Bodhi Bear Soup, a healing remedy for Coughs & Colds!

Leave a comment September 22, 2018 DrD4Health

After surviving a serious and traumatic case of Whopping Cough as a child, I always dive into healing mode when one of my younglings has a fever or a whooping like cough that is associated with Pertussis.

I created this “Bodhi Bear Soup” with a ton of Healthy goodness to strengthen my youngling’s immune system against “Winter Bugs”, especially Whooping Cough!

This soup is filled with chopped Carrots, which have tons of Vitamin A and Beta-Carotene, especially known for helping the immunity of children.

I made sure to add organic Avocado Oil, which is a good fat that works synergistically with Vitamin A absorption.

I also added organic minced Garlic, which contains Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, Manganese & Selenium and other antimicrobial and antioxidant properties which can boost our immune system.

More over, Garlic is known to be super effective against toxic bacteria, viruses and fungi.

Next, straight out of my garden, I added many potent leaves of fresh Basil!

Basil has powerful antimicrobial properties, which has long been used in traditional medicine to fight bacterial infections.

In addition, Basil is known for it’s strong but natural anti-histamine properties… Wow, what a super hero herb!

To give this soup some hardiness, I added this beautiful mix of purple, yellow and red potatoes…

I specifically added purple potatoes for their free-radical scavenging and antioxidant capabilities, which is a natural medicine that has been used for ages and ages.

I also included Turmeric!
Curcumin is the main active ingredient in Turmeric. Curcuminoids have powerful anti-inflammatory effects and they are a very strong antioxidant.

Although acute, short-term inflammation can be beneficial, long term inflammation can become a major problem when it becomes chronic and inappropriately attacks your body’s own tissues.

Unbeknownst to many, Curcumin is such a strong anti-inflammatory, that it’s power matches or surpasses many anti-inflammatory drugs without the side effects of pharmaceuticals.

Turmeric and Curcumin really are healthy and powerful gifts from nature!

To give this soup a taste of home and just a little more healing power, I went back into my garden for some fresh Oregano leaves.

In addition to adding a comforting flavor and being an antiseptic, Oregano is a culinary and medicinal herb which has been used in medicine and cooking for thousands of years… How awesome is that!

In fact, many natural healers use Oregano for treating respiratory tract infections and gastrointestinal (GI) infections, which can accompany many Winter Bugs!

So there you have it, my homemade Bodhi Bear Soup!

Will it work to heal you or your child?

Let me say this, when we follow these remedies at the first sign of symptoms, we tend to zap it in just 2-3 days! 😊

In full disclosure, in addition to giving my kids this soup, I also give them top quality gluten & dairy free probiotics three times a day, a Vitamin A capsule once a day, freshly cracked coconut water twice a day, then I apply a homemade mix of Tea Tree, Eucalyptus & Coconut Oil rub on their upper chest & back every morning and evening while symptoms persist.

I hope these natural remedies bring some nutritional comfort for you and your family this coming Winter!

Sending tons of healing vibes your way,

~Dr. Dee (aka Healthy.Desy)

Soup Ingredients:

2 T Organic Avocado Oil
1- 2 cups chopped Carrots
64 oz. of Organic Vegetable Stock, Homemade or Boxed.
1 cup of chopped Purple potatoes
2 cups of Red & Yellow Potatoes
4-6 cloves of minced Garlic
1 teaspoon of salt
10-20 leaves of Fresh Basil
¼ teaspoon of dried or 10 Fresh Oregano Leaves.
1 Tablespoon of Turmeric Powder

Soup Instructions:

In a large pot, add 64 oz of low sodium Vegetable Broth, along with Avocado Oil, mixed Potatoes, chopped Carrots, and Garlic. Heat to boiling, and then reduce heat to a simmer.
While mixture is simmering, add Oregano leaves and Turmeric, then continue to simmer for 30 – 45 minutes.
Add in the fresh Basil just before serving.

