We were so excited to meet Shannon Knight who spoke to our group, She was wonderful and spoke of her faith and shared her new art therapy program, Here is a photo with her!
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There is nothing my husband won't do to to assist with my treatments at CMN Hospital. How do you take your green coffee enema? Straight up! We have had a good but challenging week. The dose of blood thinners prescribed in the US caused my pick line to bleed so we have reduced he amount given daily. Also a side effect of the radiation can cause partial lung collapse which we knew was a risk. They had to put in drain for my lungs and keep it for several days. Treatments continue and I love Dr. Payan. He is so humble, nurturing and positive....very spiritual as well. Feeling grateful... I will try to blog more often!
We are on the plane boarding now! Love to everyone and much gratitude for helping me to get to Mecico! Here's a photo from a very Happpy Mother's Day!
Well yesterday I had my a CT scan and completed my last rads to neck and brain. I'm grateful that is over. They did rush out and pulled me into the ER to let me know that I had 2 blood clots on both lower lungs. So I was admitted to Exeter Hospital overnight and I'm on blood thinners right now....hoping to get home today. Good to find this now before we flew anywhere for sure. And I'll be taking shots in my stomach every day to prevent clotting in the future. Apparently that can happen with cancer I didn't realize that. But I've been less mobile moving around with my legs being numb. . Apparently that can happen with cancer I didn't realize that. But I've been less mobile moving around with my leg so that explains part of the issue. I felt a heaviness in my chest, but thought it was from the nerve issues. So as we get ready to fly out here Tuesday to a fully functional hospital across the Yuma, AZ border into Mecico where a wing is dedicated to cancer care. It will be round the clock care for 28 days, it's called CMN Hospital of if you would like to google it. We have all got our passports and are still on track for her to say departure :-) There's not much in this world that can keep me away from the chance of coming home cancer free! So as we get ready to fly out here and we get our ducks in a row with everything we need to do we are still on track for our departure :-) My friends and family have made sure we will get ou! I just want to say that my husband has been absolutely phenomenal and if there were ever any thing in a relationship that needed healing, this situation has completely healed our relationship. It's ridiculous when he think about the things you used to argue about that were nothing. And I definitely feel amazing love, tenderness and devotion that is overwhelming at times. I know he will do everything for me to save me. And it's a wonderful comfort to know we have not given up. Here's a photo taken two years ago one week after my double Mesectomy when we went to Huey Lewis concert :-) it was a fun night and it's been the key to keeping it going living in the moment every moment that comes. I wish all the amazing moms in my life, who are showering me with love, the best Mpther's Day! 😘 Here is a quick link to my You Caring page for those who would like to assist my efforts take this adventurous trip next week! The Universe and God has provided the people to support me and make this opportunity happen. Thank you all for this amazing chance!
Well after some careful consideration and looking at different clinics and hospitals we've made a decision. Will be going to the CMN Hospital on the Yuma, Arizona border. For 28 days of treatments. It's not a day clinic but a full hospital servicing over the past 30 years. There's a special wing dedicated to alternative cancer care and the treatment list is impressive. Many treatments that are not available in this country. We feel this would be the best course of care daily for 28 days and then at the end of the 4 weeks I intend my immune system to be back on-line. I will be doing a stem cell boost of my bone marrow the last week. I know of a women, Shannon Knight, from The Truth About Cancer documentary, who had stage 4 metastasized into locations of her bones and her lungs and she came out of there completely cured. Her oncologist said it was nothing short of a miracle, but she said no it was just clean hard work! She said no it was just clean the hard, aggressive treatments that only attack cancer, boost and prime your immune system, become a whole, healthy being once again:) It is possible and I am planning on being one of the exceptions like Shannon!
