Are We Grateful?...Never Enough!

7 days till Christmas!! Metro Manila streets are clogged up with bumper to bumper traffic. Malls are packed with last minute panicky shoppers (truly not a delight to be in). At night the city sparkles with countless colors and lights As a child, till today...I love the season, I love the spirit of celebration and thanksgiiving, this season of gifts.

Gratitude overflows this season. We have so much to be thankful for!!!

Ernie emceed for 3 Christmas Parties - (co-mc) for our Thinkwell business team in Manila, then the Philam community Christmas party, and a Fund-raising Dinner for a Cause by our Sta Rita de Cascia Parish! (We should be charging speaking fees for his services). What amazes me is that he actually has a thick collection of jokes accumlated over the years (and continues to collect) and narrates them with all the ease of a professional entertainer!! Timing, facial expression, manner of joke delivery...he is a true PRO!! He relishes making people laugh. The audience always love him! Those of you who know him personally know what I am talking about...it is his absolute passion to be a joke story-teller...(in the process increasing so much more of the "happy hormones" in his bloodstream fighting off this cancer!). We have all heard the cliche that laughter is the best medicine. It is absolutely true!

Ernie completed a 5K Christnas Fun Run last Sunday (together with Ryan and I)!! That was his 2nd completed 5K since he first experienced the excruciating pain in his pubic bone 2 years ago. What a contrasting picture in my mind...January 2011 we are pushing Ernie on a wheelchair to the ortho md - he is writhing in pain and can hardly walk....December 2012 we are walking together crossing the 5 K finish line!! He performed better than the other men his age who could only go 3K.

Ernie's latest complete blood count, platelet, liver function test, etc came in all NORMAL!!

Ernie celebrated with his beloved UST Hi-school friends last night at a classmates restaurant! A reunion he so very much looked forward to. These guys never stop laughing with each other, joking and recounting endless stories of their youth!

More parties and celebrations to come....we are not exhausted and weary. We are thrilled and thankful! Are we grateful???? NEVER ENOUGH!

TO GOD BE THE GLORY!!

Olive

Thanking and Trusting

Dr Charity Gorospe, Ernie's oncologist, had just arrived from weeks of a grand birthday celebration in Europe! She is concurrent Head of the Cancer Institute of both St Lukes Medical Center QC and Glocal City- the number one hospital in the Philippines with the same if not better standard than majority of hospitals in the US. She is a dear friend and close associate of Ryan in running Corridor of Hope Cancer Support group- where Ryan serves as President.

Dr Cha, as she is fondly called, carefully scanned the latest CT scan of lungs of Ernie - very thrilled that tumor has not regressed slightly but significantly!! "We can burn the remaining tumors with radiation theraphy and then it is gone. It will take about 40 session..."Dr Cha explains. But we (you and I) all know and think "gone....? until....?". And that's the real battle now, keeping Ernie's immune system so strong months and years after conventional treatment - with nutrients, de-tox therapies, possitive mental attitude and PRAYERS to keep the invader in a deep deep sleep,weakened that it cannot invade new cells or best yet...DEAD!

However, the bone is a different story. CT shows remaining cancer activity in his pubic area - but activity that is also regressing. It shows healing of the bone!!! "We cannot treat the lung and leave the bones..."Dr Cha explains this in detail to us both. "Ernie will have to go on another 3 months of oral chemo and zometa injections (bone building drug), then Pet CT scan in February and then let's evaluate..." Dr Cha says.

Amen! Amen! Thank you LORD for a great healing journey! Thank you for a good doctor with a big heart, wonderful family and friends and community. Thank you for a son who gives both Ernie and I so much joy! Thank you for blessing Ernie with such a great sense of humor.  Thank you for the available resources (though limited Lord) to give Ernie all the best and the househelp that does all the juicing and organic vegetarian cooking w olive oil. Thank you for the very effective Nutrilite supplements. Thank you for being our fortress and our rock! In YOU we trust!

Olive

"Be Brave and Steadfast..."

After 9 months of oral chemo...yet another CT scan ( not the xpensive PET scan because that was just 3 months ago). I can't say I am totally calm and collected when waiting for test results. I look at Ernie and he is a picture of confidence, thank the LORD for a very positive-minded spouse who pulls me up all the time! And he is the patient!

