10 Years Cancer Free!

I can’t believe 10 years have passed since my Hodgkin’s Lymphoma stage 3b diagnosis! I thank God everyday that He brought me through, & stronger than ever, with a deep passion for natural healing🙏🏽.

I mark today as my 10th year cancer free, as this was the day that I completed my very last chemo treatment. I did 6 months of chemo, 2x a month. I try to not live with regrets, & I must admit, it’s something that I still struggle with even ten years later…the regret of not looking towards alternative routes of healing instead of using chemo (which my oncologist told me has a half life of 10-12 years in the body!). I WISH I had all of knowledge that I have now about healing from the inside out & I WISH I was in the right head space to do so. I just know in my gut that 23 years of topical steroid use for eczema at the time contributed to the cancer. Plus just not taking care of my health in general, eating terribly etc. Clearly in retrospect I would’ve done things much different, BUT I’ve learned that everything happens the way it should, in its own divine time, in its own way. Some background to my diagnosis…I was 23 years old, I had graduated college the year before, the stress of school really took its toll on my body & my skin & overall health was going downhill fast. It’s like I could feel it the moment I graduated…like I was just holding out the last couple of months, struggling to make it through. I didn’t know anything about stopping the steroids and looking towards natural routes of healing, I had no intention of living a healthy lifestyle…I became reclusive because of the way my skin looked as it was getting worse and it was hard for me to even look in the mirror, hence why I had no idea of the lump growing in my clavicle. It was only until I went for a regular check up with a new primary care doc did she point out the lump. Many needle biopsies at the ENT doc later which were inconclusive, then to surgery of the removal of the golf ball sized mass which then led to the diagnosis of cancer.

My world stopped, in disbelief I felt like once again my body was broken. I had a mediport put into my chest to administer chemo…which my body literally pushed out weeks later! It’s like my body was screaming to me that it didn’t want chemo, & to find another way! I then had to have multiple PICC lines in my arms to take the chemo (multiple because my skin continually got infected from the PICC lines). Thank the Lord I didn’t feel sick, not once during chemo & that I didn’t lose all of my hair, just some of it, & it came back thicker than before! Everyone told me “you’ll be stronger after all of this” & it’s so true! In times of fear, I’ve told myself “if I can get through cancer like a boss then I can get through anything!” Although it took me 3 more years to learn about the danger of topical steroids, within that time I was seeking a better way of living, which allowed me to gradually change my lifestyle to a healthier one. I continued to hunger for knowledge and when I learned about naturally healing eczema I knew it was the direction I needed to be in. If you are dealing with a health issue, and/or cancer I highly recommend looking into alternative treatments, using food as medicine. Become knowledgeable on all of the resources out there…look into the Gerson Therapy, movies like The Truth About Cancer, What the Health, Forks Over Knives, books like The China Study by T. Colin Campbell, and amazing doctors like Dr.Greger are all full of great info to get you on the right path. I now know of how amazing our bodies are at self healing, that anything is possible and we just need to give the body the right tools to help it heal.

I’m cancer free and I give all thanks to God for getting me through & for continuing to repair my body! 💙

Mini Victories!

click to zoom in!

Random Question… Who else hasn’t shaved their legs in forever because of healing eczema?? 😂😂😂 It’s literally been YEARS for me! At one point my legs stopped growing hair all together because of terrible flares, as it’s healed the hair has grown in more and more. I found no reason to bother shaving because A. I didn’t want to irritate the skin more even if it was healing nicely & B. I wasn’t showing off my legs like that anyways, just too self conscious at times. I was noticing just yesterday how smooth my legs are becoming, barely any flaking, even the thickened “elephant skin” is smoothing out…and I said to myself, “wow I might actually be able to shave soon!” 😂 Gotta love the little victories in this healing process! I think I’ll actually be looking forward to shaving once I’m comfortable enough. I pray you all are well today, staying strong and keeping the faith in your body’s natural ability to heal 🙏 I know how aggravating and lengthy this process is (I’m 5 years TS free! So BELIEVE me I know!) but hang in there…each day is a step closer to healing and a day more that you’re free from the bondage of topical steroids! Celebrate the mini victories and give gratitude for each day, good or bad. Trust in your body, it is your temple, it knows exactly what it’s doing! My sayings are “this time set for healing is truly only a fraction of your life” and “it didn’t take overnight for the toxicity to accumulate, so it won’t take overnight to heal…but it WILL heal!” Keep those things in mind and always have patience.

