Or    for a seven year old daughter to overcome cancer. It is a loving mother that see’s to it her daughter gets a second chance at life.
 
This  article below, I once read during my years of researching the natural alternatives      to surviving cancer:

 Mykayla Comstock’s family says marijuana helps her fight an especially aggressive form  of leukemia,  keeps infection at bay and lifts her weary spirit.  Twice a day  she swallows a potent capsule form of the drug.  Some days,  when she can’t sleep or eat,  she snacks on a gingersnap or brownie baked with marijuana-laced butter. Mykayla is one of 2,201 cancer patients authorized by the state of Oregon to use medical marijuana.  She is 7.

The Oregon Medical Marijuana Program serves 52 children who have a qualifying   medical condition, parental consent and a doctor’s approval.

Allowing adults to consume medical marijuana is gaining acceptance nationwide. But Mykayla’s story underscores the complex issues that arise when states empower parents  to administer the controversial drug to children.

Oregon’s law, approved by voters 14 years ago, requires no monitoring of a child’s medical marijuana use by a pediatrician. The law instead invests authority in parents to decide the dosage, frequency and manner of a child’s marijuana consumption.

The state imposes no standards for quality, safety or potency in the production of marijuana.

Little is known about how the drug interacts with the developing body, leading pediatricians say. A recent international study found sustained cannabis use among    teens can cause long-term damage to intellect, memory and attention.

Many doctors worry about introducing a child to marijuana when they say other drugs   can treat pain and nausea more effectively.

Mykayla’s father, who is divorced from the girl’s mother, was so disturbed by his daughter’s marijuana use that he contacted child welfare officials, police and her oncologist. Jesse Comstock said his concerns were prompted by a visit with Mykayla         in August.

“She was stoned out of her mind,” said Comstock, 26. “All she wanted to do was lay on   the bed and play video games.”

But Mykayla’s mother and her boyfriend, Erin Purchase and Brandon Krenzler, see the drug as a harmless antidote to leukemia’s host of horrors. The couple, regular cannabis users raised in Pendleton, said Mykayla relies almost exclusively on pot to treat pain, nausea, vomiting, depression and sleep problems associated with her cancer treatment.

Mykayla, who favors a knit cupcake cap to cover her fuzz of strawberry-colored hair,      said marijuana makes her feel better.

By the numbers
Most jurisdictions that have medical marijuana programs — 18 states and Washington, D.C. — permit children to participate with parental consent and a doctor’s approval.
View the numbers for Oregon here.

“It helps me eat and sleep,” she said, nestled against her mother on a couch. “The chemotherapy makes you feel like you want to stay up all night long.”Marijuana,               she said, “makes me feel funny, happy.”

“She’s like she was before,” her mother said. “She’s a normal kid.”

Diagnosis: leukemia

Mykayla, a sweet girl with a splash of red freckles across her nose and cheeks, started showing cancer symptoms last spring. She was feverish. She had a hacking cough and night sweats. A rash spread on her leg.

Purchase, 25, worried that her daughter had Lyme disease or pneumonia. A Pendleton doctor suspected strep throat and put her on antibiotics.

But Mykayla’s health worsened. Purchase took her to a Hermiston pediatrician, who  found a mass in the girl’s chest.

Purchase and Krenzler, 27, drove Mykayla to Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel that afternoon. The following day she was diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

“My whole life is her,” said Purchase, who became pregnant with Mykayla when she was    a 17-year-old high school senior. “I was so scared of losing her. It was heartbreaking.”

Leukemia is the most common childhood cancer, striking an estimated 3,800 American children each year. Mykayla has T-cell leukemia, an aggressive form of the disease that affects 10 to 15 percent of patients.

Immediately, Purchase, who is divorced from Mykayla’s father and has sole custody,   faced decisions about her daughter’s treatment.

With chemotherapy, doctors put Mykayla’s odds of survival at 76.9 percent and her  chance of relapse at  7 percent,  Purchase said . Purchase accepted the chemo  as part of     her daughter’s treatment, although she takes a generally dim view of the pharmaceutical industry, is skeptical of childhood vaccines, rejects genetically modified foods and avoids products made with high-fructose corn syrup.

What Purchase believes, emphatically, is that cannabis heals.