Food Allergies & Children: Why Fresh is Best!

Leave a comment November 11, 2014 DrD4Health

Why Fresh Food is Best! Part I

Babies deserve the best of everything that can be offered. The first year of life is the most critical for a child, particularly from a nutritional standpoint. Since parents are primarily responsible for their baby’s health, it is extremely important for them to understand Allergies and the unique nutritional requirements of infants & children.

During this period, an infant experiences the most rapid growth and development period in their entire lifetime. Nutrition is critical at this time, as the baby’s diet must support this rapid growth rate by getting adequate Phytonutrients and Complete Nutrition.

For at least the first year of life, Breast Milk is essential for a babies complete nutrition to be met. Nursing moms are giving their baby essential phytonutrients through their own diet and breast milk.

Some women have been told that their baby is allergic to their milk, when 99% of the time they were actually allergic to the food mommy was eating while pregnant & breastfeeding, as opposed to the breast milk itself. If a mommy removes the top allergens from her own diet, chances are, the baby will begin to tolerate her milk, colic will stop and eczema and rashes will likely disappear. If not, it is important to have baby checked for inborn genetic errors.

If you have adopted your baby or have some other reason why breast milk is not available, please consider making homemade Coconut Milk Formula, instead of synthetic store bought formula. Please see my recipes page.

The most common allergies in babies are dairy, eggs, citrus, gluten, soy and nuts. Allergies are common in babies who have parents or relatives with allergies, so if you or a close relative has food allergies, skin disorders, auto-immune diseases, environmental or pet allergies, please observe your baby closely and do an elimination diet.

According to BabyCentre Medical Advisory Board and The Department of Health, although many people start feeding babies food at 4 months of age, the majority of baby’s digestive systems are immature and may not be ready for solid foods. Babies usually still lack digestive enzymes and early solid foods may actually induce allergies. In addition, if they get food poisoning or a food born illness, their immune system may not be ready to handle it, especially if they are a preemie baby.

*Unless your baby has started losing weight and seems very very hungry after a good good milk feeding, then consider waiting until 6months before adding solid foods. Age 6-8 months old may be a more appropriate time to start introducing foods, ONE FOOD AT A TIME- ONE WEEK AT A TIME! It is essential that you don’t get too excited and give your baby another food, drink, oil, herb or spice, without truly observing him/her for a week.

A great Starter Food is Avocado. Avoacado is a complete protein and has a mild taste. Simply mash a tiny sliver of Avocado… Wait 3 days, Observe for the following symptoms:

rash, hives, diarrhea, pain, vomiting, hiccups, constipation
personality changes, drastic mood swings, colic
If no reaction, proceed with 2 more slivers of Avocado, wait 3 more days.

Do this ELIMINATION DIET WITH EVERY SINGLE FOOD AND DRINK YOU INTRODUCE TO YOUR INFANT or CHILD. If you do this with every food and drink you give your child, then you will most likely save your baby the pain of being poked and you the heartache, time & money of having to go to the doctor and have his blood tested. This method increases the likelihood of you just figuring it out yourself.

Many Doctors & Allergist forget to tell you:

Allergies can present as a psychological/behavioral reaction
ADHD, Tantrums, Brain Fog, Psychosis, can be food related.
Some allergies do not appear for days
Skin Disorders like Eczema & Psoriasis are Food Allergies.
Many allergies do not show up on standard allergy testing.
Some allergies do not show up unless they are repeatedly eaten

According to a study by Aristo Vojdani, based on clinical presentation and antibody response, immune-mediated adverse reactions to foods can be divided into immediate and delayed hypersensitivity reactions.

Vojdani stated that immediate reactions to food antigens are IgE-mediated and dependent on activation of mast cells in specific tissues, including the skin, respiratory tract, gastrointestinal, mucosal, and cardiovascular system. Vojdani concluded that the delayed immune reaction to food antigens are mediated by IgG, IgA and IgM. Unlike the immediate effects of IgE-mediated allergy, the IgG, IgM and IgA-mediated food allergy and intolerance reactions can take several days to appear.