The results came in via e-health (the latest online results file of St Lukes). Holding my breath, my eyes quickly scan the document before me, looking for key words. Ernie is happily doing his gardening downstairs.

"slight regression of the lung lessions"...."stable bone lession...no fracture seen"....."normal liver"...."no new lessions seen...". I feel warmth taking over my cold fingers typing the computer key board. I am cradled by a loving healing GOD...praise HIS almighty name!!!

In cancer vocabulary the words "stable" and "regression" and "no spread"  are words equal to jubilation!!!

What we do next will be revealed at our next visit to Dr Charity in the next few days. She will assess and interpret these results.

Sharing a beautiful bible passage :

             "Be brave and steadfast; have no fear or dread of them, for it is the Lord your God,
               who marches with you, He will never fail you or foresake you."
               Deuteronomy 31 : 6

Olive

2 Days in Breathtaking Anilao, Batangas

The majestic sunset view from our beach house taken by Ryan

By the beach playing with Ola, our dachshund

Someone once said that "Life isn't about how many breaths you take, but rather how many moments you experience that take your breath away."

With two of our beloved members of the family, mother and daughter, Ola and Lyca

Left to right: Ernie, me, Renan's wife Susan, and my brothers, Renan and Edwin. Edwin was visiting from chilly New York. We're posing in front of the second floor of our beach house.

Brought along home-cooked meals including organic veggies, fresh fish, tofu, and other vegetarian food. We have deleted chicken, pork, and beef from our diets.

You Gotta Have a PASSION

A story I can't forget is about an old man in his 90's who seems to get younger and younger each time he visits his doctor for routine checkups. The md is puzzled naturally...and asks what is his secret. "You gotta have a PASSION!" -was the quick reply. In the old man's case it was bonsai! He was sooo passionate about growing and caring for bonsai plants!

When we are happy, our body releases a "happy hormone" that naturally makes us feel good and boosts our immune system. When we are stressed or worried, our system releases toxins into our bloodstream which weakens our immune system and causes the onset of disease.

Seeing Ernie today is GOD's work in progress. He is so excitedly pursuing several things...

Firstly being a lector/commentator for our Sta Rita de Cascia Parish masses. He also screens and trains the young readers for the 9AM Sunday Mass for children's mass - a responsibility he relishes with much delight.

Secondly, he is an officer for the Knights of Columbus and currently on top of preparations for a big fund raising Binggo event here in our Barangay. Part of what he does now is soliciting binggo prizes from many contacts. Funds will go to a worthy social cause. He loves doing it! His energy is amazing!

Thirdly, we are getting trained for some leadership role in the Christian Family Movement, Ernie is working with a team on a template for all parishes to use for Pre-Cana Talks (for couples about to wed). It seems like a lot of work but he is there in the midst of discussions...spot on!

Fourth, we are attending a Ligaya ng Panginoon Community weekend retreat Nov 8-10. This Catholic community will be our next big family and we love being around people who are radically committed to Christian values and have a deeper relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ. During times of crises and grave challenges in life, this type of community can be one's rock and comfort.

Does Ernie have PASSION in his life?? Hellooo? ...A resounding YES!

I will consider him fully retired from stressful work, a boss, and cut throat business. Thank and Praise GOD for giving Ernie that ZEST for LIFE. May HE grant Ernie many many more fruitful years serving HIM.

Hans Christian Anderson said - "Every person's life is a fairy tale witten by God's fingers. Fairy tales come true because God has good plans for you..that HE wants to happen in your life"

"I alone know the plans for you, plans to bring you prosperity and not disaster, plans to bring about the future you hope for." Jeremiah 29:11

Trusting always in HIS great PLANS! - Olive

Carewell (cancer support group) Starnight

Carewell Starnight at the Manila Polo Club - being presented with our own framed copies from celebrity Philippine photographer Wig Tysman's collection of 12 black and white photos of cancer survivors over the years with their "Star" -( the person who lovingly journeyed with them ).

Carewell is a cancer support community founded by Bobbit Suntay (handing us the photos) whose wife, at the peak of her residency training for medicine in Boston -discovered an ovarian cancer that eventually took her life. She was in her 30's.

