Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Why I Made The Choice Not to Undergo Chemotherapy





Why I Made The Choice Not to Undergo Chemotherapy
By Penelope Villabert

        Are you sure you have cancer?  Why aren’t you on chemotherapy? Do you really think alternative treatment will help you?
    
       I am the least person who gets irritated when family and friends ask me these questions. It only shows they are concerned, worried, and well, a bit curious. Before I proceed, let me clear some issues.

        My respect for those in the medical field will never fade. I have many relatives who belong to this incredibly intelligent and gifted group of professionals. I would like to make special mention my cousin Dr. Nanette Catigbe, presently in Cagayan de Oro, and my Aunt Dr. Claudia Smithtivas, living in Florida. Both of them are nephrologists or doctors trained in the diagnosis and management of kidney diseases. I also dreamed of becoming a physician specializing in cardiology when I was a little girl.

        I was not much of a believer in the unconventional treatment of diseases which I thought was just work of quacks (my apology). When I was diagnosed, the things I had in mind were surgery, chemotherapy and radiation for my treatment. For me, they are tried, tested and proven scientifically. There was no need for me to look for other treatment.

        But if you believe in divine intervention, you will surely understand why I changed my decision. Praying and reading Psalm 91 everyday really helped and continues to help amazingly. We made appointments with our Internist. While waiting, we visited Dr. Romy Paredes, a physician who shifted from conventional to bio-integrative way of treating ailments. Certainly not a quack as I used to think of. His consultation was by appointment but I was given a slot. There was still a long line of patients when we returned to the clinic of our Internist. My number was  far behind the others. We were never accommodated. This happened twice so we cancelled our third appointment.  Now, you know what I mean. God was leading me to a better way of healing which will suit me best. But that very moment, I never understood why it was happening because my mind was preoccupied with my cancer.

        For the first question: Are you sure you have cancer?
        Doctors were sure of it. Cancer of the pancreas with metastases in the liver, which had multiple cyst, mild splenomegaly and later it was discovered I also had a cyst in my left ovary. Not to mention I had all the symptoms. Diarrhea, nausea, bloated stomach and back pains. In fact, I remember reading the result to my cousin Doc Nanette five days after the conclusive medical tests and I clearly recall what she said, “Pen, be very careful. Two to three weeks from now it will be very painful.”

        Second question: Why aren’t you on chemotherapy?
        The size of the tumor in my pancreas which was 821.7 cubic cm (as big as a fist) made it hardly operable. Good thing because I was really scared of going under the knife for the sixth time. I had three caesarian operations, laparoscopic surgery (my gall bladder had to be removed because of the multiple cholesterol stones) and hysterectomy (I had a big, benign tumor in the uterus).

        The next option would be chemo and radiation. Why did I skip these procedures?
         I did a lot of thinking.  I know of people on chemo and they become bald and weak. They become weak because chemo does not only destroy the cancer cells but also the surrounding healthy cells. Unless your immune system is really strong, you will be able to fight it. There are those who survived but after many years, cancer comes back and is more lethal. I could not imagine myself becoming bald. I did not want the quality of my active life to be affected by chemo. Who will cook and prepare meals for my family? Who will clean our home, feed the dogs and do the laundry? It was also bad timing. We had to let go of our two helpers and I had to do everything because a restructuring was made in the company my husband is working and his income was slashed into half of what he used to receive. But as they say, God will provide for those who trust Him and after I was diagnosed we were able to hire helpers again. God is really great all the time.

        For the last question: Do you really think alternative treatment will help you?
       It is not just an alternative treatment. It is the holistic approach of treating diseases. It has been nine months since I was diagnosed.Tumor is getting smaller, the other affected organs are now normal, pncreatic cancer test is normal  - No surgery, chemo or radiation. Just vitamin C and hydrogen peroxide immunotherapy, at least 10 grams of Vitamin C everyday. One liter of alkaline water with 9.0 ph level first thing in the morning after praying, pure fruit juice (guyabano and carrot are my faves) three times or more in a day, coffee enema, no meat of all kinds, dairy products, sweets and preserved foods. Only fruits and veggies especially squash, kamunggay, kamote, saging saba, lots of garlic, onions, bell peppers, ginger, lemon grass, red or brown rice. The only seasoning is rock salt. Lots of sunshine between 7-10m am, deep breathing, exercise (I do taebo, cycling and dancing alternately) and gazillions of happy thoughts, smiles and laughter. I also talk to my body a lot. I thank them, apologize, inspire them and just anything especially about God's healing for us. I sing to and for them, too.I do the same thing to my immune system, the most powerful army God created in the whole world. I do not feel pain only little discomfort when I can feel the tumor dissolving, shredding and melting.  And one thing Dr. Romy Paredes keeps on reminding, OUR BODY CAN HEAL ITSELF. But it goes beyond positive thinking and mind over matter. THE HEALER IN US IS AWAKENED BY GREAT FAITH IN GOD FROM WHOM EVERYTHING COMES. HIS GRACE WILL HELP OUR BODY HEAL ITSELF. When the body heals, it does not heal selectively but as a whole, slowly but surely.We should also act on that faith by doing what we are supposed to do right. God has given us all the natural remedies from His bounty. EXPEL THE TOXINS, FEED THE BODY RIGHT AND GOD WILL HEAL. TO GOD BE THE GLORY! GOD BLESS US ALL!
p.s. -but i admit there are side effects... no more high blood pressure and no more Micardis and Vidastat, my daily maintenance.... :)



Family Canteen






The fruit of SILENCE is Prayer 
The fruit of PRAYER is Faith 
The fruit of FAITH is Love 
The fruit of LOVE is Service 
The fruit of SERVICE is Peace

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Spring Blooms

All around the valley starts to bud and some already have flowers at this month. It is nice to drive along the road with rows of pink flowers blooming for almonds, white for peaches and others. It sure reminds me of starting anew, my thoughts, my plans and becoming a better person as I age. The trees are bearing new fruits,  like becoming a new person with new good habits to share..




