Dear Dr. Malkmus: My physical life began on February 18,1946 -- My spiritual life in the summer of 1964. This, too, was the year I graduated from High School. My health problems began during my sophomore year while on a joy ride with two of my friends. We were on a dirt road, coming down a long hill, when my friend who was driving, turned the lights off to scare us. We made it down the hill, but then ran off the bridge and into a creek, hitting a tree head on.
I received facial and bodily injures when my head went through the windshield, and my right arm was severely broken, which required me being in a cast six weeks. However, my worst injuries were a severe concussion and a fractured spinal bone in my neck. The injuries were so severe that my doctor did not think I would live through the night.
Allergy problems began during my teen years, but it wasn't until my mid-forties that my health really crashed, when I had the first of twelve surgeries over a three-year period, beginning on my birthday in 1992. And everything came to a screeching halt on December 2, 1994, when my gall bladder was removed. In the recovery room, when my blood pressure dropped to 60/40, the surgeon realized that something had gone wrong.
Exploratory surgery was performed and they found that an artery had been severed during the operation. An incision was made just below my chest to approximately 2" below my naval, and two liters of blood were removed from my gut. I was placed in SICU, where over
a 3-day period I received 8 units of blood, and I remained in SICU battling for my life for the next five days. My recovery was slow and never complete.
In December 1995, I was opened back up to repair the hernias that had formed under the incision in my gut. A mesh screen was installed under the incision, and I was told it would only last 10-years. The following list does not include all my surgeries, but it will give you an idea: sinus and nose surgery 7 times; 3 surgeries on my left foot that resulted in a bone infection that required 6-weeks of IV antibiotics; 5 surgery procedures on my throat by laser to try and reduce my sleep apnea problem; surgery on both wrists and ankles to correct broken bones and to remove cysts. You get the picture!
The year 2000 brought lithotripsy procedures to crush kidney stones. This was done 5 times over a 3-year period, with complications each time. During the years I have been treated for depression many times and diagnosed as bipolar. I experienced a nervous breakdown in 1996, and was told by a psychiatrist that I would be on heavy medications for the rest of my life. I have been on and off Prozac for 15 years. My list of medications is so long, it is incredible. Until very recently, I have been on 3 pills daily for depression (Prozac, Clonazepam, and Doxepin); Trazodone for attacks of anxiety; two nasal sprays and Clarinex for allergies; 10-15 mg of Ambien to help me sleep at night, along with 6-8 extra strength Tylenol PM daily, for relief from severe headaches.
In 2004 my primary care physician diagnosed me as still being anemic and sent me to a GI physician who scoped me once again. I have had upper and lower GI series 8 times through the years. The most recent resulted in the removal of pre-cancerous polyps in my colon and esophagus. I have been allergic to mold, dust and pollen for years resulting in great misery. All three of my physicians insisted that I see a hematologist/oncologist, because the problems they found were severe and 'over their heads.' The hematologist/oncologist diagnosed me as anemic, (though I had taken iron pills for years), and as having leukopenia. In short, my immune system was shot and my body was shutting down. I was immediately placed in the hospital to receive the first of what was supposed to be several treatments of gamma globulin to help build up my immune system.
After the second round of treatment, my wife convinced me to attend a one-night seminar at a local church being given by Dr. George Malkmus. I went kicking and screaming mostly because my wife wanted me to. My wife had been telling me for years that my illnesses were related to my eating habits, but I thought that was hogwash. I had lived on my diet of meat, fried potatoes, peanut butter and all kinds of sweets and I was not about to change.
That night, May 20, 2004, as I listened to Dr. Malkmus, with my arms folded, I was amazed at the energy level and enthusiasm Dr. Malkmus displayed at over 70-years of age. He literally ran down the aisle and spoke for two hours and then answered questions. I also learned that Dr. Malkmus had hiked many miles earlier that day and driven 200 miles before delivering the seminar. On the way home, I told my wife, 'I am sick and tired of being sick and tired' and that I would be willing to change my lifestyle for three months.
My wife volunteered to change lifestyles with me, even though her health was excellent. I learned that she had been fasting and praying especially for my health issues for 20-days prior to our attending the seminar. We began the Hallelujah Diet the next day and have been on it for almost a year now. During this time, I have not eaten animal products, nor strayed from the lifestyle at any point.
In November 2004, we attended Health Ministry training at Hallelujah Acres, where we both received our certificates as Health Ministers. As of this writing, my health has been restored and I have been able to stop all medications! My allergies are gone! I no longer have severe headaches! And I have more energy than I have had in years! I have been released by my hematologist/oncologist, and my depression is gone! I failed to mention that I have had three skin cancers removed from my face and have had many pre-cancers frozen off with liquid nitrogen. In early summer 2004, my dermatologist started me on Efudex, chemotherapy in cream form that I used all over my face and head. This was to be a lifetime sentence, and I was told to stay out of the sun. After starting the Hallelujah Acres lifestyle, I spent many days in the sun while boating, water skiing, walking, hiking, etc. . ., and yet in September 2004, my dermatologist released me! In addition to all this, I have lost 28 pounds (going from 190to 162) and my wife has lost 25 pounds.
My wife and I walk briskly for 3-miles every day and hike a trail in the Smokey Mountains each week � averaging 8-10 miles. I finally have my life back -- thanks to the Lord Jesus, my wife, and the lifestyle that you, Dr. Malkmus, introduced to us. I have pastored a church full-time for most of the last 26 years and presently pastor a growing church with 150 active members. Needless to say, we have made a lifetime commitment to stay with the Hallelujah Lifestyle and to reach as many others as we can with this health message. Thank you for teaching us that 'Christians don't have to be sick'.
