Healing Opportunity, Sunday October 10, 2010

This is my new lingo. I don't have an illness, I have a healing opportunity. My latest scan wasn't the worst, but I have a little new area of tumors between my kidney and my spine so the doctor considers this a second relapse. The plan is to do a new scan in December and see how aggressive it is. Then we will decide what treatment is appropriate. Since it is considered a second relapse they have thrown bone marrow transplant in the mix of options. I have already met with who would be my transplant doctor and nurse who both seem very nice and able. They gave me a book to read about what the whole process would entail. I won't go into detail, but I will say the whole thing seems very aggressive and a real bad time for many many months. But we have to get our ducks in a row. I have to get a battery of tests to qualify and then they have to get insurance approval so they have already started the process "just in case" I need it. I will use it if I absolutely have to, but lets just pray that I don't. They took 7 vials of blood the other day and did an EKG and chest x-ray to get the party started. Now this journey has taken me to Optimum Health Institute in San Diego for 2 or 3 weeks. It is a mind, body & spirit program. You can check out their website at optimumhealth.org. I arrived yesterday excited and just a little nervous. I had my first lunch and dinner here along with a tour and orientation. My first two meals were as promised, raw live foods. Yesterday my plates were filled up with greens, sprouted lentils and beans, some type of hummus, dehydrated onions, a cracker that seemed to be seeds and I'm not sure what else but it was tasty. I've been eating fairly healthy so it wasn't a complete shock to my system but when I say tasty I mean tasty from a vegan viewpoint, I don't think if you are filling up with meat and carbs and salt it would be quite the same tasty you are use to. They are very specific about when you eat or even drink your water and today I will learn all about that and much more. It is Monday morning about 7. I woke up at 5 but got up at 6 and drank the suggested water. They are big on wheat grass and are the third largest producers of wheat grass in the U.S. So I am headed down to the juicing room to see if I can figure out how to juice a couple of ozs that they suggest I have before my 7:30 a.m. exercise class. Then breakfast will be at 8:30. My first class is at 9:30. I have classes morning, afternoon & evening and then 2 exercise classes a day. They want us to disconnect electronically if we can but I am going to try and blog in the evenings about my experience here. Cellphones are not allowed except for one designated spot or in the privacy of your room if you really need to use it. So I decided a nice balance would be to leave it in my room, not to carry it around, and then I can check for messages or check in with family when I need to when I am back at my room. Well I better get going...wheatgrass here I come...yummy!