Today Carewell reaches out far and wide - with a myriad of activities from yoga classes, to painting classes to workshops, sports events, lectures and even financial assistance - making a very significant difference in the lives of many touched by cancer.

Below I am sharing an article written by Ryan, printed in Carewell's magazine.

With Egay Rivera, visiting from Los Angeles CA - a very dear friend since 35 years ago!

Posing again for a more candid version of Wig's photo!

Father is the spitting-image of the son...or the other way around???...Only 30+ years apart.

More Ongoing Strategies

Just in a the last few weeks, we hear of more dreadful cancer stories. My dear friend's daughter who is 26 discovers a huge tumor in her abdomen (recurrence after ovarian cancer treatment) and has major surgery to remove it and now on stem cell theraphy. A 23 year old son of an acquaintace succumbs to complications related to Hodgkins Lymphoma (same disease Ryan was diagnosed with 5 years ago), Chito our Catholic Community friend discovers new brain lesions after being treated for lung ca that metastasized to the brain. He is devastated. Stories go on and on and on.

Too many, stories like this abound and they are just stories...like a story in a riveting movie or book. To Ernie and I, it is our LIFE. I have to wake up every morning and go to bed at night with one burning desire---to destroy this treacherous invader.

I am obsessed with using everything possible (within what available resources will allow because money isn't flowing from a spring) to bring Ernie back to the pink of health. I recall that obsession too when Ryan was diagnosed with cancer..and by God's grace our fervent prayers were granted.

I am convinced the best approach along with conventional methods, is the the natural cancer fighting strategies.

In addition to the supplements in the previous blog, I give Ernie :

1. Anti-oxidant Quercetin pills 3x a day
2. Anti-oxidant Alpha Liphoic Acid 2x a day
3. Billberry Extract 2x a day
4. Grape seed Extract 2x a day
5. Zinc 1 pill every other day
6. Turmeric 3 x a day (you may also remove outer coating of capsule and dissolve in extra virgin olive oil and ground pepper making the turmeric 1000x more absorbable by the digestive system)
7. Immune Builder Mushroom pills from Mushroom Science -9x a day
8. Zilongen - a natural blend of chinese herbs 9x a day. Sourced from oncos
9. Pancreatic enzymes (2x a day) Thats better than eating raw pork pancreas!
10 ACZ Nano from our integrative natural md - 30 mouth sprays a day to remove heavy metals
in his system. This is a form of oral chelation.

I source these from either Healthy Options Store, my integrative md, and mostly order directly on line from the US.

Plus :

Juicing with carrots, cucumber, celery, red beats, green apple plus any greens around - 3x a day.
Thank God there is an organic vegetable section in Trinoma Mall just across our village.
This week I will start Ernie on green smoothies - using a blender with fiber included, we will mix green leafy veggies, lemon, ginger, etc (lots of nice yummy concoctions on line) 2 x a day. The cancer diet should be 80% raw - they call it the Adam and Eve diet. Animal meat is a NO NO.

Ernie continues with coffee enemas 2x a week and relaxing massages. Plus gardening that he loves and enjoys a lot!

There you have it - I know I am missing some things but that's that for now. This should help many
people who continuously ask me what I am giving Ernie

LORD, thank you for giving us peace inspite of our problems. "Peace is what I leave with you; it is my own peace that I give you. I do not give it as the world does. Do not be worried and upset; do not be afraid" - John 14:27

Olive

The Magic in Plants

This blog entry is all about supplementation and it's role in cancer fighting.

Facts about our nutrition :

1. Everything we humans need to be healthy is found in PLANT (In Genesis - God says this too)
    Plant have literally thousands of phyto-chemicals that heal disease and protect the body. God
    created plant for this purpose.
2. Numerous studies show that a diet rich with fruits and vegetables protects against cancer and many
    other diseases.
3. Eating a diet rich with fruits and veggies in TODAY's environment is not the same fruits and  veggies of our grandparent's time namely because :
     - Nutrient value today in these foods are depleted, the soil of yester-years is not the same
        soil today (not to mention the chemicals/insecticide found in soil today)
     - Veggies are sprayed with pesticide and we have all heard of formaline in veggies to make
        it look fresh.
     -  Veggies and fruits are harvested and transported to city supermarkets - time depletes nutrients,
        heat and handling during transport does the same
     -  cooking veggies destroys even more of these life-saving nutrients!
     -  even if we could eat much of these, we will never have enough because our environment has
        changed (more pollution compared to yester-years)- we need LOADS of these plant nutrients
        and our digestive systems just can't process all this fibre!!