Purchase said her stepfather’s topical application of cannabis oil cured his skin cancer.   She said an acquaintance’s lung cancer went into remission after he used pot.

And Purchase herself consumes marijuana daily.

She said she became an Oregon medical marijuana patient in 2010 to treat vomiting from a metabolic problem and from her pregnancy with her second child. She is so convinced of the drug’s safety that she consumed it during the pregnancy and while breastfeeding.

She was certain of one thing when Mykayla was diagnosed: The child would use marijuana to defeat cancer.

Purchase and Krenzler took Mykayla to The Hemp and Cannabis Foundation clinic in Southeast Portland, where a doctor looked over a letter from Mykayla’s oncologist stating her diagnosis. The doctor asked about Mykayla’s medications, her symptoms and how Purchase planned to give her daughter the drug.

Purchase said the physician “was pretty thorough.”

If he had any concerns about Mykayla’s age, Purchase said, he didn’t mention them.

Ten days after her cancer diagnosis, Mykayla was an Oregon medical marijuana patient.

Undergoing treatment    http://www.bravemykayla.com/her-treatment.html

On a recent afternoon, Krenzler placed a baggie of empty pill capsules on the kitchen counter and unwrapped a 10-gram syringe of cannabis oil, known among marijuana patients as Rick Simpson Oil.  SideNote: {{{I recommend a food grade solvent}}}…

Krenzler filled a capsule with a half-gram of the dark sludgy substance that friends had prepared and handed it to Mykayla. The oil smells bad and, says Mykayla, tastes awful. Krenzler got lime-flavored capsules to help mask the drug’s pungent aftertaste.

Test results showed the substance had a tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content of 58.6 percent, a much higher concentration than in dried marijuana. THC is the psychoactive property of marijuana that gives users a high.

Mykayla swallowed the pill.

“First you get hungry,” she said. “Then you get really funny, and then you get tired.”

Mykayla Comstock is one of the youngest medical marijuana patients in Oregon.              She had cancer. Read the full story here.           Brave Mykayla

Since MyKayla’s remission which today she is cancer free. Erin stated I’m going to school for holistic medicine 🙂   (I just started again  after 7 year break),   I love cannabis but it is one of many medicinal herbs …  I work for Mike and Jen at Stoney Girl doing social media and marketing. They donated all of Kayla’s oil… after we bought our first two tubes from a dispensary. The dispensary owner introduced  us to Mike and Jen  and they took us under their wing.  They are amazing people… Very intelligent  and their knowledge is incredible.  Life has been super busy for me lately and finding time for everything has been difficult.

 

Preview Medical marijuana for Oregon child with cancer

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Open Your Mind ~ Challenge Your Beliefs

Posted on December 11, 2016 by Ken
Image may contain: 1 person, smiling, closeup
Hello Everybody, Hannah Cerynik :
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I’m 43. Found a lump in May. After watching it for a month I decided to get in checked       & finally got an appointment July 28. Immediately, they prepared me for a likely cancer diagnosis. Had Ultrasound & Manmogram done that day (my first one) I left for Fiji the next day on a Medical Mission trip. 10 days later, home, had a biopsy 8/11 & confirmed IDC on 8/15. Refused Adjuvant Chemo. Started seeing a Naturopathic Doc- IV Vit C, Glutathione, Blood Ozone, Alpha Lipoic Acid- had 7 treatments.
   He did full blood labs & diagnosed me with Lymes & active Epstein Barr Virus (original diagnosis was in 2003) His theory was that I developed breast cancer because these two kept my T cells from doing their job. (I have 4 teenage sons, work as OR Nurse, Separated 2/8 after 21+ years of marriage, divorced 9/26. (STRESS!)
I’ve been AIP/Paleo since May 2014 so I already ate super clean & very mindful of environment etc.
 I originally went to Sunridge Medical with Dr Franco (but got too pricey!) Now I see a Nurse Practitioner-Nicole Srednicki – Cura Personalis- and she is so wonderful! It’s all cash pay (but I get reimbursed by my Christian Medical Share Plan).

