When I first visited my naturopath, Larry Rawden, one of the many things he checked was my cortisol level - an indication of my level of stress. It was extremely high and he talked to me about the things I thought might be causing it - something my oncologist never even looked at let alone discussed with me.
I have since learned how important this level is because a high cortisol level means your body is constantly in fight or flight mode and you never really rest. It wears your body down and harms your immune system.
So one of the things Dr. Rawden "prescribed" for me was memorizing scripture. He told me to learn it and review it and say it out loud every day. The scriptures were Joshua 1:8-9 and Philippians 4:6-13.
I've tried to memorize scripture before and I know a few very short passages and where to find them - but I'm not very good at retaining them for long. And the trouble with memorizing them and then saying them out loud is that you start listening to what you're saying. Hmmmm.
The Joshua scripture is great. It ends with the promise that God will be with you wherever you go. That one is a source of comfort. But the Philippians scripture is full of things that I need to practice - not just say out loud.
Things like being anxious for nothing, dwelling only on things that are true and learning to be content in ALL circumstances. It kills me that I think I've got it bad and Paul is sitting in prison chained to a Roman guard and writing stuff like this! If he can learn contentment - surely I can.
Yet, I'm still struggling. I don't want any of you to think that I am some big, strong, super hero. I'm not. I'm still a work in progress. Since my last post, I have continued to stick to my diet - my exercise - my juicing - and my other healing regimens, but I haven't always done it with the attitude I wish I had. Obviously, I haven't learned contentment!
I think there is a great message in how Paul worded this statement. Contentment isn't a feeling you have, it is something you learn. It's easy when life is good and things are going your way. But when circumstances aren't what you wish they were - you are still content. That is so hard.
But I would be remiss if I didn't quote the verse that immediately follows contentment. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
That is the secret. When I try to do all this in my strength, I invariably fail. When I remind myself that I am a child of God and have His Spirit in me - a spirit of love, power and self-control - I know that I can do all things through Him!
That's why, "I love you, O Lord, my strength."
One in two men and one in three women will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime, according to the most recent American Cancer Society statistics.
If you're like me - you think you're the other one - the "lucky" one who won't. And so you go along in a fog when it comes to your health and the environment we're living in now. For me, ignorance was bliss - but it caught up with me. It will catch up with a lot (about half!) of you too.
Why? Why does it seem you know more and more people with cancer? Why is cancer the number one disease killing our children? Why are the rates rapidly increasing and there is still no cure?
The more research I've been led to do because of my diagnosis, the more I'm learning why this is happening.
It's because of two basic reasons: we live in an extremely toxic world, and we don't fuel our bodies properly to be able to resist the toxins that are entering us every minute of every day.
If you're like I was, you may be clueless regarding this toxicity. But our food czars - the ones designated to protect our food supply - actually allow big chemical companies to put RoundUp in the seeds that grow our crops so that the crops can be sprayed without being damaged. Our Congress debates whether or not pizza is a vegetable so that it can be part of the school lunch program. Our wheat is totally destroyed because of cross breeding to find a better, more efficient product than the one God originally designed. (Wonder why there is so much gluten intolerance these days?) Genetically modified foods are more and more abundant, and 70 to 90% of the stuff in our grocery stores is processed food, i.e. food not in its natural state.
And speaking of natural --- beware of foods labelled "natural." Did you know that the liquid from the anal gland of a beaver - called castoreum - is often used to create a "natural" raspberry and vanilla flavoring in foods and beverages! That's right...check that "vanilla" ice cream in your freezer. (Of course, Roger's first question is who in the world even thought of checking out the liquid from the anal gland of a beaver!) If you don't believe it, just google the word castoreum!
I could go on and on, but I won't. We need to wake up!
Okay - so that's the stuff that maybe you can't do a lot about you think. So, what can you do?
Look at what you are putting into your body.
I have told lots of curious friends who are trying to "do better" because of what has happened to me that most of the gurus I have listened to say that we could make two big changes in our diets that would greatly reduce our chance of getting chronic disease. Read that again ---- not just reduce your risk of cancer, but reduce your risk of chronic disease!
Those two changes are: eliminate sugar from your diet and eliminate processed foods.
That's right; you don't have to be as radical as I'm having to be right now if you don't have a chronic disease. Shop the outside of the grocery store. Eat more clean - organic if possible - fruits and vegetables. Eat grass-fed meat or at least meat that hasn't been injected with hormones.