Vojdani also reported that levels of IgG, IgM and IgA antibodies in the blood can be measured against different food antigens for demonstration of delayed food allergy and intolerance reactions.

If you suspect a child or anyone in your life has allergies, make sure you stand up and advocate for your right to have a complete allergy panel of the most accurate testing, such as, IgG, IgA, IgM, IgE and also DNA testing for Microdeletions and MTHFR polymorphisms that may impact what a person should eat.

Mixed Carrots, Coconut Oil, Cinnamon

Why is Fresh Food Best? From a Nutritional & Whole Food Vitamin standpoint, store bought food, does not even begin to compare to real fresh food.

Harmful Ingredients banned in many countries are still used in the U.S.
Store Food has additives & preservatives not always listed on labels.
Organic Label does not always mean 100% Organic.
Synthetic ingredients allow Processed Food to sit on shelves for years.
Child may be allergic to additives & preservatives, not the actual food.
Nutrients are pretty dead by the time they are processed & put in a jar.
Baby kidneys & liver have a hard time metabolizing these preservatives.
Food processing includes thermal & non-thermal treatments,
Food Processing has a different effect on a Child’s Allergen Reactions.

Home-cooked meals and fresh Yummy Yummy Baby food has the real Phytonutrients your child’s brain and body requires and will thrive on!

If it’s impossible to prepare meals, please choose organic baby foods.
Organic store bought food still contains additives & preservatives!
Freeze a portion of family meals you cook in glass containers for baby.
Make sure to feed your baby & loved ones, every color of the rainbow.
Go easy on meat protein, there are many ways to give your baby protein.

Meat is only one source of Protein! Remember, ounce for ounce and calorie for calorie, Broccoli and Kale provide more Protein than Porterhouse Steak!

I will be sharing more kid-friendly foods in the future, but here are a few simple Yummy Yummy Baby Recipes:

Sweet Potato Delight

Sweet Potatoes, Carrots, Bananas, Coconut Butter, Cinnamon!

Cut & Slice veggies, Steam 8-12 minutes (medium heat)
Mash Veggies & Bananas all together
Mix with Coconut Butter or Coconut Oil
Mix in a dash of Cinnamon
Remember to TEST EACH FOOD INGREDIENT first, one at a time.
Buy only Organic Ingredients for Baby Food

Here is a toddler version she can eat with her fingers. Great thing is, you can make this as a side dish for your own meal!

Strawberry Deelight

Yummy Yummy Baby Breakfast:

Coconut Yogurt (Homemade or Store bought)
Honey Dew Melon
Strawberries
Persimmon
Sliced Walnuts (Wait one year)
Sliced Bananas
For an infant- Puree all together (except nuts)

Have fun, go very very slowly with each food and remember it takes only a couple of minutes to prepare.

You will spend more time & money taking care of a sick or allergenic child, so put the time in at the front end to prepare your baby a Real Fresh Organic Yummy Yummy Baby meal!

Stay Healthy & Happy ~ Dr. Dee

Vegan Coconut Milk Recipe! Yummy!

3 Comments September 19, 2014 DrD4Health

Coconut Milk:

Aloha… For over 2 years my husband and I have been making this Coconut Milk to supplement my breastmilk.

We started giving him the Coconut Milk originally out of desperation, then continued to give it to him for stomach health, brain health and overall good body fat.

Coconut milk has become a staple in our refrigerator and a delicacy for us. I am finally able to truly enjoy milk again, the great thing is… I am enjoying milk that truly is good for me, not because the FDA said so, but because my body continually tells me so…

I hope that this piece inspires you to give it a chance, especially if you have dairy intolerance and sensitivities.

I know you truly are going to find that Coconut Milk is so Yummy Yummy Baby!