I found Nicole was much more affordable & offered more customized treatments. She became my advocate in my journey. I decided on a Double Mastectomy with immediate reconstruction -10/12 (went from an H to a big C so I’m rather happy). ER+ PR+ HER2+ (although initial diagnosis was negative) Tumor was 5 cm with clean margin but mets to nodes 8 of 10 had something.
  Of course my oncologist wants me to do chemo & rad. I told him I need proof there is anything before I’d even consider poisoning my entire body. Ordered breast cancer blood circulating test (negative) Full Bone Scan (negative) & CT scan (4-5 tiny suspicious nodes) Again, pushing me to have chemo- my NP is talking to him about further testing.
Meanwhile, I just completed a 21 Day Liver Cleanse (Standard Process) which actually cleared my HORRIBLE palmar psoriasis-the first thing to actually work! Good sign that I’m healing from the inside out.
Supplements:
Adren-Plus
CoQ10
ImmunoKinoko 500 AHCC
OMEGA 3 x3
Kavinace Ultra PM (melatonin+)
Magnesium CitraMal (pm)
Vitamin D3 drops
Frankincense EO -rubbed on right breast & axilla & 1 drop base of neck                           (mixed with coconut oil)
I receive 2x week- IV C + methylated Bs (have MTHFR gene mutation)                                     + minerals, glutathione, alpha lipoic acid, Taurine, Quercertin.
She’s REALLY doing her homework
Next Up I want to start Ketogenic Diet.

I know that I am not alone.

And This is my FIGHT song:
When I walk through deep waters
I know that You will be with me
When I’m standing in the fire
I will not be overcome
Through the valley of the shadow
I will not fear
I am not alone
I am not alone
You will go before me
You will never leave me
In the midst of deep sorrow
I see Your light is breaking through
The dark of night will not overtake me
I am pressing into You
Lord, You fight my every battle
And I will not fear
You amaze me
Redeem me
You call me as Your own
You’re my strength
You’re my defender
You’re my refuge in the storm
Through these trials
You’ve always been faithful
You bring healing to my soul
~Kari Jobe~

Hannah Cerynik

Preview Kari Jobe – I Am Not Alone (Live)

 
Kari Jobe – I Am Not Alone (Live)
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Elaine Cantin’s Ketogenic Remedy

Posted on December 11, 2016 by Ken

Image result for ketogenic diet and cancer-a perspective

http://www.naturalhealth365.com/category/ketogenic-diet/

Published on Aug 31, 2012

Elaine Cantin was diagnosed with breast cancer and within one week was rushed into  have a surgical lumpectomy.  Doctors wanted to immediately begin  ‘aggressive’ radiation and chemotherapy and this idea frightened Elaine, as she had seen many family members and friends die.  Elaine said, “I thought that if I had to go,  I would not be going that way.” Within six months the tumor had regrown in the original spot to the size of a small egg.

Elaine did exte…nsive research and testing with the ketogentic diet used at the Johns Hopkins Medical Center.  She modified the diet…. to exclude dairy and other allergens, and once on this modified version of the diet, her tumor shrunk to the size of a chickpea    in only two weeks. A biopsy of the ‘tumor’ revealed cancer cells were no longer present.

Recently Elaine has been given a clean bill of health as she is considered in remission.

Elaine also tested her diet …with her fifteen year old son who has been taking insulin          for Type 1 Diabetes since he was three years old.  As long as he is able to stay on the diet, his blood sugars level  and  he is able to stop taking insulin.  For many years now we have believed that Type 1 Diabetes is incurable. Elaine was able to get her son off insulin several times and is conducting further research to see if her modified ketogenic diet can actually cure Type 1 Diabetes.

Elaine shares her encouraging and uplifting story of how she healed from breast cancer with her modified ketogenic diet,  and also tells of her experience with Type 1 Diabetes     in this short interview with Incredible Healing Journals.

THANK YOU for WATCHING! Please LIKE and SHARE this incredible story and COMMENT below! We love to hear from you 🙂

To CONNECT  with Elaine,  look for links to her book,  social media page  and Ketogenic Diet Support Group,  go to https://www.facebook.com/CantinKetogenicDiet/  Also watch  Elaine’s Youtube Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpvyHjqjW3Y

For more great stories of how others heal from many ‘dis-eases’,                                             go to http://incrediblehealingjournals.com.

The Good Witch: For delicious recipes, essential resources, tips and healing information and  books:  ‘The Cancer Journal Heal Yourself’  and  ‘Cancer Cure and Survivor Stories,’ go to http://thegoodwitch.ca

Until next time,

Happy Healing!

