My Story

 

I am very passionate about healthy eating, and holistic health because of my own personal experience.

 

In 2010 at the age of 34, I was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer. I underwent multiple surgeries and treatments, including a dual mastectomy and chemotherapy. Like most patients receiving chemotherapy, I lost my hair and was physically weakened. While undergoing cancer treatments, I became curious about nutrition.

Do I keep eating the same way, or should I do anything differently? Unfortunately, I wasn't provided with any nutritional plan to follow.  Although it was very challenging at times to shop for me and my teenage Son and Daughter during my cancer treatments and recovery, I would've done the extra effort to make better food choices for us if I had more information. My oncologist didn't say to stay away from any foods, so consuming everything should be perfectly fine - or so I thought. I wish I knew then, what I know now.

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In 2016, we were blessed with a beautiful pair of Twin girls. Within a few months, I started experiencing some mild pain on my left hip that quickly became an excruciating pain that ran from my hip to the lower part of my leg. I went back and forth for 6 months to my doctors. After prescribing multiple pain medications that failed to ease the pain, they finally agreed to order an Xray. I was then called in for a STAT scan which revealed a massive mass and bone loss on my left hip. It was later confirmed through a biopsy that cancer had returned. I was then diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer metastasis to the bone.

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A few months before experiencing the pain, I had a dream with an Angel embracing a basket with fruits and vegetables. He extends his arms and with a firm and gentle voice, he said to me "This is what you need to eat". I could not understand why God would be guiding me to eat "just" fruits and veggies. Was I supposed to take this dream literal or did this dream meant something else? My heart was saying it was a literal dream, but I couldn't see myself changing my eating habits.

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Days after my diagnosis, I was carried in arms to the Emergency room by my lovely husband. I could not move and was in severe pain. My leg was pretty much paralyzed. After multiple tests, the doctors came back with the results. The scan was worse than my previous one. My hip bone was very damaged by the cancer mass and the pain I was experiencing was because the cancer was literally eating my bone. The mass had a lot of inflammation preventing my mobility. I was warned by the group of doctors that my condition will only get worse. Because of the fragility of my hip bone, I was no longer able to pick up my babies and was bound to a walker and wheelchair. I went back home that day with a strong determination. I decided to take the Angel's message literally and change the way I ate. Since that day, I focused my eating on plant-based whole foods. It was not easy, but I needed to live and be here for my twin babies, my two older college kids, and my husband.

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I started discovering that I wasn't eating "just fruits and veggies". I was enjoying a great variety of tasty plant-based whole foods. To this, I added homemade natural juices, zesting and herbal teas (again, all plant-based). The excruciating pain I was experiencing for so many months started dissipating in just a few days. Within a week the pain was completely gone. It was surreal! I even started regaining mobility on my leg. After so long, I finally felt some peace in my mind and body.

 

Although I was no longer in pain, the cancer mass and bone loss remained a concern. Surgery to remove the mass or do a hip replacement was not an option due to the massive damage my bone had sustained and neither was intravenous treatments because of the strong side effects. I was told by my Oncology treatment team that it would take at least two years for the mass to hardened and take the place of my bone; that I would have to use a walker for years to come and that I would never be able to run again. It was difficult to hear this since I had little babies that were quickly turning into toddlers and needed so much attention and care. This also meant that my weekend jogs within nature would be a thing of the past. But yet more devastating was that my life expectancy was just a couple of years as well because of the rate the cancer mass was growing.

 

The only feasible treatment was radiation. The Oncology radiologist advised us that we would not see any significant results from the radiation treatment for at least 12 months. In the meantime, I continued a whole plant-based diet, juicing, enjoying herbal teas and taking plant-based supplements. Everything I focused on was "plant-derived". Despite doctors' expectations, my recovery has been a great one! After just 3 months, the cancer was no longer detectable and my bone is fully restored. I am now able to walk, pick up my little girls and even run. I thank GOD daily for guiding me to change my eating habits.

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Today I am a Nutrition and Holistic Health Coach with a new determination. To share my story with those who are suffering from cancer and many other chronic diseases that they may find comfort and healing through food. Sadly, I now know that my dear Mom and other loved ones have passed away from lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, heart failure, and strokes that could've easily been prevented or reversed. A change in eating and lifestyle habits would have increased both their quality of life and life expectancy. 

 

It is my goal to help you transition to your new lifestyle. To eliminate sugar cravings; reduce your risk or reverse chronic and auto-immune diseases; get better sleep; learn stress relieve methods; become more active; learn how to shop and plan quick nutritious meals for you and your family; eat better "on the run"; eat well on a budget; prepare healthy, fun and enjoyable meals and snacks for your little ones; balance your hormones and body. While our nutrition plays a great role in how we feel, our health is equally affected by our environment, our relationships, our physical activity, our careers, and our finances. Changing your eating habits is not a "magic cure" but the first step to balancing your body and feeling better. Throughout my personal experience and Nutritional education, I have been exposed to highly effective coaching techniques to help you implement gradual changes to achieve a new level of health and overall wellness. 

 

God has provided within nature foods that contain the nutrients, minerals, and phytochemicals necessary to restore our bodies, repair our cells and keep us healthy. You do not have to wait to suffer from a chronic disease to eat well. Prevention is the best medicine. Despite what I initially thought, there are so many plant-based foods and delicious meal options. Incorporating more of these foods into your diet can be one of the first transitional steps. We must make a conscious decision to not just feed our bodies but to nurture it.

Food is not just for eating; it is for healing.

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