Okay - so enough of my preaching for today. I said I was going to share this journey for the benefit of others, and that's what I'm attempting to do here. I don't want to preach, but if it helps make you more aware and a little more careful about what you're doing - then that's a good thing!
Stay tuned. Who knows what I'll share next?!
And for those of you who haven't seen me in a while - I'm still doing great. Thanks for all the continued prayers. I couldn't do this in my own strength.
These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This blog is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
I love you, O Lord, my strength!
I've been listening to an Integrated Health Systems Summit this past week titled "The Cure to Cancer." It has been enlightening and discouraging.
Enlightening because there are literally thousands of people around the world - including conventionally trained medical doctors - healing cancer using natural methods.
Discouraging in that the general public thinks we're all kooks!
My friend Kathy Hardin, who got me on this path, introduced me to a website that convinced me that this non-traditional way of healing was for me. She steered me to www.chrisbeatcancer.com. I would HIGHLY recommend that anyone with a cancer diagnosis go to this site. It is full of information from a consumer who isn't trying to sell anyone anything who healed himself ten years ago from stage IV colon cancer! The site is full of testimonials from people around the world who have healed naturally.
Chris Wark - of chrisbeatcancer.com - was interviewed this week during the summit and he said "Cancer is a Divine wake up call."
I have really pondered that a lot lately and have come to agree that it is. Most of us do not take care of ourselves. We don't get enough rest; we worry and stress; we don't exercise; and we don't properly fuel our bodies. Then we get sick and wonder why. Hence, the poster accompanying this blog.
There is a God-given law of nature called reaping and sowing. If you plant corn, you're not going to reap green beans. We know that, but for some reason when it comes to our health we feel immune to the law --- sort of like we were in our 20s when we hadn't abused our bodies quite as much and we had an ample supply of enzymes and good cells and our liver and stomach weren't worn out from processing junk and everything seemed to be functioning well.
For me, cancer has been a Divine wake up call. I wasn't taking care of myself, and I admit it. Since I turned my life around and started eating right and doing some exercising and letting go of the stress, I am re-vitalized! Really, I have a cancerous tumor in my body, and I have never felt better!
Cancer is a symptom - not a disease. It is a symptom that you have let your immune system get out of whack. We are fearfully and wonderfully made; our bodies are designed to heal themselves when properly maintained. And, I am healing!
We travelled to Alabama yesterday to see Dr. Rawdon. It's been 90 days since I started his protocol of eating raw, juicing and taking supplements. He was extremely pleased with my results. All my blood work is within normal ranges! Yay! There were a couple of items he wanted a little higher - like my Vitamin D level - but that was it. So, I'm scheduled to go back in 90 days for a follow up and then we'll look at doing a scan.
In addition to a few tweaks in what I'm doing, he also said I could go from 100% raw to 90%. Yay! That means I can have a few cooked veggies now without feeling guilty.
So, I'm continuing on this path and praying that as I go I can share my testimony with others who may have a cancer diagnosis. Cancer is not to be feared; it is a call to change. Message me if you want to talk about it. And, thank you prayer warriors for all your faithful prayers. This has taken a lot of strength and I know that it is His strength working in me to do His good will!
I love you, O Lord, my strength!
It's been a month since I've blogged, and several of you have asked how I'm doing and when I'm going to the doctor and am I still eating all raw and getting tired of it!
So here's an update.
I'm doing great. I'm still jumping about 10 minutes every morning on the trampoline. I have a Mandisa play list that gets me pumped up and going strong.
I'm still juicing every day and am continuing to turn orange in the process!
Yes - I'm still eating raw which means uncooked fruits and vegetables. Yes - I do get tired of it and yes I have cheated a few times. But - cheating for me is to bake a potato and eat it plain - or at least with "nutritional yeast" and no butter, etc. Or a few bites of baked organic black beans. I think I just crave a little something warm. But I have a basic eating routine down now. Breakfast is a fruit smoothie. Lunch is a big salad. And dinner is my homemade, dehydrated onion bread with avocado, tomato and sprouts. After drinking all that juice in addition to these meals, I'm rarely hungry for a snack. And, of course, I do still have my $6.99 raw chocolate candy bars!
