My Journey of Faith through Cancer
Experiences of diet, treatment, support and prayer
Reminiscing.....
I've recently thought back to my childhood and all the fun times that I have had with my four brothers growing up in Milwaukee and then Brookfield. We had always enjoyed music and have been involved in many musical opportunities. I've thought back to my school years at Our Lady of Sorrows (where I played the organ at Mass and sang in the choir), St. Dominic's and Brookfield East H.S. I've reminisced about my many years with the Donauschwaben Dance group, performing at Germanfest, Folk Fair, in California and Canada. My brothers and I even had our own "musical group" and we performed at different places playing the piano and singing. They were all good times and made me smile.
After I had graduated early from High School, I worked at Woodside Pharmacy for a number of years, paying my way through college at Marquette University. My boss at the pharmacy reminded me of "Mr. Fuzzywig" in the story of a Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. He was a joyful man and taught me so much about business and life by sharing many things with his employees - including his faith, his heritage, his profits and his wonderful attitude. God grant him eternal rest.
After graduation from Marquette U. with degrees in Criminal Justice (I had wanted to be a lawyer to fight injustice but couldn't take my one semester in Law School -went against my moral standards!), and Psychology, I obtained a job with Gielow Associates. My boss Curt Gielow (who is currently the Executive Dean of the School of Pharmacy at Concordia University) owned this business and hired me on to interview doctors for hospitals and clinics around the United States. I traveled around the country, interviewing doctors (from pediatricians to neurosurgeons) and then sitting in on the Hospital Administration meetings that would decide their compensation, travel arrangements, sign on bonuses, etc..... I received quite an education of the medical field in general and it was an eye-opening experience into the world of doctors and hospital administration. Traveling all around the U.S. was OK for awhile, but as everyone knows, business travel is not like traveling on vacation. All in all, a very educational experience and am so thankful for this wonderful job that taught me so much.
I left Geilow Associates to take a job in Cincinnati, Ohio. My move there was an interesting experience and this job was, by far, the most difficult that I ever had. I was made Co-Administrator of a 200 bed nursing facility with my duties being to hire and fire employees (from the janitor, nursing assistants, LPN's, RN's, kitchen staff, laundry staff, etc...), work with the local media (both radio and TV stations) to promote advertisement for the facility, maintaining the budget for the facility, and checking up on staff and residents during the day. I worked 12 hour days and sometimes nights, and it was by far, the most rewarding as well as, most stressful job that I have had. I still remember many of the residents in the facility and how my heart would break, especially at Christmas time, when the loneliness of the residents was palpable. I learned so much from this experience and gained an appreciation for the elderly and for all the hard work that takes place in a nursing home.
I left Cincinnati to return to WI to work for my brother, John, as Office Manager at his medical clinic. For 6 years, I felt very fortunate to be able to work for him and with him, however, I have to admit I did not enjoy having to deal with insurance companies and trying to obtain payment from them for the surgeries that he performed on patients. We worked with some lovely nurses and our patients were a joy to get to know. I thank my brother for the opportunity to work with him and the time we had to spend together.
After my brother closed his practice, I went back to school to try to obtain an advanced masters and doctorate degree in Psychology. I went to Cardinal Stritch, where I took night classes (since Jessica was a baby at home), and studied until 2 a.m. I was on my way to getting my degree and was asked to edit the Psychology newsletter there, when Bob lost his job and I found out I was pregnant. I put my dreams of getting my doctorate on hold.
Bob and I needed to pay the bills, and I was fortunate to get a job at our parish office, Blessed Theresa of Calcutta in North Lake. I worked in the parish office, doing the bulletin and newsletter for 7 years. I thank God for the opportunity to work for the Church and to be able to write.
Which leads me to the best and most rewarding "job" in the whole world - motherhood! I have to admit that it was difficult to jump from the "corporate world" to homeschool mom. But now, looking back at my life, the positions, responsibilities and stress of the world seems so unimportant. Being a wife and mother is the most important "job" in the world, the most difficult at times and the most rewarding. I thank God each and every day for my husband, my children and my extended family. Love is the greatest gift that God has given us and we are so very blessed. God has us all in His Hands and what a wondrous place to be!
Much higher blood levels of Vitamin C are reached when given intravenously.
High-dose vitamin C has been studied as a treatment for patients with cancer since the 1970s
The anticancer effect of vitamin C in different types of cancer cells involves a chemical reaction that makes hydrogen peroxide, which may kill cancer cells.
Vitamin C IV Therapy
The glutathione that i mentioned above is a very important aspect to the administration of Vitamin C. Glutathione is a most important molecule that a person needs to stay healthy and prevent disease. It is the mother of all antioxidants, the master detoxifier and the commander of the immune system. Our bodies produce glutathione, however, stress, aging, trauma, infections, radiation, pollution, toxins, drugs and poor diet can all significantly reduce glutathione. Study shows that our body's supply begins to decline by 10%-15% per decade starting at the age of 20. Individuals with low levels of glutathione are susceptible to chronic illnesses, like cancer. Glutathione purifies the Vitamin C and works synergistically.
From an article on the Cancer Defeated Website:
How vitamin C works to prevent or treat cancer
- Destroys toxins: Together with enzymes, the vitamin can react with toxins - some of which may be cancer-causing - converting them to substances that are harmless.
- A major building block of collagen: This is the cement that holds cells tightly together. The stronger this is, the less ability cancer cells have to migrate.
- Stimulates the production of hyraluronidase inhibitor: This prevents or retards the ability of cancer cells to burrow through body tissues and spread.
- Plays an Important role in the immune system: Needed by lymphocyte white blood cells.
- Powerful antioxidant: An important scavenger of free radicals.
- Pro-oxidant properties: In very high doses - up to 200,000 mg taken intravenously, it can generate hydrogen peroxide, which is selectively toxic to cancer cells.
- Supports traditional approaches: Enhances the effectiveness of some chemotherapy drugs, reduces the toxicity and side effects of radiation and chemotherapy, and accelerates healing. Provides a greater sense of wellbeing, mental alertness, appetite and pain control. Prolongs survival.
For all practical purposes there’s no limit to the amount of vitamin C a person can tolerate if it’s given by IV. From varies studies, the dosages ranged as high as 50,000 mg per day.