Peace & Love to you all 💜✌️

Happy Holidays!

stringolights

It’s been quite awhile since I’ve put a blog post up, but I shall be posting more frequently soon!

I hope everyone is enjoying this holiday season and spreading love and giving thanks! It seems like we need an overflow of love more now than ever.

I’ve especially been giving thanks for all that God has brought me through this year. 2016 has been a rough road for sure. It’s been a year and 3 months since I’ve relocated to Florida and I’m so amazed at how far I’ve come! From September 2015-December 2015 I was in such a state. Just flying down from Nyc to Florida was difficult and I barely left the house because of the terrible shape my feet were in. I experienced intense pain, nerve tingles, oozing and extreme shedding from my legs down. Thankfully these symptoms started to taper off, and I was able to go out and be more active around springtime. This past summer I experienced even better healing progress! I’ve stayed with clear skin pretty consistently since the end of summer, with the exception of a few spots on my feet that occasionally get irritated, with some discolouration taking it’s time to even out. (I’ve been using a diy essential oil lotion for the discolouration which you can find more info about here…number 6)

Just last month I progressed to comfortably wearing socks and sneakers…something I haven’t done since spring 2015! Thankfully I live in a warm enough climate where I can get away with sandals in the fall/winter 😂 I even started driving again, something that I haven’t done since 2010!! I’ve been sleeping better, not experiencing any oozing (except for those few spots on my feet), very little shedding of skin, zero pain, and only itchiness from my knees down! The wrinkling or elephant skin has gone down a lot and will only continue to go down (although it still persists on bends of my feet unfortunately). I remember last year having such torn up fingers that just water alone would irritate them, leaving me in an itch fest. Thankfully the skin has gotten stronger and doesn’t irritate me like before! (I shall post healing photos in a separate post before the end of the year)

All of these wonderful progressions came at the exact right time as my mother has been dealing with her own health issues. I know God has a plan because as I was struggling with my health, my mother was there to see me through. Now that I’m doing much better, I’m strong enough to reciprocate and help my mother through her healing process. She was diagnosed with Meningitis and it progressed to swelling and a lot of scar tissue on her spine which started to effect her walking, gave her intense numbness and nerve pain. 3 spinal surgeries later (due to complications), and she’s been slowly healing with the help of physical therapy and the assistance of a walker & a wheelchair. I hate that this is the current situation, but I give thanks that I am strong enough to take on the day to day responsibilities. It truly shows that everything happens at it’s right time.

It’s so hard to see her like this, especially when she is in such pain. She has been my strength through all of my health trials & exhibits that same strength to battle through her own healing process. Even as she experiences set backs like recently, she still keeps such a positive attitude and keeps the faith & hope. She knows that this is temporary and that she WILL heal. I keep reminding her of what I have come to know with my healing journey that “healing isn’t linear” that there will be many ups and downs, just because the body takes awhile to repair, but to trust it because it WILL repair. She reflects that exact same faith that she has instilled in me all of these many years, even when she isn’t having such a great day or as the medical bills continue to pile up. She knows to give thanks and to keep continuing to praise God as he has brought us through struggles before and he WILL do it again! She’s doing the work, staying postitve, eating well (she’s been vegan for a year now!), and even using her own home remedies for cell regeneration and scar tissue with the helichrysum and frankinscense essential oil along with many other oils for pain, numbeness and weakness.