4. Supplementation mean taking more of these nutrients in concentrated form. With all due respect to doctors who still believe we can get everything from just eating a balanced diet....I think this is living in the PAST.

5. Not all supplements are created equal. In the past 16 years that I have been involved in the Health and Wellness and Beauty Industry, both Ernie and I have had the priviledge to visit and tour 2x one of the largest certified organic farms in North America- Lakeview- California. This farm is decicated to achieve ONE END RESULT -grow, harvest and concentrate the best nutrient-rich vegetables and fruits, keeping intact it's nutrient value and converting them into pills.

The act of just swallowing these pills could literally be life-saving. The brand of the supplements is NUTRILITE.

Ernie's Nutrilite daily regimen...to answer many who ask :

1. Double X daily vitamins- total 6 pills a day (contains 19 plant concentrate....no way he can eat ALL of this in natural form) . This is the mercedes-benz of vitamins in the whole world.
2. Omega 3 - 2 gels 3x a day - fights inflamation which cancer thrives on
3. Multi- carotene (anti-oxidant) 3 gels a day
4. Calcium with Magnsesium - 4 tabs 3x a day (for his bone metastasis-and his bone is healing!)
5. Natural b complex 3x a day
6. Garlic (allicin - and other phyto chemicals play a significant role in preventing and managing
    particulary lung cancer) Instead you can eat loads of raw garlic and lose friends cause garlic
    "talks back"! 3x a day dosage
7. Hair Skin and Nails - has collagen, biotin and grape seed extract 2x a day
8. CQ 10 - powerful anti-oxidant and immune system builder - 2x a day
9. Anti-Oxidant Complex -w green tea extract. quercetin, turmeric (quercetin, turmeric have properties that destroy the blood vessels of cancer so it can't grow)!
10. Vitamin C from Acerola cherries - 1 tab 3x a day
11. Vitamin E - 1 tab 3x a day
12. Siberian Ginseng for energy 2 tabs a day.
13. Nutrilite Intestinal Flora - 1 billion beneficial lactic acid bacteria to help his digestive tract
      absorb nutrients better. This is very essential because absorbility will make all the difference.
      The digestive track cells are destroyed by chemo much like cells of the hair follicle. No wonder
      cancer patients die - they aren't able to absorb life saving nutrients! They die from mal-nutrition
      caused by "mal-absorbtion".

Finally...never use supplements to replace a vegetable rich diet! These are supplements....just to supplement!

There you have it! This is just the NUTRILITE part of his supplementation. There is more which I source elsewhere and which is not available from Nutrilite. I will share this in the next blog.

To GOD be the glory!

Olive

Mighty Mouse

So many others are battling this treacherous enemy called cancer. Just the sight and sound of the word sends chills creeping down one's spine.

Many are asking me what is Ernie's daily regimen that is keeping him active and looking healthy and happy. I decided I would detail all of this in parts in this blog for all who have interest to read.

In the book Anti- Cancer : A New Way of Life (International Bestseller) - the author writes about a cancer experiment with mice. They injected mice with carcinogenic substances and sure enough in ample time these mice started to develop tumors. Except for one mouse. This particular mouse didn't seem to respond like the others. It stayed healthy and tumor-free despite more and more attempts to flood it's system with carcinogenic matter. Even when the carcinogen was about 10% of it's body weight, this particular mouse would not get cancer! Imagine if you were injected with carcinogens/poisons 10% of your body weight....you would probably be dead instantly!

They called this mouse - "Mighty Mouse". They studied this particular creature, its blood and all and discovered a very very strong immune system!! All of us have cancer cells, but what keeps it from growing is our immune system! God made our bodies wonderfully that it can battle and defeat cancer cells! The immune system has what experts call T- Killer Cells - the eradicator of cancer, just like in Mighty Mouse! It is when our immune system is compromised by 1) poor nutrition 2) toxins like chemicals we eat and breathe 3) stress and sadness (bad hormones flood our bloodstream and weakens the immune system)....that is when cancer takes hold.

