My Story: From a Stage IV Diagnosis to a New Calling
At 44, I was a Registered Nurse and a busy homeschool mom of three. Then everything changed on Christmas Eve when I found a lump. What followed was a journey through conventional medicine, alternative healing, and ultimately, complete remission, a journey that led me to dedicate my life to helping others find hope and healing.
The Discovery
I found a hard lump in my left breast. As a nurse and mother of three young children (ages 6, 8, and 12), I initially hoped it was just another benign cyst, as I'd had 12 years prior.
The Diagnosis
Stage IV, triple-positive breast cancer, one of the most aggressive forms. The surgeon removed the tumor, but didn't get clean margins. Within months, the cancer spread like wildfire throughout my body.
The Conventional Route
I began treatment with six hardcore drugs: Herceptin, Perjeta, Taxotere, Neulasta, Goserelin, and Zometa/Xgeva. As someone who had been active and fit, I could barely function. The pain was overwhelming.
"Until She Passes"
When my husband asked the oncologist how long I'd be on these treatments, she pulled him aside and whispered, "until she passes." That wasn't an answer I could accept. There had to be another way.
The Search for Alternatives
As a one-income military family, traveling for treatment seemed impossible. But I discovered Sanoviv medical resort, a holistic health clinic in Rosarita, Mexico; a place that offered hope through the implementation of integrative medicine.
Immersed in Healing
At Sanoviv, I learned about bio-energetic medicine, advanced biochemical nutrition, IV therapies, yoga, grounding, and mental health support. They discovered I had infected dental cavitations, infections that had been in my jaw for roughly 25 years without my knowledge. A biopsy confirmed I had anaerobic bacterial growth in both cavitations that had likely been festering on and off over the years. This crash course in holistic healing changed everything.
Complete Remission
After just four weeks of integrative treatment—addressing the dental infections, following a primarily plant-based diet, taking targeted GMP-certified and other organic supplements, and using bio-energetic therapies—I came home in complete remission. What conventional medicine said was impossible had become my reality.
Moving Forward
We moved to Colorado. While I was in remission (NED - No Evidence of Disease), I still had lesions throughout my bones: four in my ribs, complete deterioration of L4 and L5 vertebrae, and metastasis in my hips and pelvis. On a PET scan, I "lit up like a Christmas tree."
Medical Cannabis Healing
I started using medical-grade cannabis (RSO/FECO, not dispensary products) while continuing only Herceptin and taking NP Thyroid pharmaceutical medications. The cannabis healed all my bone metastases. Doctors had planned to insert a 16-inch cement rod in my spine. Today, I no longer have lesions, osteopenia, or osteoporosis. I can ski, hike, and live fully.
The Education Journey
Frustrated that I'd never learned these healing modalities in nursing school, I returned to graduate education. I earned:
- Doctor of Science in Integrative Health
- Master's in Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics
- Master's in Integrative Nutrition
- Master's in International Studies (Global Health)
- Certificate in the Art of Herbalism
- Certified Health Coach credential
- MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Liberty University
- BS in Nursing
- BS in Biological Sciences
The Missing Piece
Dr. Kelly A. Turner's research on radical remissions revealed that 60-75% of healing involves the mental, emotional, and spiritual components. I discovered that if you can't get people to believe they're going to get well, they often won't. That's why I've recently completed my professional counseling degree—to address the whole person, not just the disease.
Walking Alongside Others
I've spent over 1,000 hours helping cancer patients and their families navigate their journeys. I've seen both sides—as a nurse for 28 years and as a patient. I understand why oncologists' hands are tied (they can't discuss therapies outside NCCN guidelines without risking their licenses). I know the frustration of receiving only "cut, poison, burn" options when peer-reviewed literature shows so many other evidence-based modalities exist.
Living the Wellness Life
Today, I use only Herceptin (monoclonal antibody) every month and a natural thyroid medication to address hypothyroidism. Everything else is holistic: infrared sauna, red light therapy, grounding mats, hot yoga (my best prayer time!), daily walks, hiking, skiing, journaling 4-5 nights per week, and spending time with my husband of 28 years, our three grown children, family, and friends.
Your Guide Through the Complexity
I don't believe sickness is more powerful than healing. I believe God has provided what we need in nature—we just need to know how to use it. What works for me may not work for you, and vice versa. That's why bio-individuality matters. I'm here to walk alongside you, help you sort through the overwhelming information, and create a personalized plan that addresses your unique needs: body, mind, and spirit.