I accepted Christ as my personal savior as a te.enager, but for the past several years have not walked close to the Lord. I never thought any serious illness would come my way When cancer hit me--it was a rude awakening and I realized that I had not previously been trusting God with most of the things in my life, and now I was going to have to trust Him with my life! I then promised God that I would use this cancer to glorify Him, no matter what the outcome.
I was first diagnosed with pancreatic cancer on June 14, 2001. I had gone into the hospital thinking I had gallbladder problems. The doctors ran a CT scan and reported that my gallbladder was fine, but that they had found a mass of approximately one inch. After several doctors reviewed my report, I was told I needed the mass surgically removed. A surgeon met with me to explain the seriousness of the operation and stated that 50% or greater of my pancreas would have to be removed, along with my spleen.
I left the hospital on June 18 and met with an internist, who recommended a specialist, who did an EGD, ERC procedure, and a biopsy. The test confirmed that the mass was malignant. Surgery was performed on July 20. They took out 70% of my pancreas and my spleen. During this surgery they found that the cancer had spread to my liver. They took a biopsy of the largest spot and found it too was malignant. There were also cancer spots throughout the liver. This was certainly not the news we wanted to hear and a lot of decisions were placed in front of me.
While in the hospital, chemotherapy was recommended. I searched for a doctor who wouldn't recommend chemotherapy, without success. Finally I found a doctor who said he would monitor me even though he also recommended chemotherapy, which I refused. This same doctor continues to monitor me and record my progress to this day.
Then in August 2001 a good friend gave me the tape, 'Why Christians Get Sick' and information on the Hallelujah Diet. I immediately started juicing and doing the Hallelujah Diet. I drink 32 ounces of carrot juice and 32 ounces of beet/carrot juice combination daily. I also take 4 to 5 teaspoons of dehydrated barley juice powder daily, along with raw fruits and vegetables, and drink only distilled water. Psyllium-based fiber product was also added to my diet for a body/colon cleansing. It was all very radical, but my condition was also very serious.
Since going on the Hallelujah Diet, I have been able to work and maintain a normal life, and I have not had a single allergy attack, which previously happened numerous times every spring and fall. And in December 2001, after going through a series of tests, my doctor told me that my tumors were now looking more like cysts and less cancerous. He encouraged me to keep up with my prayer and faith and to stay on my diet.
On February 20, 2002, just 8 months after being told of the mass/cancer, I again had the usual tests, CT scan, MRI, and octreoscan, and met with my doctor. This time the tests were very different. The tests showed 'no dominant pleural or parenchymal-based masses.' We asked the doctor exactly what this all meant. He stated that it meant that there was no more cancer! Hallelujah! There were no spots on the liver and the spot on the pancreas did not respond to contrasts, therefore being non-cancerous.
We were elated and praised the Lord for what He had done! The doctor admitted that I was cured of cancer with my faith and my diet. Once a month my doctor invites all of his patients to a cancer support group, and he has asked me to come to the session and share my faith and my diet with his patients.
What I first saw as a rude awakening has become a bittersweet experience. Through all my disease and disappointment, I know that I have peace because of that one important decision I made as a teenager years ago. 'For me to live is Christ and to die is gain' (Philippians1:21). Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth" (III John 2)