Instructions for Silky & Yummy Coconut Milk from Scratch:

First pick out a minimum of 2 Young Thai Coconuts that do not have pink on the bottom. A tiny tiny amount of light pink should be ok, but the more pink, the greater the likelihood of it being rotten or compromised.

The amount of Coconuts will vary because each Coconut is unique, some have a lot of meat and others have a lot of water.

Young Thai Coconuts

Use a the bottom edge of a Meat Cleaver to strike the Coconut. There is a sweet spot that is in the outer-center perimeter of the Coconut- with practice you will find it every time! Follow the perimeter in a Circular Pattern until the circle is completely open. Gently remove the top of the Coconut. Please mind your fingers when striking the Coconut.

STEP 1

Next use a large bowl to pour the Coconut Water into… then transfer it to a glass or cup and save it.

Use the front or the back of a spoon to gently but firmly extract the meat from the inside wall of the Coconut. If you press too hard you will scrape off too much of the inner wall and make more work for yourself…

STEP 2

This is what the Extracted Coconut Meat will look like. Do not worry if some of the shell is left on the meat, use your fingers to gently rub/pick it off. You can also use the Coconut Water to bathe the Coconut Meat.

STEP 3

You will also gently remove the Coconut Meat from the top of the Coconut… Depending on how much water the Coconut yielded and depending on how thick or thin you want your milk, you may need to use additional store bought Coconut water.

STEP FOUR

Next you will combine the Coconut Water and Meat. Use a strainer to make sure that you remove any particles from the Coconut Water, especially if you used it to bathe the Coconut meat. Repeat for the second Coconut. (Generally you want enough Coconut Water to fill to the Max line of the Nutribullet or a minimum of 1 1/2 to 2 cups of Coconut Water.

STEP 5

After using the Nutribullet, Vitamix and Ninja, we found the Nutribullet to make the silkiest & smoothest milk. If you are making it for an adult it probably doesn’t matter, but if you are using it for baby formula, I would strongly suggest a Nutribullet. *I have no affiliation with Nutribullet.

STEP 6

Blend it for about 45 seconds. By using soft Young Thai Coconut meat (instead of hard/mature meat) and by using the Nutribullet, there isn’t a need to strain the milk through a cheese cloth… It is instantly silky & creamy. You are ready to add anything you like to it or drink it fresh! Mmmm!

Silky Smooth Coconut Milk

Every other night for 2 1/2 years we made this Coconut Milk for our baby’s Coconut Milk Formula. We also drink it ourselves using various recipes.

Here are a couple of things you can add to the milk before you blend it and make it even more Yummy Yummy Baby:

Organic Vanilla Extract (1-2 drops)
Organic Almond Extract (1-2 drops)
Organic Toffee Extract (1-2 drops)
Organic Banana, Strawberries, Mango… really the list goes on and on!

Add anything that you would normally add to a smoothie, including ice and frozen produce!

Yummy Coconut Milk!

Mmmmm Enjoy… you are going to have a new obsession!

It is so Yummy Yummy Baby!

See you soon! Dr. Dee 🙂

Coconut Milk Vegan Baby Formula…

27 Comments September 17, 2014 DrD4Health

I love Coconut Milk, Coconut Water, Coconut Meat, Coconut Oil, Coconut Candy, Coconut Cookies, Coconut Cake, Coconut everything! I am definitely cuckoo for Coconuts!

As a child, my mother would repeatedly tell me how great Coconut is for my stomach and my skin. I always heeded her advice about the topical uses, especially for wrinkles and stretch mark prevention, but I never really ate Coconut for medicinal reasons unless she gave it to me. Coming from a Native American mom who would use food, plants and herbs as healing remedies, I came to learn that many of the remedies are now backed by Science.