Cherry

Peach

Peach

Apple

Cherry


Apple

Plums 

Plum Blooms


Apple Blooms

Cherry 




Family Canteen






The fruit of SILENCE is Prayer 
The fruit of PRAYER is Faith 
The fruit of FAITH is Love 
The fruit of LOVE is Service 
The fruit of SERVICE is Peace


O beautiful Hawaii Sceneries

Hawaii is a wonderful place to visit. It has a lot to offer especially for people who love the ocean, the blue skies and the tranquility that nature brings. These are pictures taken by different photographers featured in a calendar given to me by a friend who moved from Hawaii to stay close with her family. She sure miss Hawaii and the pictures on the walls with the calendars make it easier to remember how long has it been since the last time she set foot on the beautiful Hawaii.

Someday, I want to set foot on this beautiful island with beautiful people.




Beautiful 










Sunset Lahaina by D Peebles

Lao Needle by D Olsen

Maalaea Sunrise by D Olsen

A secluded Maui Beach by D Peebles

An Exotic Maui Coastline by D Peebles

Molokini Island by D Peebles

Napili Bay by D Olsen

Waterfalls On the Road to Hana by D Olsen

Whale Beach, West Maui by M S. Nolan




Family Canteen






The fruit of SILENCE is Prayer 
The fruit of PRAYER is Faith 
The fruit of FAITH is Love 
The fruit of LOVE is Service 
The fruit of SERVICE is Peace

Friday, February 24, 2012

World Earth Heritage Building in Xiamen,Fuji an China

picture taken from the top of the rural dwellings

Looking at the picture, it sure look like 4 rings around a square.  If I can only enlarge the picture, it will show more details of what is it all about. This is a picture shared from a friend who traveled to the some part of Fujian province  and was amazed at how these community lived together in one building. The four round shape and a square are the roof of a communal living quarters of families, from a single one to their extended families or as a clan. In Chinese tradition, a son will be counted as one, knowing in the future they will marry and have a family of their own.  Here in this rural area dominated by rugged terrain and farmland, The Hakka inhabitants, considered an ethnic minority, made earth buildings  as shown in the picture, in Chinese word 土 (earth) 楼 (building) - pronounce as Tulou,  for their clan homes and they are found beside the streams flowing from the highlands. Tulou houses still exists today, some of which are over 600 years old, close to 700 years old. There is even the oldest one, “Fu Xing Lou” in Hu Le town, that was constructed over 1,200 years ago and is regarded as a “living fossil” of the construction style of central China.


the outer side of the earth building




According to history, Tulou houses were built by the people to protect themselves from invaders. Inside of a Tulou building lived around 80 families depending on the size of the Tulou housing.  Some may have less than 80 and some maybe more than 80 families living in the communal building depending on how big the size, the number of rooms, from 3-5 floors. These rammed earth architectural structures served as peaceful settlement for the Hakka and other people in the mountainous areas in southern part of Fujian China. The rooms are built with the same materials and size, equality of space for each family. The lower ground includes the communal water well, a temple for weddings, festivities, worship, meetings and other functions. There is only one main opening for entrance and exit, built from a large solid block of granite. It is a double door built with fire-resistant solid wood boards up to 13 cm thick and is reinforced with thick iron armour plates. The main gate door was barred with several horizontal and vertical strong wood posts inserted into holes in the granite. These amazing architectural earth dwellings is well-lit, well-ventilated, windproof and earthquake-proof building that is warm in winter and cool in summer. A perfect place for a family. The world's earth heritage buildings are amazing architectural design built with ingenuity. 


the full view inside the architectural earth building

the rooms on the second to the top




Fujian Tulou

  • Chuxi Tulou cluster - located in Yongding County, Xiayang township, Chuxi village
  • Zhenchenglou - nicknamed "the prince of tulou", Hongkeng Tulou cluster, Hongkeng village, Yongding County township. 
  • Chengqilou - nicknamed "the king of tulou"
  • Gaobei Tulou cluster - Gaotou village of Yongding County 
  • Tianluokeng Tulou cluster - tulou quintet cluster located at Fujian province, Zhangzhou City, Nanjing County, Shuyang Township,
  • Yuchanglou - Nanjing County, Shuyang Town, Xiabanliao Village.
  • Eryilou - Dadi Tulou cluster located at Zhangzhou City, Hua'an County, Xiandu Township, Dadi Village. 
  • The Nanxi Tulou cluster - Valley in Hukeng Town (Yongding County) 



Family Canteen






The fruit of SILENCE is Prayer 
The fruit of PRAYER is Faith 
The fruit of FAITH is Love 
The fruit of LOVE is Service 
The fruit of SERVICE is Peace

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Bible Verse Isaiah 40



Family Canteen





The fruit of SILENCE is Prayer 

The fruit of PRAYER is Faith 
The fruit of FAITH is Love 
The fruit of LOVE is Service 
The fruit of SERVICE is Peace