Likewise, if we boost immune system then we can overcome cancer, at any stage. It is all about the IMMUNE SYSTEM. Boosting involves 1) excellent nutrution 80% of which is raw vegetables and fruits because of enzymes in raw food and more....2) detoxification strategies and 3) happy positive mindset (good hormones flood our bloodstream and strengthens the immune system)!

In the case of Mighty Mouse, scientists tried to breed offsprings using its genes and lo and behold...
Mighty Mouse's baby mice had the SAME unbelievably powerful immune system as the father! Its passed on in the genes! No wonder some people eat bad, smoke and do everything wrong and don't get sick. In Ernie's case, he must be carrying a gene that develops lung cancer. His Dad at 94 was diagnosed with a lung tumor before he passed on with pneumonia, his Dad's sister died of lung cancer and his first cousin the same. But I like to believe that genes cock the gun for cancer but lifestyle (in this case nutrition, detox and mental attitude) pulls the trigger.

Hence all the immune system boosting strategies I am doing for Ernie as well as Ryan. And there are many. GOD is first and foremost.

Olive

Busy Busy Busy!

The days seem to move on very fast.

I have been travelling quite a bit (Luzon Visayas and Mindanao 2-3 weekends in a month) for our family business. I am off to Bangkok this weekend.

Ryan shuttles daily between helping me in business, restaurant shoots, writing articles for magazines and his role as President of Corridor of Hope -an NGO cancer support group based in St Lukes. Last weekend, Ryan together with our oncologist Dr Charity Gorospe and her husband Sam went off to Guam for 2 days to connect with Guam Cancer Care and promote St Lukes as Guam's "medical checkup destination". Ryan enjoyed himself tremendously!

Ernie has his hands full with training young lectors for the Sunday children's mass every Sunday at 9am here at our Sta Rita Parish. He coordinates a lot with all the lector and commentator for schedules and meetings. Many want him to head this ministry as he does a great job with people skills and leading but he has declined greater responsibilities. He also holds an officer position with Knights of Columbus. Ernie has a wonderful gift -his sense of humor, that draws many people towards him!! He continues to enjoy gardening and reading the papers devouring all the juicy details from page to page. He also supports me at business events. He certainly isn't just sitting around the house and watching tv.

Once again, Iressa oral chemo has no adverse effect on Ernie this 7th month of treatment. Something we are truly most grateful to GOD for! I try to stay away from negative stories of similar oral treatments where the patient gets nauseated, loses his appetite and his hair..Hearing negative stories make me worry... and worry I have read is the work of the devil (Battlefield of the Mind by Joyce Meyer). In the book she writes....

       "Anxiety and worry are both attacks on the mind intended to distract us from serving
        the LORD. The enemy also uses both of this torments to press our faith down, so it
        cannot rise up and help us live in victory."

 The opposite of worry is TRUST. Everyday in church, I say a prayer in front of Jesus Divine Mercy..."Lord We TRUST in You" and calm and peace take over.

        "Look at the birds of the air, they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet
          your heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Are you not worth much more than they?"-
                                                                                                                 Matthew 6:26

Olive

                      

Asking for More Prayers!

Update from latest onco visit :

Dr Charity was very pleased with the results, as we anticipated! Ernie is indeed responding so well.

However she explained something we didn't quite grasp when non-md brains such as ours read the report. She said that even if SUV levels are normal in the tumors, there is still cancer activity in the area because these are not normal tissues in the body but "diseased" to begin with. She continued to explain that cancer treatment will have to continue indefinitely.....UNTIL  either tumors have completely disappeared (others have already PRAISE GOD!! but there are 2 more left in his lungs)or the patient becomes too toxic with treatment that it threatens his life. In many cases cancer patients die because of the treatment and not the disease!

We prayed that there will be no more treatment but our prayers have not yet been fully answered, not quite yet. We are weary...but continue to trust.

Treatment continues for another 3 months, Zometa infusion for bone mets and oral chemo Iressa that worked very well with Ernie.

"May GOD, the source of HOPE, fill you with all joy and peace by means of your faith in him, so that your hope will continue to grow by the power of the HOLY SPIRIT" - Romans 15:13

Thank you all for your love and prayers!

