"Your cancer is treatable is not the same as your cancer is curable."

It seems that almost weekly I hear of someone I know or the loved one of someone I know who has recently been diagnosed with cancer. We have fundraisers for every kind of known cancer. I believe that Susan G Komen as been going on for over 40 year now, (I think) collecting millions and millions of dollars each year. Are we winning this battle against breast cancer? Are we winning the battle against any of the cancers?

First I would like to say that I give all the glory to God. There are still miracles happening in today’s world…I am one of them. If we just open our eyes and listen we can see them and feel them and experience them for ourselves.  We have to be willing to listen and research. I agree that there are a lot of waco treatments out there and that is the reason that you have to research for yourself. You have to really want this miracle and you have to depend on God to give it to you. It can be done…it is very real. A negative attitude does not help because we all know that God works in His own time – not ours.

Cancer has no age limit, babies, toddlers, children of all ages, adults of all ages…it is always a shock when someone is diagnosed. Cancer ran swift in my mother’s side of the family and after watching my younger brother go through his cancer and treatments, which did nothing for him; I made the decision that I would never do Chemo or radiation therapy. I learned, “Never say Never.”

I found out that they did not know how to treat my cancer because of the lack of studies on this rare endometrial cancer…they did not know for sure what would work or what would not work…so 12 days after surgery they rushed me right into Chemo…. I thought I must be dying and wished I could. When I refused the last Chemo treatment they wanted me to start on radiation right away…NO way! They finally admitted that they could not reach the Para-aortic lymph node with radiation or additional surgery. That is when I told them I was finished…I wanted “quality” of life over “quantity” of life. I was not going to lie in that bed and die until it was time for God to take me.

Had I done nothing I would not be here today writing this. Instead I took the advice of my best friend, Rebecca, who was with me every step of the way on this journey. She suggested the Acid/Alkaline diet. I researched and researched and it made since to me. What I found out by checking my pH level every day is that my body was the perfect breeding ground for cancer cells – extremely acid. My cancer was spreading to another lymph node and to my liver. (I had breast cancer from the very beginning but they put that off until the endometrial cancer was in control.)

In February of 2010 my PET scan showed that my cancer was not “active”…six months later it was still not active. Today it is not active. I am faithful at keeping my body at an Alkaline level. I am still not an angel about the foods that go in my mouth but I make sure that I get my body and keep my body Alkaline. Cancer cannot live in an Alkaline body. I have posted several things on my blog about the Acid/Alkaline diet so please, please pass on my blog address to anyone you know that has been diagnosed with cancer. They don’t have to bore themselves with the whole blog just the last several months when I am trying to reach everyone I can.

Remember that God sends us angels, like Rebecca, to help us get through these rough times. She was God’s messenger to me and I will be forever grateful. All of us, with God’s help, can make it through this battle. (There were many, many angels in my life through this journey, too many to name them all.) My other loyal angel/friend Laurie made sure she made me laugh everyday - laughter is the best medicine.

Thank you Father God for giving me life and the fight to want to help others. I know that not everyone will listen and it will be too late for others. But Father I do know that there is a way besides Chemo and radiation therapy. If we will just look at this realistically we know that you will not steer us in the wrong direction. If we think about it and we are dying with cancer – what have we got to lose by trying the Acid/Alkaline diet?

Thank you for Your miracle in my life.

I don't have it so tough after all.

It is very difficult for me to dwell on my own health issues when I hear about children and families suffering more than what I can comprehend. Adults being ill, that is one thing, but to have these little children going through cancer and heart failure like adults is just foreign to me. My heart breaks for them just at the thought of what they are going through. Maybe I feel this way because I know what I went through as an adult; how do these little children tolerate the pain? I know that these are only questions that our God can answer…and Jesus holds them very tightly in his arms…our job is to intercede for these children.

Not really
but that is the way I felt last Sunday

I thought I had it so tough for the last several weeks. I wound up with a large bill on my car repairs. Well, I work two evenings a week so I asked for more hours to help pay this bill. All I can say is - be careful what you ask for. Yes they gave me more hours and I wound up working some hours everyday for ten days straight. I was so exhausted that my body rebelled. I have not worked that hard since before I got sick. You think you are ready but your body knows better. Last Sunday I slept right through the alarm while my body was rebelling. I suddenly woke up at 7:45 and was startled at what time it was. I have never, ever slept through the alarm. (Guess I can’t say that anymore.) The problem…I pick up another lady and 7:45 on Sunday morning so we can get there early enough for her to prepare communion.