Upon the birth of my second son, I mysteriously developed a severe stomach bacteria. I was advised to temporarily stop breast feeding if I didn’t want to pass the bacteria back and forth. What was I going to do? I didn’t have a plan B for Breast Milk.

I vigorously started studying every formula out in the market. I couldn’t believe what I found… I consistently found toxic ingredients that are known carcinogens in the majority of the world except the U.S. The majority of countries have banned the use of these ingredients, but we are giving it to our newborns and babies in our hospitals and homes?!?

I felt as if I was in the twilight zone! This isn’t happening… this isn’t happening! After studying further, I learned that there are many alternative home made milks that we can make for our babies who have allergies, bacterial infections, intolerances and sensitivities. Coconut Milk and Hemp Milk are similar to Mother’s Milk, they take some work to make, it requires adding various ingredients, but it is Healthy, Healing, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Soy Free and Low on the allergy index.

Please understand that I am not saying that Coconut Milk or other milk alternatives replace a Mother’s milk, I am saying you can create a safe alternative if Mother’s Milk is not a viable choice. Most of all, I am saying that Mother’s milk is a life force that can not be replicated by cows, goats or factories. Breast Milk is the sweetest milk I have ever tasted, yes… I tasted it, 🙂 and it is so understandable why babies prefer it, thrive the best on it and receive so many healing properties.

Coconut milk has been found to treat and relieve sore throats and even stomach ulcers, and like Breast Milk, it is very calming to the body and digestive system. The nutrients in Coconut also aid the body in over all immune system health. It’s B vitamins also aid in many immune and nervous system functions.

Unlike other unhealthy fats, the unique properties of Coconut also contain a large amount of MCTs and Lauric Acid, which is the primary fatty acid found in Mother’s Milk. Lauric acid is what makes breast milk so digestible and is believed to protect the body from infection and boost the immune system.

The great thing is that Coconut Milk is great for all of us, regardless of our age!

Home-made Coconut Milk is also a safe alternative for Diabetics who are concerned with the properties in Dairy Milk. Coconut Milk has a Low Glycemic Index and High Dietary Fiber. The human body cannot digest the dietary fiber in coconut, therefore it has no hazardous effects on Blood Sugar. Best of all, Coconut Milk is lower in sugar than Dairy Milk.

It turned out my baby did get the stomach bacteria and became very very ill and lost a severe amount of weight in less than a week. It was a very rough and scary time for us. After endless hours and days of research and consulting with various Naturopathic and Functional Medicine Doctors, we implemented the undeniable research on Coconut Milk, Oil and meat and it worked… It truly worked!

Our baby started to gain healthy weight, improve the quality of his poop and best of all… he began to thrive and heal! I was able to continue breast feeding and we couldn’t be happier! This was done in conjunction with other nutritional support, like probiotics and digestive enzymes, but that is another blog. 🙂

Here is a Yummy Yummy Baby recipe for Vegan Coconut Milk Baby Formula:

3 Cups of home-made Coconut Milk (Its easy after you do it once)
1 Tbsp Unsweetened, Rice protein or Pea protein (we prefer Rice protein)
1 1/2 Tbsp of Grade B Maple Syrup
1 tsp Calcium Lactate Powder
2 tsp of Infant Probiotic powder (we use Klaire Infant Probiotics)
2 tsp Vegan Omega 3 DHA
2 tsp of Extra Virgin, Unrefined, Cold-Pressed Coconut Oil
4 Cups of very good quality water

*Optional 1/4 Ripe banana

Combine all of the ingredients in a Large Cup Nutribullet and blend (you may have to split it in two depending on the size of your Nutribullet, Vitamix, Ninja, etc… Refrigerate immediately and use within 48 hours.
The formula will separate from the oils, so please shake before pouring into a bottle or cup and gently warm for baby.

***We later discovered a formula we felt was not perfect, but pretty wonderful. It is a great supplement once your baby is a Toddler. The Name is Toddler Supreme by Peaceful Planet.