Olive

Winning the Battle Against the Invader!

We prayed so fervently for Ernie's latest PET-CT scan. Daily masses, novena to Sta Rita-saint of the impossible, novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help, daily prayers to the Divine Mercy. Our prayers were heard and granted!

Ernie Ryan and I left for HK Tuesday 7am flight. A Pet CT test measures actual biologic cancer activity not just size of a tumor. Very expensive in the Philippines...better to fly to Amed Center. We have been to Amed Cancer Center almost 6 or 7 times in the past 5 years including Ryan's tests when he was undergoing his treatment. But this time, with a new address, it wasn't easy groping and lugging around suitcases in a mall that leads to a pier where the center is now located. At the center we were welcomed by familiar faces..."suki".

A little vacation for Ernie and I

Ernie was injected with a glucose dye that ran around his whole body measuring cancer activity. It took over 2 hours.

At our suite in Butterfly hotel at Wellington

We checked into our hotel in Wellington St in the center of so much shopping very pleased and surprised to have been upgraded to the biggest room in the hotel! Wow....that was fun! Too bad we only stayed overnight. There was time for a little shopping. But the best part of the day was dinner with a long lost friend Chona Ponce, an executive for a big multi-national jewelry company living in HK for almost 20 years, who treated us out to a sumptuous and healthy chinese dinner! Thanks a lot Chona -you are truly a LOVELY LADY!

Back home the following day - results came in the e-mail.

Excellent! Wonderful results!

Except for a lone lesion in the hip area  with a slightly elevated SUV (cancer activity measure- 9.7 last December now down to 3.5-dramatic reduction!!!) all lung tumors have shrunken or have stayed stable (which is GOOD in cancer monitoring) and have NORMAL SUV levels (normal is 2.5 and below)! ALL organs are normal! With Gods loving and healing grace - we are winning the battle against this invader!! ALL Thanksgivings and Praise to our LORD GOD!

Good results for Ernie!

Seeing our dear oncologist today at noon for the next step. Please pray with us that there will be no need for the next step of treatment. We continue to trust in HIS Divine Mercy and dedicate more and more of our lives to giving GLORY to HIM- Ernie's healer!

Olive

Baguio

Strolling around and enjoying the coool weather in Camp John Hay, Baguio. How we wish Manila looks and feels like this!!. Ryan, as uasual isn't in the scene because he is the photographer.

A Year has Passed

One Year Has Passed

One year has passed since Ernie's first intravenous chemo session. I recall getting the shocking diagnosis in July 2011 and quickly  having treatment thereafter. He had excruciating pain from the pubic bone area because of cancer spread and it was equally excruciating for me to see him in  that condition. What a miracle that almost a year now the pain has not come back! I can't explain it but I know God's hand is upon him. Miracles are not meant to be explained...we just believe that it happens.

His 6 month daily oral chemo is now over. He is feeling and looking upbeat and fit as ever...without the slightest symptom of a dreadful disease - another miracle.

Ernie chaired a big Binggo Social Fund raising event here for Knights of Columbus. He is also currently very active with the Lectors/Commentators Ministry - now the interviewer for new applicant members. He has also been able to attend some of our business events and conferences.
 It's a full busy busy life for him-he doesn't seem exhausted at all!. It seems he has forgotten that he has cancer. Miracle again!

Next week Tuesday July 24 - Ernie, Ryan and I are Hongkong bound for another PET Scan at the Ahmed Cancer Center. We are staying overnight and connecting with some friends while there.  The scan will show effectiveness of Iressa - (very expensive oral pill) in synergy with the natural therapies I am giving him, in shrinking his lung tumors and putting it to sleep or killing it altogether. This scan is so costly because it doesn't just measure size but biologic activity (how cells react to a glucose dye).

It feels good that our very small family of 3 can bond together like in this trip, a very difficult time in our life . We seek comfort from being together, specially for me who I believe is the weakest and most vulnerable - emotionally.

Verse for the day "When I lie down, I go to sleep in peace.YOU alone. O LORD, keep me perfectly safe" Psalms 4:8

Also "I am weak and poor, o LORD, but YOU have not forgotten me. You are my Saviour and my GOD - hurry to my aid!" Psalm 40:17

Please STORM the heavens with prayers for Ernie's COMPLETE and PERMANENT healing! Our GOD is a GOD of miracles, He just has to will it and our prayers will be granted.