Lisa Robbins, BScHN, RHN, CTT
The Cancer Journal Heal Yourself
Cancer Cure and Survivor Stories.

********************************************************************************

Also Dr. Mike explains how a ketogenic diet can prevent and even cure cancer                     by depriving cancer cells of glucose, which is their only energy source.

Preview YouTube video The Ketogenic Diet and Cancer

The Ketogenic Diet and Cancer
Dr. D’Agostino is an Assistant Professor at the University of South Florida College Of Medicine, Molecular Pharmacology & Physiology where he develops and tests metabolic therapies, including alternative energy substrates and ketogenic agents for neurological disorders, cancer and wound healing. While studying the effects of gasses on the brains of Navy Seal divers, he developed an approach for metabolically starving cancer cells through diet and compressed oxygen, replacing chemotherapy, surgery, or radiation.

Preview YouTube video Starving Cancer with Dr. Dominic D’Agostino

Starving Cancer with Dr. Dominic D’Agostino

 

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Psychological Stress and Cancer

Posted on December 10, 2016 by Ken

Related image

Psychological stress describes what people feel when they are under mental, physical, or emotional pressure. Although it is normal to experience some psychological stress from time to time, people who experience high levels of psychological stress or who experience it repeatedly over a long period of time may develop health problems (mental and/or physical). https://draxe.com/10-ways-chronic-stress-is-killing-your-quality-of-life/

Stress can be caused both by daily responsibilities and routine events, as well as by more unusual events, such as a trauma or illness in oneself or a close family member. When people feel that they are unable to manage or control changes caused by cancer or normal life activities, they are in distress. Distress has become increasingly recognized as a factor that can reduce the quality of life of cancer patients. There is even some evidence that extreme distress is associated with poorer clinical outcomes. Clinical guidelines are available to help doctors and nurses assess levels of distress and help patients manage it.

This fact sheet provides a general introduction to the stress that people may experience as they cope with cancer. More detailed information about specific psychological conditions related to stress can be found in the Related Resources and Selected References at the end of this fact sheet.

How does the body respond during stress?

The body responds to physical, mental, or emotional pressure by releasing stress hormones (such as epinephrine and norepinephrine) that increase blood pressure,     speed heart rate, and raise blood sugar levels. These changes help a person act with  greater strength and speed to escape a perceived threat.

Research has shown that people who experience intense and long-term (i.e., chronic) stress can have digestive problems, fertility problems, urinary problems, and weakens the immune system. People who experience chronic stress are also more prone to viral infections such as the flu or common cold to headaches, sleep trouble, depression, and anxiety.

Can psychological stress cause cancer?

Although stress can cause a number of physical health problems,  evidence that it can cause cancer is weak. Some studies have indicated a link between various psychological factors and an increased risk of developing cancer, but others have not.

Apparent links between psychological stress and cancer could arise in several ways.        For example,  people under stress  may  develop  certain behaviors,  such as smoking, overeating, or drinking alcohol, which increase a person’s risk for cancer. Or someone  who has a relative  with cancer may have  a higher risk for cancer because  of a shared inherited risk, not because of the stress induced by the family member’s diagnosis.

How does psychological stress affect people who have cancer?

People who have cancer may find the physical,  emotional,  and social effects of the    disease to be stressful.  Those who attempt to manage their stress with risky behaviors  such as smoking or drinking alcohol or who become more sedentary may have a poorer quality of life after cancer treatment.  In contrast,  people who are able  to use effective coping strategies to deal with stress, such as relaxation and stress management techniques, have been shown to have lower levels of depression, anxiety, and symptoms related to the cancer and its treatment. However, there is no evidence that successful management of psychological stress improves cancer survival.

Evidence from experimental studies does suggest that psychological stress can affect          a tumor’s ability to grow and spread.  For example, some studies have shown that when mice bearing human tumors were kept confined or isolated from other mice—conditions that increase stress—their tumors were more likely to grow and spread (metastasize).

In one set of experiments, tumors transplanted into the mammary fat pads of mice had much higher rates of spread to the lungs  and lymph nodes if the mice were chronically stressed than if the mice were not stressed.   Studies in mice and in human cancer cells grown in the laboratory have found that the stress hormone norepinephrine, part of the body’s fight-or-flight response system, may promote angiogenesis and metastasis.