My heart is overflowing with such amazing support from friends and family in my time of need. God and the universal power has been here for every need. I can not believe the grace and love of this experience. I love you all and even those who I don't know as well who have stepped up and surprised me with the humanity of spirit! Here's a recent photo of me with a friend last Saturday night when I enjoyed a show in the moment of living for today with joy! With the radiation I'm on day 9 of 15 and it has been a challenging week. My legs were so weak from the steroids which prevent swelling of the nervous system, but make muscle coordination very difficult. I think my friends and family were a bit taken back to see me this way...needing round the clock care just to get up and down...it was a bit upsetting to me as well realizing I was just in the gym at a spinning class 4 weeks ago! I have to remind myself this too shall pass. Last couple days I've gotten much stronger. Here's a selfie I took today. Off to radiation treatment now and getting my passport photo taken:) Last 2 years I have subjected myself to some conventional chemo that I truly regret because I always knew chemo is a treatment, not a cure. I'm now in a rebuilding place and will only choose effective curable treatments. I believe this with my whole heart and know the true cure comes from a healthy immune system. I'm gonna boost my stem cells and the treatments outside this country are amazing! I'm open to Immunotherapy trials but they are dangerous and have auto immune side effects that could be tough at this juncture. I am also sending my films to a couple of US places as well but they are limited to what they are allowed to offer. I'm at the hspital now...signing off:) Well unfortunately I received the news this week that the reason my legs were tingly is because of an issue with my spinal cord and a tumor in my neck that's pinching on my nerves. So this is not the outcome I was hoping for but it explains the issues with my legs and I started immediate radiation to shrink it down so that I'm not paralyzed in a couple weeks! Unfortunately I received the news this week that the reason my legs were tingly is because of an issue with my spinal cord and a tumor in my neck that's pinching on my nerves. So this is not the outcome I was hoping for but it explains the issues with my legs and I started immediate radiation to shrink it down so that I'm not paralyzed in a couple weeks. It really was something I needed to do immediately to keep my quality of life the way it need to be right now :-) Although it sounds scary I have heard from other neurologists that they have seen this type of thing completely disappear just with radiation really was something I needed to do immediately...the alternative is worse. It sounds scary but I have to hope for the best! I've got an amazing group of support and my husband has been is juicing and giving me all the nutrients, healthy fats, protein and vegetables. He made a garlic and onion soup with chicken bone broth...so sweet to see and know how much I am loved! I am still blessed by amazing friends who have been here around the clock to assist in so many ways. One of the side effects from the steroid they give to keep spinal cord and/or brain from swelling due to radiation makes my muscles very weak and hard to walk or get up from a chair! So this is the hardest part for me now, seeing how weak I am after just a month ago being able to workout at the gym! My doctor says its temporary and he has seen a complete remission from the radiation which gives me hope. A friend who does nerve/muscle PT came over today to give me nervous system and muscle exercises. However, I do not think I want to continue tearing down my immune system with chemo, so I will likely go in a completely opposite direction and choose aggressive treatments available that only kill cancer cells, first aptosis (cell death and new growth of healthy cells) to support a chance for a curable outcome. You know I feel the system is so broken on the ways we treat cancer in this country and even all the integrative supplements although they helped with side effects, you can only dump poison in for so long...2 years is my max. I had only wanted immunotherapy but never could get it. Maybe a trial will be available. My plans will likely take me out of the country where people's can and have been healed before many times. These treatments are citing edge, not just diet places, they are in fully functional hospitals and include vaccines and IV therapies that are effective. Even a bone marrow boost of stem cells done at the end of the 4th week of intensive treatment in one clinic is very promising:). So my plan is to get through 2 more weeks of radiation and then it's off to the best place that will provide the best treatment protocols we can find. Insurance won't cover it so this time I will let my friends hold an on-line fundraiser and/or event to help with the cost. This type of thing can't be budged for even the medical treatments in this country are not fully covered but we will persevere and not let it defer my intention to become completely healthy and recover from this craziness. Stupidity is doing the same thing over and over. I gave my doctor team 2 years and chemo was clearly not at all effective in my case. My doctors must realize and respect whatever I decide going forward...and I will shock them with my results...I will beat the odds...it has happened before and it I'll happen for me. Positive attitude, healthy wishes and prayers please...that's what I need, no pity please...just love and joy! Here's the link to cut and paste to your browser: http://www.youcaring.com/rachel-dowd-560137. I THANK YOU in advance for any support...I've delayed asking because I had hoped this would be behind me but I've still got some more fighting to do! Love and blessings to you all for reading along with me the past 2 years and I have felt your love and prayers all along. I've been experiencing a lot of neck pain so massage has been my friend. Not sure if it is the nerves affecting my muscles or the way I've been walking because of the weird pins and needles/numbness in my legs. I went to Boston to see the neurologist on Thursday and he said the CT scan of my lower spine from belly button down did not show any potential reason why this would be happening. He said there is still a chance it could be severe neuropathy but he wanted me to run more tests the next day to rule a few things out. So I spent the day in Boston again on Friday to have a full MRI of the spinal cord and brain. Also planned in the near future is a full CT scan. Now I realize the 2nd scan has a lot of radiation but if there is a good reason to do it I certainly will and with my symptoms and just not feeling right I need a full picture of the situation to either clear my mind or deal with whatever may come. This battle over the past 2 years has been tough and I just want it to be a distant memory and to get on with my life which has become more beautiful than ever over the past few months.
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