I just want to send this message out to all of you who come across my site and who are suffering. I’m thankful for all of the kind words and emails that I receive and I continue to strive to be of service to you all in any way that I can. I know how hard it is to heal your skin. I know first hand the excruciating pain and suffering. I know the excitement of waking up pain free, or showering pain free! I’ve experienced the many many ups and downs of this healing journey and as I’ve said before I am so thankful that I’ve endured it and never gave up, going through topical steroid withdrawal is the best decision I’ve ever made! Now there were many times where I just wanted to throw in the towel, but I knew that I had to keep my trust and faith in God, and keep believing deep down that this is temporary and it will end…that it is only a fraction of my life taken to heal and I will be much stronger, healthier and appreciative for life afterwards. When you are feeling like you cannot go on, just dig a little deeper. Just make it through the day and know that tomorrow will be better, that seeing tomorrow means one more day closer to a healthier you! Look towards the future and all of the awesome things you will do, and how you will never take anything for granted. Have gratitude every single day, even when you are in extreme pain, because the pain has to happen for the body to heal and repair, give thanks that your body is cleansing properly to get you healthy again.

I pray that everyone has a blessed holiday season and healing success and continued blessing for the new year! Never give up, just take it all one day at a time and have constant gratitude. Reach out to others who are suffering are in need of love, it will ease you out of your pain and give you a boost to keep going. Encourage someone who is in a tough spot and spread love whenever you can, not only in this holiday season but every day of the year!

God bless you Eczema Warriors! Feel free to reach out to me if you’d like at my email address: eczema.holistic.healing@gmail.com

❤ Jen

Summer 2016 healing! 

Can’t take cred for this adorable pic lol

Here it is finally, my summer 2016 healing update! I guess being that today is the first day of fall, it’s better that I get it in today, better now than never! It’s been a little while since I’ve given an update with pictures and such, so here it is!

Continue reading “Summer 2016 healing! “

Happy 3 years topical steroids free to me!

This month is a milestone for me, 3 years free from the chains of topical steroid addiction!

I’m not sure exactly what day I started giving up the medications and enduring the withdrawal process, but it was definitely sometime in March of 2012 (I have 26 years steroid use, topical and injections plus chemo in 08′ for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma). When I first started, I had no desire to document, I didn’t want to even see myself in the mirror much less have actual photos of the hell I was experiencing. In the end I’m glad that I started taking photos, doing hard core research on detoxification/holistic healing, and putting my findings on this site :).

feb 2015 collage

At my current state I’m doing REALLY well!!!

  • Only areas still working on restoring are my feet.
  • No oozing on my feet (the oozing on the rest of my body ended a LONG time ago).
  • My sleep can still be random. It’s not that my feet are insanely itchy, it’s more so that I’m just always thinking!! Mainly about cool things to do on this site lol. Most nights I fall right to sleep for a few hrs then I’m awake for a few, (slightly itchy sometimes) then back again to sleep.  I do find relief when I drink my golden turmeric milk or if I take some extra proteolytic enzymes.  These remedies help to take down the inflammation and itching when I go to bed.  It would be amazing to sleep through the night with no interruptions.  Soon enough though, soon enough 😉
  • The huge flaking I was having on my feet are down to light, thin flakes and minimal at that!  The redness and inflammation is down significantly as well!  I can stand for longer periods of time without any swelling or pain!
  • The blistered sore on the bottom of my left foot is healing nicely, due to this great antioxidant micro algae lotion I’ve been using, not only on the blister but all over my feet.  I have two clients whom I’ve been coaching who have been using the lotion and finding awesome relief in it as well!… A blog post on that soon to come 🙂
  • As long as this wonderful healing keeps up, I have no doubt that by the end of the month (hopefully even sooner) I’ll be out and about, without pain from wearing socks and shoes!  Whooo hooooo!

