Tommy the Greek - Colon Cancer

Tommy, the gentleman in the blue striped shirt on the left, reminded me of the little boy in the Rugrats cartoon. (Steve, you will meet next, is pictured on his right.) It was generally agreed among the residents, however, that he was straight out of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding". He was even caught saying something along the lines of all English words have Greek origins. 

Tommy is nothing short of cordial and is entertaining to boot. He always was sitting out in the courtyard striking up a conversation with whomever would walk by. He left Sunday to join his wife and two daughters just outside of Charlotte, North Carolina.

Yoshiko Honda - Breast Cancer

Yoshiko was part of a very informative welcome party when we arrived. She has been reading up on various forms of alternative treatments and was a walking encyclopedia of knowledge. We were lucky to have her! Yoshiko, her husband and I posed together during our last meal together.

Yoshiko and her husband are also from Ontario, just about a 10 minute drive from Martin. Talk about a small world!

Yoshiko is here holding her 45 plus supplemental pills for the day...

Martin Costa - Prostate Cancer

Martin arrived with his companion Margit at the Baja Nutri Center the same time as Denise and I. Together we learned the ropes - what pills to take when, coffee break and meal times, and general do's and don't's of the Gerson Therapy. 

Over the week, Margit's enthusiasm for the treatment grew. She lost some weight, had less pain and began walking more - and that was only within the first week. Quite frankly, she was radiating health and happiness as the days went on. 

Here Martin is sitting poolside, reading. You can always find him propped up in some chair, finger marking his spot, fast asleep. In the other photo, Martin and Margit enjoy one of their first meals in the dining hall.

Faces of Hope

The following posts are of patients I met while at the Baja Nutri Center during my week visit there. I thought that you might like to meet them individually and hear their stories. I am sending them a link to the blog and inviting them each to keep us updated of their progress. Wishing each of them a speedy recovery and long, happy life!

t

Talking with Charlotte Gerson

Today, Charlotte Gerson came to visit us at the Baja Nutri Center. Earlier in the day, she sat down with Denise to go over her specific case. Again she reiterated what we already know, Denise is a remarkable woman. She may have a difficult road ahead, but she is a survivor.
She later joined us for lunch and sat down for a question and answer session. Of course we had many questions about treatment, what works, why and how... what doesn't work and certain fruits, vegetables and nuts that are eliminated from the Gerson Therapy. A gracious hoast, Charlotte spent time explaining the therapy, different approachs, successes and failures.
What I found most compelling, beside the need for eliminating toxins, was her view on the phosphorus/sodium balance in the diet. According to Charlotte, to maintain a healthy, healing blood pH of 7.4, we must consume a diet 90% potassium to 10% sodium. Unfortunately with our cooking processes and our copious use of salt, we have reversed the percentage of sodium and potassium in our systems. Most Americans have a blood pH of 6.8 leading to cancer, autoimmune disease, heart disease, diabetes and various other maladies. To give you an idea, a blood pH of 6.4 is considered terminal. Your cells are dying because of the acidity of your blood. Fruits are contain the best ratio of potassium to sodium, vegetables are next. Charlotte recommends the following fruits: cherries, apricots, peaches, grapes, and apples.
I will continue to look into fermentation metabolism, another aspect Charlotte touched upon, as well as other information presented. I'll definitely keep you posted. In the meantime you can find out more in her book, Healing the Gerson Way by Charlotte Gerson.
Until the next time,
t

Hanging out in Baja

Denise and I made is safely down to Baja Nutri Center, site of the Gerson Institute's treatment center, in Baja California yesterday morning. Denise began her treatments as soon as we arrived. We are getting into the groove with all the juices, coffee enemas, supplements and meals. It has kept us quite busy but, as you can see, I always find time to relax. We have also been fortunate to meet some great new people from all over the world and learn a lot of new information on diet, health and well-being. For example, beet tops are great for juicing while the beet, if not cooked can be hard on your kidneys. It is also high in sugar. We'll be sure to bring back more helpful information to you. For now it's been a lot of digestion, quite literally.
Sending you lots of love,
t

Denise in Baja

You Gotta Friend is excited to announce it's first recipient, Denise Goosee. Denise has been battling metastic breast cancer in her pancreas quite effectively for the last few years through traditional means. Her doctors don't know what to say she's been doing so well. Way to go Denise! Unfortunately, her current treatment regimen is no longer working to contain her tumor. After investigating numerous treatment options, Denise decided to pursue the Gerson Therapy. As you may know from previous posts, my mom, Janice M. Anderson, the inspiration for this foundation, also utilized the Gerson Therapy.

While we are excited that Denise is pursuing the Gerson Therapy, please know that You Gotta Friend's mission is to provide aide to those wishing to pursue any alternative treatment, not just the Gerson Therapy. You Gotta Friend's position is, and will remain, that the patient alone can best determine the best course of treatment. Treatment, regardless of therapy, is most effective when the patient is involved and confident in their treatment of choice. Why else would placebos be so effective?

I will be accompanying Denise for her first week of treatments at Baja Nuti Care in Baja California. It is a wonderful opportunity for me not only to support Denise but learn more about nutrition, the Gerson Therapy, and different modalities of treatment. I am very honored to be joining her on this journey. Please check out her blog deniseinbaja.blogspot.com to learn more about Denise, her treatment and progress. Check back here soon to learn about our fundraiser to help Denise cover the costs of her treatment.