After Hongkong - I will quickly share results in this blog in my next entry. GOD bless us all!

Olive

City of Pine Trees

What a refreshing weekend it was in city of pine trees, cool weather and peanut brittle! Cori and Bobit, our dear friends invited our 3 couple barkada of many many years to their lovely new vacation home in Camp John Hay in Baguio for a couple of days to celebrate Cori's birthday. Ernie, Ryan and I stayed only a day because, with Ernie's lots of de-tox and supplementation requirements, staying longer would be difficult.
Gazing at the breathtaking beauty of the mountains, rainbow of flowers and the majesty of countless pinetrees all around the vacation home - I am awed by this, the evidence of the power and glory of our GOD! Truly HE is present in our lives and walks with us in our journey of life. No mortal creature could have created all this!

June 10 lunch was a sumptuous buffet of Malaysian specialties prepared by an authentic Malaysian chef who has also cooked for P-noy in the Mansion House in Baguio. What an amazing explosion of  flavors and spices! Ernie limited himself to only veggies and fish - being the pescatarian (only fish meat) he has now become. No sooner had lunch settled in our bloated tummies, merienda was served- a delectable Malaysian noodle dish and a mountain of Ice Cachang (Malaysian version of Halo-Halo) and other exciting dishes!! Needless to say - Ernie stayed clear from all the sweets. (Sugar is the fuel and food of cancer)

But the best thing about this weekend was the laughter (all the wives are college friends from Maryknoll) and the recollection of memories of decades gone by, and fresh new stories of triumphs and challenges of couples whose kids have now grown to be as old as when we all first got to know each other.

Friendship is such a rare and valuable treasure!

Ernie must have packed lots of "healing points" this weekend! Onwards to total healing, in JESUS name, we claim!!

Olive

5K Walkation

Congratulations to Ernie for having successfully finished the 5 K Walkathon (way ahead of many others) here at Fiesta activities in Philam Homes Quezon City last Sunday!! Many bailed out at the 3k Finish and many more onlookers cheered at the walkathoners at the 5K Finish! But among all the finishers, many were amazed at this "sick" man with stage 4 lung cancer and bone metastasis...who was absolutely thrilled at having finished what was not an easy task  in 50 minutes!

Ernie is a living, breathing and "marathoning" testimony of GOD's healing grace, miracle and boundless love in our lives! It has been almost one and a half years since he first felt pain in his pubic bone and could hardly walk! Our gratitude overflows!! All glory to HIM!

Olive

Pathways

Sunday lunch at Napa Italian restaurant with Ernie, Olive, Ryan, Olive's brother Renan and wife, Susan.

About 2 years ago, a year before Ernie's diagnosis, we had become involved in a Catholic prayer group called Pathways (a part of the oldest Catholic Community - LIGAYA NG PANGINOON). We had not been much involved in the first few months, and were frequently absent during weekly Monday prayer meetings. But slowly by slowly, the spirit of "community" with our brothers and sisters began to seep into our hearts and minds through some kind of "osmosis". We had found ourselves growing in intimacy with our LORD JESUS CHRIST and reading scriptures more.

When the shocking diagnosis came in June 2010 - ten month ago, Ernie and I found so much peace and strength from our LORD through Pathways. Without question, HE was preparing us to have strong faith and trust in HIM. The LORD knew very tough times were coming up ahead and he drew us closer to HIM knowing that we would draw calm and comfort from this family.

Recently Ernie was asked to tell how the LORD has touched his life during Pathway's sharing nite, a task Ernie relished preparing for and eventually performing with so much humour and gusto! People laughed at his cute jokes instead of feeling sad with a heart wrenching cancer story. And yet, he managed to thank and praise GOD for many things good in his life!

After the meeting, people came up and congratulated him...amazed with his healing and his spirit! I beamed at him in the sides while people hovered around him to shake his hand...ever so proud of my wonderful hubby!

Some great scriptural passages shared that night that touched me and may be your strength too in tough times :

"You turned my nailing into dancing, you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!" Psalm 30:11-12 and......

"The LORD is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?" Psalms 27:1 and...

"May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word" Thesalonians 2 :16-17.