***Important Legal Disclaimer: This recipe is intended to be a supplement for a nursing or formula-fed child’s diet. It is not intended to be a complete replacement, and should only be used when the Mother’s Milk is not available, Allergies to Store Formulas, Sensitivities/Intolerances to other formulas or because you don’t want to give your baby the carcinogens in some formulas…

Again, this blog does not replace the advice of your healthcare practitioner, this is me sharing what worked for my family.

* Next up… How to make Coconut Milk! Mmm! Yummy Yummy Baby!

Dr. Dee

Resources:

http://www.coconutresearchcenter.org/

HEAL YOUR LIFE

Thanks for visiting and welcome to my Blog about the Recipes, Remedies and reflections that have been tools in our quest for Healthy Living.

Its important to share how my experiences brought me to this very moment…

The majority of my life I have been involved in sports, working out, eating right and overall healthy living. I have always believed that I am a healthy person who would live long and have healthy children…

Although I have been into fitness and healthy eating since I was a teenager, I experienced a rude awakening when in 1998, my 3 year old baby boy was diagnosed with leukemia and struggled for his life.

After two casts on each of his UNBROKEN but severely swollen arms, after bruising all over his body, after his legs went almost completely paralyzed, after drinking and urinating excessively (30 times a day), several different emergency rooms and doctors continued to tell me that my son was just a little boy growing and was very accident prone and probably faking his severe pain.

On the final day that permanently changed our lives, we were at a VERY FUN AND SPECIAL BIRTHDAY PARTY for a 4 year old. There were yummy appetizers, clowns everywhere, real mini trains to ride, games and magicians in every room… My son could not be any more excited!

As I held a camera to capture him running to jump on one of the trains, his legs gave out and my camera and heart sunk… I ran to scoop him up as he frowned with shock and confusion about his legs not working. He didn’t care about the pain, he had learned to live with pain this past year, he was just so darn sad about not getting on the mini train… AS I BELIEVED ALL ALONG, HE WAS NOT FAKING IT!

I rushed him to the ER once again. This time his legs didn’t work at all, his face was covered in red splotches, his hand was swollen, especially his pinky finger… The hospital kept us there for three days, they had eight doctors and specialist examine him from every department, however, none of them had a definitive diagnoses. The doctors suspected he had a rare disease that had not been discovered and tried to send us home with a, “We will call you”.

I had just finished receiving my Doctoral training and Childhood Leukemia was a big subject matter that stood out for me. Given all the symptoms my son had, I pleaded with the doctors to test for leukemia. I was told that leukemia was an impossible diagnoses and they refused to do a lumbar puncture because his blood work continued to be in the “normal range” and the insurance company would not approve it.

A lumbar puncture (also called a spinal tap) can be used to analyze the fluid in the spinal cord. This test is helpful for spinal tumor assessment and also for measuring whether certain cancers have spread to the brain. In this procedure, a special needle is inserted into the lower back spinal canal.

Needless to say, I learned there is no “Normal”, we are all unique, we don’t all fit in a nice little box!
I LITERALLY REFUSED TO LEAVE THE HOSPITAL with my baby who looked like he was on his death bed. Again, the doctors said without a solid diagnoses the insurance would not pay for our hospital stay or spinal tap. I felt as if I was in some kind of Twi-light Zone. How was this happening, I had top of the line insurance?!?

I put up the fight of my life and what turned out to be the fight that saved my son’s life. After I agreed to sign a hundred documents of liability and promised to pay for all of the costs involved, I was able to finally convince them to reluctantly perform the spinal tap.

The staff tried to force me to wait outside during the procedure, but I refused to leave my baby boy alone.

The hematologist who performed the lumbar puncture was supposed to be the best pediatric hematologist in the West Coast. As she tried to insert the long device in his spine, it would not give… it kept getting stuck. She kept shoving the device, she began to sweat, she kept trying different spots on his spine, and then she finally had to practically hammer it in him. I thought she was a quack. Why did my little baby boy have to go through this?