Things that I’ve been doing that have been helping my healing along…

  1. REBOUNDING – Since my feet have been getting better and better, I’ve made it up to bouncing for 20 minutes on my rebounder!  I just turn on some great dance music, and jump away!  I’ve even been able to work up a good sweat which is great for getting some of those toxins out.  Doing this fun exercise will stimulate the lymph system and get the blood circulation going which is very important to promote healing.
  2. MICRO ALGAE LOTION – The antioxidant lotion that I mentioned above has been a game changer!  It goes on silky smooth and instantly locks in the moisture.  It doesn’t leave me itchy once I put it on like how coconut oil sometimes does… it’s actually very soothing and cooling.  It has even been minimizing the thickness on my feet, and I know that will take a while to smooth out.  This lotion is also known to help with the discolouration, so I’ll be looking forward to continually use it to help that along.  Here are just some of the healing ingredients in this lotion:  Organic Micro algae, organic aloe vera water, organic virgin coconut oil, jojoba oil, Beta Glucan, neem oil, rosemary oil & lemon peel oil.  If you are interested in this lotion, and want to know more, just send me an email at eczema.holistic.healing@gmail.com !
  3. KEEPING UP WITH PLANT BASED DIET & WHOLE FOOD SUPPLEMENTS – I’ve been eating vegan for months now, about since October and I know this is the diet for me.  I have so much more energy when I get my nourishing fruit smoothies in every morning and my nutient dense green “dranks” at night!  Like I mentioned above, the golden turmeric milk has been awesome at bringing down the inflammation in my skin, and has been a great natural sleep aid.  I love coming up with new recipes and have been learning so much about food and how it can be healing for the body, there’s no way I’ll be going back to the SAD diet (Standard American Diet).  The supplements I’ve been taking have kept my digestion working at an optimal level, and have been so nourishing at promoting healing for my body.

feb 2015 feet collage

click to enlarge

It’s been a long journey with  many ups and downs.  Months of being homebound at times, and months of living a pretty normal life.  It can only get better and better from here on out!  I’m so thankful for this whole experience because it has opened my eyes up to so much and has shown me that my body is capable at transforming itself and that healing from this awful disease is possible!  Thanks for reading and allowing me to share this milestone with you all!

Stay strong eczema warriors!  Restoration is on the horizon, just make sure you’re listening to your body and giving it all the wonderful things it needs to heal ❤

I Was Featured on The Eczema Podcast!!!

Ecezema-Youtube-featured-Ep5

Hey friends!

I had the wonderful pleasure of being a guest on my good friend Abby’s Eczema Podcast!

She is a registered Holistic Nutritionist and she is doing amazing work on her website, Prime Physique Nutrition.  Abby interviews people in the field of healthy living who offer information, advice, personal accounts on eczema and natural alternative ways for healing.  I had the great opportunity of sharing my journey with her on her most recent podcast.

This podcast was filmed in December 2014, and the only updates that I have since then is that my diet has transitioned to a completely plant based vegan diet, I’ve implemented some rebounding exercises to help with blood circulation & stimulating the lymph system and that the state of my feet are doing much better than when this was shot a few months ago!

I had such a great time being interviewed and sharing what I’ve learned with Abby.  She’s such an inspiration in how she has battled through her eczema to come out on the other side of it all and become a Holistic Nutritionist to help others!  I’m thankful for having this experience, and being able to connect with such an wonderful person. 🙂

The Eczema Podcast #5: How Jen Overcame Eczema, TSW & Cancer

Feelin’ myself a lil :)

Taken January 9, 2015 - Such a transformation when I look back to my lowest point in 2009
February 9, 2015 

 

I haven’t taken a good close up photo of myself in quite awhile, and since my face has been so great I decided to celebrate that!

My skin has been doing really great lately… literally from my ankles up are clear and doing very well.  I’m still experiencing some itchness on my hands, lower part of my arms and lower part of my legs, but its becoming less and less in severity as I heal.  I keep telling myself, “it’s just my feet left, just my feet! Keep on pushing, continue staying faithful and positive.”  It’s amazing when I look back to photos, especially from 2009 when I was at my lowest point as far as physical and mental health.  I had months of chemo behind me, my hair was super short from chopping it off due to some of the hair loss I was experiencing, I barely had any eyebrows from scratching them off, my skin was brittle, super dry & itchy, dark and gray.  I had lost a significant amount of weight… the lowest I’ve ever been and I was just so unhappy with life, but trying to force on a smile.  You can see more photos of my transformation on the My Story page.  Now my skin is better than ever, (although its still got a tiny bit more to go) and I know that besides withdrawing from the topical & injected steroids, implementing my plant based diet and whole food supplements have helped in assisting healing.  My skin is so much healthier, my gut health is amazing, the whites of my eyes are brighter, my hair is stronger and shinier and even my nails are stronger!  I attribute this all to living holistically and feeding my body the best possible nutrients to heal through this process. 🙂