I'm having blood work done this coming Monday and will go back to see the naturopath in Alabama on Monday, 9/15. I guess we'll know more about how I'm doing after that.
In the meantime, I'm back to doing a little volunteer work and helping plan the annual CWJC Madison fundraiser. The event will be Thursday, September 18 from 6:30 to 8:00 in the gym at Madison Church of Christ. If you haven't been invited and want to come, let me know. I promise it will be a fun and uplifting evening. I'm always inspired by the stories of the women and men who have worked so hard to get their GED and am always thankful that I've gotten an opportunity to play a part in their transformation.
Today is day 100 for Dawn Ferguson on her new "raw" diet to heal cancer. We took this opportunity to interview her about her experience.
Q: So, Dawn, tell us what you're eating?
A: Raw fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds.
Q: Are you eating any cooked vegetables?
A: No.
Q: Not even some beans or a baked potato?
A: My goal is to eat all raw...as in not cooked.
Q: Are you tired of eating just raw stuff?
A: Yes!
Q: Have you cheated?
A: Yes! But not much.
Q: How much have you cheated?
A: I've had two naked, baked potatoes. I've eaten about a half cup of cooked black beans and a little steamed broccoli. And I've had a few pieces of Ezekiel bread. Those are my only cheats in the past 100 days!
Q: What do you like the least about this diet?
A: Eating salads all the time and not being able to go out to eat.
Q: What do you like the most about this diet?
A: There's no wondering what I need to buy at the store to "fix" to eat.
Q: What about Roger?
A: What about him?
Q: What's he eating?
A: I'm still cooking for him!
Q: Isn't that hard?
A: Sometimes.
Q: Has he been supportive of your diet?
A: Most of the time. Except there was that one time when he told me to just put salad dressing on something I didn't like and eat it! He might have even told me to quit whining.
Q: Sounds like you're holding a grudge.
A: Moi?
Q: What's in the picture up above?
A: My latest discovery. Raw onion bread.
Q: How do you make raw bread?
A: Well, you have to plan way in advance. This bread is made from ground sunflower seeds, ground flax seeds, onions, olive oil and coconut aminos. You mix all that together and then spread it on sheets in your dehydrator and "cook" it for 36 hours!
Q: And how does it taste?
A: Considering I can't have baked bread and am tired of salads, it's delicious! Actually, it's not bad at all. I even look forward to dinner now.
Q: How much longer are you going to stick with this diet?
A: I go back to the naturopath in September so I'm sticking with it at least until then. I'm hoping he lets me add a little cooked food after that.
Q: Then what?
A: From all the research I've done, it appears I'll need to be doing this for about two years to get my body back into tip top shape and keep it cancer free.
Q: You think that will be hard?
A: Yes, I do. But the longer I do it and see how much more energetic I am, the easier I hope it gets.
Q: Well, congratulations for making it 100 days! Any final words you'd like to share with our readers?
A: Yes - thank you all so much for your support and your prayers! I love you guys! And "I love you, O Lord, my strength."
I missed church yesterday.
Not because I wanted to, but because I was puny.
On Saturday - with no warning whatsoever - I woke up achy and not feeling too good. By mid-day, I had a temperature of 101. I stayed in bed all day (which is a clear indication that I'm not feeling good.)
It's been about 80 days since I did this very radical shift in my diet - going all raw. That detoxes your body as you go along, but you reach a point where it does something even greater to you. I think I reached that Saturday. I treated none of the symptoms. By mid-morning Sunday, it was gone. That means my immune system kicked in! Hallelujah!
My friend Kathy has already been through it and said it was like having a short episode of the flu. Bingo!
We live in a very toxic environment. In fact, the more I learn about it - the scarier it gets.
Just consider your skin - the largest organ of your body. Our skin absorbs 60% of what we put on it. Look at your lotions, your soaps, your sunscreens, etc. Those chemicals you can't pronounce are getting into your blood stream!
We breathe in toxic air. We eat toxic food - food sprayed with pesticides - some food which has been genetically modified - some with Round Up to be resistant to weeds! Toxins are everywhere. There is no way to avoid them all. That's why it's important to do what you can to avoid as many as possible. (End of sermon.)
Back to missing church - I love my church family. Not just Madison Church of Christ, but all God's people. I have loved all the congregations I've been a member of - Hendersonville First United Methodist Church, Aurora Christian Church, Tulip Grove Baptist Church and many I haven't been a member of.