In another study, women with triple-negative breast cancer who had been treated          with neoadjuvant chemotherapy were asked about their use of beta blockers, which are medications that interfere with certain stress hormones, before and during chemotherapy. Women who reported  using  beta blockers  had  a better chance of surviving their cancer treatment without a relapse than women who did not report beta blocker use. There was no difference between the groups, however, in terms of overall survival.

Although there is still no strong evidence  that stress directly affects cancer outcomes,  some data do suggest that patients can develop  a  sense  of helplessness or hopelessness when stress becomes overwhelming.  This response  is  associated  with  higher  rates of death,  although the mechanism  for this outcome is unclear.  It  maybe  that  people who   feel helpless or hopeless do not seek treatment when they become ill, give up prematurely on or fail to adhere to potentially helpful therapy, engage in risky behaviors such as drug use, or do not maintain a healthy lifestyle, resulting in premature death.

How can people who have cancer learn to cope with psychological stress?

Emotional and social support can help patients learn to cope with psychological stress. Such support can reduce levels of depression, anxiety, and disease- and treatment-related symptoms among patients. Approaches can include the following:

  • Training in relaxation, meditation, or stress management
  • Counseling or talk therapy
  • Cancer education sessions
  • Social support in a group setting
  • Medications for depression or anxiety
  • Exercise

More information about how cancer patients can cope with stress can be found in the PDQ® summaries listed in the Related Resources section at the end of this fact sheet.

Some expert organizations recommend that all cancer patients be screened for distress early in the course of treatment. A number also recommend re-screening at critical points along the course of care.  Health care providers can use a variety of screening tools,  such   as a distress scale or questionnaire, to gauge whether cancer patients need help managing their emotions  or  with  other practical concerns.  Patients who show moderate to severe distress  are typically referred to appropriate resources,  such as  a  clinical  psychologist, social worker, chaplain, or psychiatrist.

Credit:  https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/coping/feelings/stress-fact-sheet#q1

How Chronic Stress Promotes Spread of Cancer, and What You Can Do About It. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2016/03/24/chronic-stress-cancer.aspx

How Does Stress Affect Your Immune System?

 No one is immune from stress. According to Merriam-Webster, stress is defined as           “a state of mental tension and worry caused by problems in your personal or work life,   etc”.  Despite its negative connotation in popular culture  this mental state can be both beneficial and harmful.

An example of ‘good stress’ would be the short, intense burst of tension or anxiety that      is felt before events  like a test or job interview.  Good stress  is beneficial because it can provide  a temporary extra boost  of  energy or alertness,  which increases performance. Good stress also manifests in the fight or flight response.  This chemical reaction occurs when a threat to survival is perceived, and triggers a physiological reaction.  An example   of the fight or flight response is when we get startled by a loud noise. We have developed this response as a means of survival.

When stress is prolonged or unrelenting, it becomes known as chronic stress. Chronic,     or bad, stress can be detrimental to mental and physical health. Constant worrying about things like family or work problems are examples of chronic stress. Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is another form of chronic stress.  This condition occurs  when someone is directly involved in or witness to a traumatic event like combat,  an accident or natural disaster. In individuals with PTSD, the fight or flight response basically stays on rather than shutting off once the threat has passed.

How stress weakens the immune system

When long term stress becomes chronic, many systems in the body are affected. Chronic stress results in high levels of cortisol and other corticosteroids circulating in the blood for a long period of time. While there are few side effects from short term exposure to these hormones, over the long term mental and physical damage may occur. People who suffer from chronic or long term stress can experience symptoms like anxiety, depression and sleep problems. Physically, they risk high blood pressure, heart disease and digestive problems. Another danger they face is a weak immune system.

The immune system is the body’s form of defense. It is comprised of organs, tissues, cells and cell products that all work together to fight harmful substances like the pathogens that cause infection and disease. There are two main ways that stress has a direct, negative effect on the immune system:

1. It creates chronic inflammatory conditions
2. It lowers the immunity of those who otherwise might have a healthy immune system.

According  to  Dr. Mary Meagher, “people exposed  to chronic social conflict, also  experience high levels of stress and consequent dysregulation of the immune system, thereby increasing vulnerability to infectious and autoimmune disease”.