Currently, I’m still sticking it out at home… my feet are still in recovery mode (still slightly oozy, swollen at times, and I have this super painful sore on the BOTTOM of my foot… ugh) which makes it hard to put on socks and shoes because they will confine my foot to a tight space and irritate them which will set back the progress I’ve made thus far.  Although this is the current situation I’m in, I’m still pushing through everyday, and giving thanks for this process.  I’ve seen the transformation with my own eyes, and I have pictures to prove it… just that alone gives me gratitude.  It shows that as everyone likes to say, “healing happens” it just takes time… but when you can look back and see the transformations… it’s just amazing!

So yea, I’ve been feelin’ myself a lil, and I wanted to show off my most recent photo of myself! ❤

Overtime, I’ve truly learned to accept the process, surrender to it and keep the faith.  In this I’ve learned to love myself in whatever state I’m in at the moment, and know that I will only be better and better as time goes on!

-Jen

 

Just because & YAY for eyebrows :p

 

2015!!! Looking Forward to an Awesome Year of Healing!!!

Happy New Year!!!

I love the feeling of “new beginnings” and “a clean slate”.  I actually like to look at my birthdate as my New Year.  🙂

Although we don’t need a specific date on the calendar to tell us that we can start fresh, it’s nice to have a date where everyone celebrates together at the wonderful new beginnings of the future.  When you really think about it, we can choose any second of any day to start anew.  It’s just a conscious decision to change it up and work on ourselves.

2014 had its ups and downs for me, but I’ve made a conscious decision to let those things that I wasn’t able to accomplish or the rough times that I had went through health wise (and are continuing to go through) not get me down.  I’ve decided to keep on looking forward and let go of all the opportunities I may have missed out on, the people who may have disappointed me, and all the negative energy and bad vibes that may have came my way.

2015 will be a year of complete healing!  I can feel it that this is truly the end of this healing process and I won’t be going through this at all this time next year!  I like to “call things into existence” and I’m definitely calling this one in.  I want to be in the best health of my life, fully living my life and enjoying new experiences and opportunities this year.

I usually like to say that right now I’m 90% of the way there in my healing with just my feet left to restore.  The rest of my body from my ankles up is so much better from where it was years ago.  My natural oils are coming back, the thickness is smoothing out, the discolouration is evening out, I’m rarely itchy on the rest of my body, my face is insanely smooth and clear… even the wrinkles under my eyes are fading away!  I’ve seen the transformation of my skin, and I know that my body is recovering and healing!  I have nothing but gratitude for this rough journey, because it has taught me so much about myself, that our bodies are amazing at healing themselves, and has made me more spiritual with a closeness to God.

I mention that I like to say 90% of my body… but if I’m going to speak things into existence then I should say, “I’m completely healed! 100%!”.  I’ve learned that we must “CALL THE THINGS THAT AREN’T AS IF THEY ARE”.  So I’m claiming complete healing, and by this time next year, when I post my overview of 2015 on the first of Jan 2016, I’ll have nothing but awesome things to say about the past year!

I’m wishing everyone a blessed New Year of strength, healing and love! ❤

-Jen

A little journal entry from last year around this same time…

I had just realized that around this time last year I was finally coming into a break from my summer long flare.  I had been housebound for most of the duration of my flare, and actually moved from North Carolina to New York at the end of August.  From then up until October I had been housebound.  It was so frustrating because I was finally back in my favourite city, and all I wanted to do was be out and about and live my life.  Once I started to see that the hell was ending for a little while I was motivated to feel normal and live my life again.  At the time I was working on this blog, but didn’t have enough information yet to really make it live.  My cousin actually encouraged me to document my experience of “leaving my apartment for the first time” (lol) and to post it on my blog.  It’s hard to describe the experience in words, but I try to in this little journal entry that I’d like to share with you all…

Continue reading “A little journal entry from last year around this same time…”