Pookie was only semi-sedated so he was whaling and aching with pain as he arched his back with every poke. His eyes rolled behind his head and he kept gasping. They assured me he would not remember a thing, but this brought no comfort to a frightened mommy watching her baby being jabbed by a doctor who said the procedure would be an easy in and out. I had flashes of me yanking him off the table, running to the elevator and getting away from these people…

I will never forget the look of terror on that physician’s face. She looked at me with a look of complete and utter disbelief and fear. After about 30 minutes- swarms of people started to surround me and offer me food and water, holding my hand and asking if I had family nearby. All I could do was hold my baby really closely!

I had that sinking feeling inside but nobody was saying a thing… nobody! Later I learned they were all waiting for the official laboratory results to come in that would confirm his leukemia. Apparently, the hematologist knew he had A.L.L. when the device would not go in his spine…

My son was so completely impacted with leukemia , the doctors had no idea how he was still alive. His poor little spine and bones were so brittle and his condition was so fragile that they immediately began emergency surgery. They said if I had not brought him in, he probably would not have made it much longer…

Remember this is after several rounds of Emergency Room visits and about 20 doctors office visits who all said for about a year that he was a PERFECTLY HEALTHY boy…

Various health care professionals kept saying little boys who truly feel sick don’t smile so much and that everything was just fine! Over and over they kept saying that I was just a first time mommy who worried too much and he was just an active toddler with bruises and bumps.

All of a sudden the room started to spin, they had me sign tons of forms and started hooking him up to an IV. Before I could blink, my Pookie Bear was rushed into heart surgery to have have a port attached to his heart valve. I remember the heart surgeon came in to sit with me, he held my hand and he slowly, calmly explained to me exactly where he was going to cut, and assured me he was going to be just fine.

I don’t know if my memory is accurate, but I could swear he was dressed in all white, that his hair was white and his teeth were the whitest I had ever seen… The surgeon was so kind and compassionate, he also looked and spoke softly like an angel. I think he walked on clouds and I even heard harps playing in the room… lol 🙂

As we sat there on pins and needles, I prayed to all that is good in this world and begged for my little baby to survive the surgery. After what seemed like an eternity, my son came through the surgery with a smile and flying colors! My son asked for the food and ice cream I promised him and wanted to know when he could get up and play! He never complained… NOT ONCE! He was the strongest person I had ever met and I finally started to breath again!

I asked the doctors what caused this, what could I do to help him heal, what could I do??? What could I do??? Over and over I was told by the doctors that he had leukemia for so long that there was nothing I could do for him but make sure he receives his chemotherapy and radiation- and to never miss an appointment for the next several years. I was told that he needed so much chemotherapy and radiation that if he was to survive, he probably would never write, draw or learn appropriately…

I refused to believe there was nothing I could do for my baby… I started to read and read and read… research, study and research some more! In addition, I started to read to HIM even more, we started practicing drawing, counting… I was not giving up on him and his developing brain. I lived an hour away from my parents and due to his fragile state and suppressed immune system, only doctors, nurses and myself could be in his room, so 90% of the time it was just me and my baby boy. While he slept, I read, studied and learned about natural solutions.

I learned so much about how other countries were using Nature, such as fresh juicing, organic eating, detoxing and healthy living to help cure diseases of all types. I immediately started juicing for my baby boy. I immediately worked hard to remove any known toxins from his environment… When we were not at the hospital, he was getting tons of sunshine and fresh beach air. We went completely Organic and removed all pesticides, hormones and antibiotics from our diet. Our life style dramatically and permanently changed. Although the doctors convinced me that I had to give him chemotherapy for the next three years, I elected to not give him radiation so he could have a chance at having children.