When I went to work on Monday morning I made it clear that I did want more hours but not quite that many…I just couldn’t handle it. It took me all week to get my energy level back. Starting to feel “fine” again

"But one thing I do: 

Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 

I press on toward the goal."   

~Philippians 3:13-14


Please pray for Chloe-3 and Katy-4

Have a safe Halloween!

Special Prayer Needs

Today I am asking for prayers for two very special and brave little girls whose lives are in jeopardy

This request is from my aunt Sister Johanna –

Sister Jeanne’s great-great niece, Chloe, who is 4 years old with a brain tumor, has been through lots of chemo and radiation. They thought she was doing much better but the scan showed that the tumor is back and larger than before. Chloe has been put on hospice care.

This request is from my cousin Kendra:

Dear Facebook Family - I need prayer warriors RIGHT NOW. Amiee Sullivan Murphy's three year old daughter, Katy, has been admitted to Children's Hospital with complications from what appears to be congestive heart failure. This baby NEEDS your prayers on her behalf... please stop whatever you're doing and pray for courage, strength, and a miracle for this family... Please. Pray for hosts of angels to surround this family and bring them peace that passes all understanding. Fellow Mommies and Daddies out there... show this family love and support from complete strangers!!

Their story is posted on the family blog at - http://murphy216.blogspot.com

Katy is 3 years old and has just been admitted back to the hospital in congestive heart failure. She has been on the heart transplant waiting list for a year now.

“Come to me, all you who are worry and burdened, 

and I will give you rest.”

~Matthew 11:28

Lemon Water – Alkalizing Superstar

So What Are the Benefits of Drinking Lemon Water?

Almost as cunningly simple in its title as ‘green drink’ – lemon water is quite blindingly straightforward in its makeup: it is water with lemon squeezed in. Could it be any easier?

The beauty of lemon water is that it is tasty, refreshing and best of all, alkalizing. The lemon juice raises the alkalizing effect of the water so even with standard tap water you can make your drink nice and alkalizing.

Apart from being an amazing body alkalizer, lemon water also gives the following health benefits:

Lemons are antiseptic

             Lemon water has excellent digestive properties and can ease

                          heartburn, bloating and other digestion problems

             Lemon water cleanses and stimulates the liver and kidneys

             Lemon juice contains calcium, magnesium and potassium

             Lemon juice has been known to relieve asthma

             Lemon water (hot) offers relief from cold and flu symptoms while

                          providing some much needed Vitamin C

             Lemon juice is a great skin cleanser

So if you do not do anything else – start every single day with a glass of lovely lemon water!

It is not the relative acidity/alkalinity of the food but rather the effect it has on the body that is important. Seemingly acidic foods such as lemons, limes and tomato are acidic in their basic state, but once metabolized by the body have an alkalizing effect. The high alkaline mineral content of these foods means that once consumed and metabolized they increase the alkalinity of the cells of the body.

Extra Update:  If you are concerned about tooth enamel and lemon water,here are a few suggestions  :
Clean your teeth after your lemon water. Toothpaste is highly alkaline so neutralizes any acids in the mouth – remember the lemon is still acidic until you metabolize it, and at this point it has an alkaline effect on the body

          Drink a glass of (pre alkaline) water – or just rinse your mouth out

          Drink the lemon water through a straw

"When we have the opportunity to help someone, we should do it."  

~Galatians 6:10 (NCV)

Gloria in the white jacket and me in the black jacket,
Ross driving the train.

My friend Gloria and I have coffee once a month just to catch up on each other’s lives. Tuesday was our day to meet so Gloria asked if I would like to take a day trip with her and her husband, Art.  A trip to Coal Creek Canyon proved to be a very memorable day. A friend of theirs had built a miniature railroad and had invited his friends to take a ride. I must admit that I did not know what to expect and neither did Art and Gloria. What fun we had as we took turns riding the rail. Their friend Ross is retired and built the whole thing in his spare time. It is really quite a setup as you can see from the pictures.

Ross has five acres in Coal Creek and a deep slope on his land. He built not only the train but all of the tussles and tracks. He has a huge workshop full of engines that he is working on. An actual turntable where he can turn the train around. All of it was unbelievable that one man could do all of this. It is right out behind his house. What a back yard.