Cortisol suppresses inflammation during a response to stress.  If it is also present in the         blood  for long periods, the body develops a resistance to cortisol and does not respond     to it properly.  Instead,  it will ramp up production of substances that actually promote inflammation leading to a state of chronic inflammation.

These pro-inflammation substances, called cytokines, are associated with a host of  chronic inflammatory and autoimmune conditions. Autoimmune conditions occur when the body basically mistakes itself as a threat and attacks itself. Examples are fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.  Other chronic conditions include diabetes, heart disease and cancer.

Chronic stress also results lower amounts of a protein that is critical to signaling other immune cells. Without these reinforcements, the body is susceptible to contacting acute illnesses, and prolonged healing times.

Lymphocytes are a major component of the immune system. They kill invading organisms that would cause disease and they recognize harmful substances and help defend against them. Cortisol and corticosteroids suppress lymphocytes. With a lowered amount of lymphocytes, the body is at increased risk of infection and disease.

This 3D video shows the serious long term effects of stress on your body and how stress can lead to serious long term diseases such as heart attack, stroke, diabetes, infertility, insomnia, dementia, obesity, weight gain, anxiety, depression, heart disease, cancer and other diseases.

Preview  Long Term Effects of Stress on Your Body

Long Term Effects of Stress on Your Body

 Preview YouTube video National Geographic: The Science of Stress

National Geographic: The Science of Stress

 

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Find Your True Self

Posted on December 10, 2016 by Ken

Image result for not think not wonder not imagine

The Biology of Belief – Where Mind and Matter Meet ~ 😙😙
“We can control our lives by controlling our perceptions.” ~ Dr. Bruce LiptonA radically new understanding is unfolding at the leading edge of science: Dr. Lipton’s profoundly hopeful synthesis of the latest and best research in cell biology and quantum physics is being hailed as a major breakthrough showing that our bodies can be changed as …we retrain our thinking. Bruce Lipton is a brilliant scientist and he also presents some very thought provoking ideas that he discussed in Biology of Belief regarding the evolution of the human race into a more holistic, nurturing civilization and the concept of epigenetics.
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“We have to come to a new way of understanding biology. This ‘new’ understanding has actually already been in the leading edge of science for 10 years now.  It takes at least 10    or 15 years for science to take a fact  from its first inception  and get it out into the public   so that the people can understand it. That means anything in current textbooks is at least 10 or 15 years old. What you’re going to hear is what’s going to be the future textbooks.” ~

Dr. Bruce Lipton also has recent advances in cellular science are heralding an important evolutionary turning point. For almost fifty years we have held the illusion that our health and fate were pre-programmed in our genes, a concept referred to as genetic determinacy. Though mass consciousness is currently imbued with the belief that the character of one’s life is genetically predetermined, a radically new understanding is unfolding at the leading edge of science.

Cellular biologists now recognize that the environment, the external universe and            our internal physiology, and more importantly,  our  perception  of  the  environment, directly controls the activity of our genes. This video will broadly review the molecular mechanisms by which environmental awareness interfaces genetic regulation and guides organismal evolution.

That’s an assumption made years ago that was never even proven scientifically – it just seemed so correct that we bought the story. If the mechanism actually worked according  to the textbooks,  i.e.  if the genes control biology, then at least 120,000 genes would be required to make a human, but when the human genome projects results were in. It was discovered that 2/3rds of the genes (needed to support their model) were missing.

It’s not that the genes were missing, it was the understanding that was wrong.~~

This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. Following a near death-like experience this popular physician and medical journalist realized that her past conditioning was causing her to live an inauthentic life that created depression and anxiety. She dug deep into her shadow to overcome low self-esteem, learn to love herself and transform her entire life.
In this inspiring talk at TEDxIUM, Dr. Andrea Pennington shows how we can learn who we really are – or who we were meant to be – by examining our biology, our personality and temperament and ultimately discovering our unique ‘Soulprint’ to break free from social conditioning that creates self-loathing and self-rejection. 

Preview  Become who you really are | Andrea Pennington | TEDxIUM

Become who you really are | Andrea Pennington | TEDxIUM

 Preview  Biology of Belief – by Bruce Lipton (full documentary)

Biology of Belief – by Bruce Lipton (full documentary)
Posted in Thought Provoking | Leave a comment