I don't go on Sunday and at other times during the week to get my card punched or because I have to or I'm supposed to. I go because I want to! I love being in fellowship with other Christians.
When I am there, there are people all around me going through tough times - some much more difficult then what I'm dealing with right now. I get strength when I see them praising God amidst trials. That is raw, unadulterated faith.
Two weeks ago I prayed with a woman in our Benevolence Center. When I asked her what I could pray with her about, she said "my faith." The standard answer is generally finances, family, health issues, etc. I asked her what about her faith. She said she was losing it. Why? "Because I'm doing everything right and I'm having all kinds of problems."
Unfortunately, people sometimes seek God for what He can do for them. Some people call this the prosperity gospel - as long as you're good and do everything you're supposed to do - God will pour out blesses on you!
That is bad theology! And it's not the truth.
Jesus tells us that God causes the sun to shine on the good and the bad and likewise with the rain - it falls on the good and the bad. (And we need some of it to fall right now on all of us!)
And thankfully, I'm glad the prosperity gospel isn't the way God works. I much prefer His mercy and His grace because if I had to live out His rules to be blessed, I would have been dead a long time ago!
It's day 83 of my raw diet. Next Monday, I'll be celebrating day 90. Can you say $8 raw chocolate bar here I come?
"I love you, O Lord, my strength."
It's day 71 on this all raw diet, and I am starting to feel more 
energetic. I think my body has been in detox mode which has made me a little sluggish.
I've had lots of friends ask me about what I'm doing and why is it so important to eat raw. Once food is heated above 108 to 115 degrees (there's some disagreement as to exactly where the heating point is) it starts losing enzymes, then nutrients, then minerals, etc. the more and more it's cooked. That's not to say that roasted broccoli is bad for you - just that raw broccoli is better.
Cooking destroys enzymes, lessens the nutritional value (some say by as much as 80%!) and raises the acidity of the food. Cancer thrives in an acidic environment, so I am alkalinizing (if that's a word) my insides so it's not welcoming to cancer cells.
The naturopath set my goal at 100% raw, and that's what I have pretty much stuck to. I did cheat two or three times and have a slice of Ezekiel Bread again, because the naturopath also told me not to stress out over meeting all my goals! So I'm not!
Roger and I took a field trip to Whole Foods yesterday and I actually found an all raw (meaning it's not been cooked above 118 degrees) organic chocolate bar! Yes - it was about half the size of a regular candy bar and cost $8.00 - but it was worth it! (On second thought, maybe that's why I'm feeling a little peppier!)
I have enjoyed watching and listening to some of you who are inspired to make some lifestyle changes because of what I'm sharing --- especially my sweet friend who shall remain nameless who is trying to give up her morning McDonald's sausage and biscuit! Some of you have told me you've gotten your juicers back out or you're eating at least one raw meal a day. Yay! My niece is visiting juice bars across the city and ordering Alabama zingers! Even Roger is eating a salad or two with me.
I truly believe it is making a difference in me in a very positive way. For one thing, my skin pigmentation is a little oranger which means I can stay outside and get more natural Vitamin D. (If you don't believe me, just let me turn my palm up and compare it to yours.) I do have more energy. I stay full and I'm rarely hungry. My teeth are whiter (probably from not drinking any coffee.) And my silver hair appears to be getting darker. (Note: This is an anti-aging diet.) Roger is still waiting for the mental clarity which is supposed to be another side effect...bless his heart.
I watched an interview on youtube yesterday with Jack Lalane, the fitness guru who invented jumping jacks and lived to be 97. At the time of the interview, he was 95 and had just written a book on the importance of nutrition and exercise. His philosophy is "If man made it, don't eat it."
To which Roger replied, "if woman made it, it's okay! Where's the fudge cake?"
My niece's 10-year-old daughter Kaitlin created the above artwork. She asked her parents for a canvas and then planned and painted this just for me. I've chosen to hang it in our kitchen for inspiration. While I love the front (pictured above), I love what she wrote on the back the most. In case the photo doesn't show up well, it says:
To: The person named
Dawn who will overcome
CANCER!
From: Kaitlin
Go Girl!
What a great motivation. You rock Kaitlin. Thanks.
"I love you O Lord, my strength."