What a house! Ross also built his house over 35 years. It is round with an enclosed walking porch all the way around it. It is in the background of the 2nd picture.

The group of friends that were there all graduated together from Arvada High School. How much fun it was listening to their stories, especially since I just missed my High School Reunion while I was on vacation the week before.

I was thinking of my little cousins Jack and Wyatt, and how they would have loved to be with me riding the rails.

This is the picture on our shirts with all of standing in front of the sign.

I finally got to take a vacation this year - one that had been in the planning since March. On Sunday, 9-11, I flew to Portland Oregon with some friends, then on to Seaside Oregon for the week. The weather turned out to be very cool even on the days it was predicted to be a little warmer. The sun did peak between the clouds a couple of times and we were able to shed our jackets. The water was extremely cold and I only walked into it one time. Little James on the other hand loved it and the cold water did not stop him. Nancy and I did lots and lots of walking while Randy, Sherry, James and Katie went on a tour of the waterfalls and then to the sand dunes one day. They saw magnificent scenery. Little Katie was getting over a broken arm and just had her cast off the day before they left for Seaside. I think she was possibly still favoring it a little bit - only noticeable in the picture.

Randy and Sherry Whitehill, Nancy Johnston,
me on the bike, James and Katie Whitehill

Two years ago I went to Seaside Oregon with the same friends. We had our picture taken together under the sign.Well, Nancy took that picture and T-shirts made for all of us in different colors. Well yes, we had our picture taken together again this year with our T-shirts on. It was a lot of fun. Thank you Nancy. 

Ember stayed with Laurie while I was gone. Laurie picked her up after I left on Sunday and she brought her back home Saturday, the 17^th, before I got home. She was so happy to seem me and became glued to me the first couple of days back. What a sweet heart she is – I missed her just as much.

To my wonderful friends and a wonderful vacation:
Thank You

“A kindness done is never lost. 
It may take awhile, 
but like a suitcase on a luggage carousel, 
it will return again.”
~H. Jackson Brown

I'm Gonna Love You Through It (with lyrics) - Martina McBride

You are in Control

My tribute to Freida Story

I never had the opportunity to meet Freida and I never had the opportunity to talk to her, however, we traveled a very unusual journey together - Cancer!

Freida's brother, Mark Story, was the Worship Director at my church for several years. Mark would tell us about his sister who lived in California and was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007. In February of 2008, after much chemotherapy and radiation therapy, the doctor's told her that she was "cancer-free". In July of 2008 I was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive cancer. In October 2008 Freida was again diagnosed with a rare cancer.   

The both of us with very different cancers, both aggressive, made very different decisions about treatment and did the best we knew how to beat this ugly Cancer. At 55 years of age Freida lost her battle and she is now in the arms of God...Friday, August 5, 2011.

Freida Story was an active single mother of two boys living in Los Gatos California, a small town in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains.  Like most moms she was very busy.  In addition to attending all her children's extracurricular activities, she ran a daycare in her home, directed children's theatre, sang in a local rock band, and on her vacation time led folks on tours all over the world with Queenslander Tours. 

Freida had the most awesome support system to help her through the tough days when she was so sick. I read her blog and I understand that she read mine. I could see her going down gradually and it broke my heart because there was nothing I could do to help her...so I prayed for her and her family every day.

She was such an inspiration to me because she was so active all the time and I could not figure out how she kept going so strong. I knew there must be something wrong with me because I couldn't do it. I could tell that she was a lady with a sense of humor. Every picture you see she is smiling or laughing. Laughing is good for the soul and I understand that she did plenty of that. There is so much I could say but it is hard to know where to begin. I will miss her so much. 

One day she was Disneyland with her family and people kept staring at her, Freida did not wear wigs she wore a scarf or went bareheaded. These are her words from that experience; "...being ignorant in this day and age actually requires more effort than being enlightened.  Regardless of someone's walk in life, we should first try to think of that person as a human being with all the rights a human being has.  The Golden Rule is the answer: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." 

I understand that instead of having a service for her they have planned a "Celebration of Life". Hopefully they will dress in some of her costumes that she wore every summer when she did the Children's Theater. I understand that she has a gigantic wardrobe. Just reading her blog I know that she would not want tears, unless they were tears of joy.

I am sorry that I never met you Freida - I will miss reading your blog postings. 

Dear God - we know that 
"You Are In Control"