The doctors warned me that it would take forever to get the cancer out of his system, that he would test positive for leukemia many times before he would be clear, but instead of more bad news, we were told that something INCREDIBLE happened- he went from having a poor prognosis for survival to having no sign of Cancer! Yes, that’s right, after his first round of chemotherapy, he never tested positive for leukemia again.

Was it the chemotherapy, was the intense juicing, detoxing and healthy smoothies?

Was it the organic eating, natural remedies, was it the positive affirmations and his positive attitude or was it the millions of prayers he was receiving? Honestly, I think it was all of the above!

We lived in and out of the hospital for the next three years… For the first year, at least 5 to 7 days of the week we lived at the hospital or the Ronald McDonald House.
His struggle touched so many people, he received hundreds of food casseroles, cards, drawings, donations, prayers and love from so many people. I am so thankful for my incredible boss who gave me the time off, who never complained and my parents who would come when my son’s immune system was strong enough.

We had to live in a bubble for so long because every time he was exposed to family or the public he contracted a virus or illness and became very sick.

This was a dark time in our lives, however, staying positive and searching for cures and treatments inspired me and kept me going.

Many of the parents in the Children’s Cancer ward lived in a state of anxiety and fear… Kids silently disappeared in the wee hours of the night- some were his roommates, some were the kids he played with in the playroom a couple of days before. Code Blue! Code Blue! Nurses running, doctors running… a sudden silence, but nobody said a word! Everybody praying for that code blue baby, everybody praying that their baby was not next.

My son never complained about the chemo, about the vomiting, about the large shots, about the regular lumbar punctures… he just wanted yummy food and wanted to know why his hospital friends kept disappearing?

I was determined from that moment forward to learn how to help these kids and their parents… How are Food, Nature and Healthy Living Skills capable of helping kids and adults live healthier lives?

Why are we not applying these natural remedies in this country? I learned how genetics play a role in diseases, how genes combined with our partners genes play a role. I learned so much about food and what a gamble it is to just buy food off the shelf with out knowing or understanding what is on the ingredient list.

Pharmaceuticals do have a place in our world, but not always the big role they have created!

Fast forward, my oldest son is now an adult with a son of his own… He has never tested positive for leukemia again. His treatment protocol lasted about 5 years instead of three years, however, he can read, write, count and is very articulate and an extremely intelligent young man in college. I cried with joy the first time he drew a picture, the first time he completed a math problem, when he learned how to read and of course when he gave me my first grandchild.

It turned out that the original hematologist who diagnosed my son was a wonderful and compassionate woman. She and all of the other oncologists, nurses and volunteers have one of the toughest jobs in the world. They all were doing their best with the information they had been taught in their traditional schools. Nobody had taken the time to tell them that there are things we can do to make the Chemo treatment plan more effective and that food can indeed play an active role in healing.

I have since continued my educational training and I became a Holistic Nutritionist as well. I have another baby boy who is now approaching 10 years old. He has had his own struggles with health… various gastro-intestinal issues that were a result of antibiotic exposure at birth. This time I thought I was ready to take anything on, this time I was prepared, again, I continue to learn that we don’t know what we don’t know.

So what are the genetics involved with leukemia and other diseases? What is the real prenatal care you can do that many doctors are too busy to tell you about? Why are some healthy foods a “Medicine” for you but a “Poison” to others? How are allergies related to disease? Are eczema and psoriasis just no big deal?

Most of all, I have learned to trust myself as a mommy… to tell every parent I know to trust those natural parent instincts… your parental instincts are powerful and they were given to you to protect your young!

Every child is different, if you feel something is wrong, then check it out! Do the research! Get a second and third opinion until you feel at total peace!

I am looking forward to sharing my recipes, remedies and reflections with you! Thank you to all the parents who have confided their painful and happy baby stories and pregnancy experiences. I can tell you that hearing your voice transform from fear and confusion to empowerment, peace and understanding has made this long journey worth while!

Thanks again, see you soon and please feel free to request a topic of interest! Dr. Dee