Olive

Dancing in the Rain

Dr Charity was close to ecstatic when she saw Ernie's Ct scan and Mri results! Extremely happy and proud of what looks like very good response to treatment. She studied the report in detail and interpreted to us that the MRI results show a "normal" bone study- not just regression and called it a "miracle"! Of course we are THRILLED... but we also understand the reality of cancer...that it is a formidable enemy, tricky, trechearous.

As we were chatting with Dr Charity, she talked briefly about her other patient -Angelo Castro-Abs Cbn TV icon of The News Tonight, who at the time we were visiting was already dying. (He passed on the next day) He had been diagnosed 4 years ago for squamous lung carcinoma (caused by smoking). His bone marrow had been destroyed by repeated vicoius chemo administered to stop his tumors from advancing. His own wife June Keithly is currently her patient too-breast cancer with mets to the brain.

We must stay vigilant with diet/supplementation and lifestyle changes... radical changes. We must study more on immune system building strategies beacuse GOD made our bodies strong enough to conquer disease, any disease. Thank GOD too that he blessed Ernie with such a great positive and upbeat attitude. People say that attitude alone already wins half of the battle. But most of all our most powerful weapon is PRAYER POWER!

Ernie is now on another 3 more months of oral chemo (Iressa), very much less toxic than intrevenous chemo. Ernie had 3 months of Iressa and showed spectacular results - all liver, white blood. etc etc normal. With GOD's loving grace, we pray his lungs will be normal in our next evaluation in July. Everything at home is normal and happy, our small little family of 7 (if we count 4 cute
dachshunds as members) are closer than ever! We lift up all our burden to HIM, whose load is light.

My business mentor and friend Jim Dornan - said, and I truly believe in my heart - "it's not about waiting for the storm to pass...it's about learning to dance in the rain".

Thanks so much for your love and prayers!

Here are some photos from our recent overnight getaway in Nature Spa, Tagaytay. It's a lovely place a safe distance from the rush and pollution of the city. Check it out!

Waking up to a cool morning and an al fresco breakfast

You can while away the time playing chess or relaxing at Nature Spa

Here we are enjoying Batangas hot chocolate. It's bitter and good!

Suman, mango, and hot chocolate. Perfect!

All Glory to GOD!

I write this latest blog entry with my heart overflowing with thanksgiving to our LORD!

After 6 cycles of intrevenous chemo and 3 months of oral chemo, Ernie's latest CT scan results show continuous regression in the size of his multiple tumors. Some sub-centimeter nodules are unchanged and there are NO new nodules/tumors developing!  Moreover his MRI test done last Friday also showed regression in the bone metastesis lessions and NO new lessions! ( 3 months ago there was progression in the bone)! Ultra sound of the liver showed normal results too! Truly GOD's favor is upon us! Thank you all for your PRAYERS!

Although to many this may seem like an expected step in the treatment of cancer, this, for us, is a great VICTORY already!

Our goal now :

1. Consult with Dr Charity on Wed on what the next treatment step is - as she told us in the beginning of treatment last July 2011, she will work to kill the cancer or put it to sleep with conventional treatment (Chemo).

2. Continue Ernie's strict regimen of organic Nutrilite supplements (plus more), enzymes, detox w oral spray chelation n coffee enemas, radical diet change etc etc. I have learned that all these work in synergy and has an effect to enhance chemo making it more toxic to cancer at the same time protecting good cells. Some plant phytonutrients (taken properly) actually have chemo effects! Many boost the body's natural killer cells and strengthen the immune system to attack cancer. Truly GOD has put in plants all that we need to stay healthy!

3. After we have destroyed the cancer (or made it sleep so it does not invade new cells), together with our integrative mds, we will enhance and continue our natural approach regimen, hourly, daily, deliberately, like his whole life depended on it! 

4. Ernie's attitude continues to soar ever high! He knows he can beat this battle, and he is lifting me more than I can lift myself. He is truly my hero! He lifts everyone around him with his indomitable spirit. This is another plus factor on our side.

As long as cancer is kept at bay, (even if it remains in ones body) - a person can live a full and normal life.

5. Our most powerful weapon - PRAYER and the loving healing grace of our GOD!
All Glory and Praise to you o GOD!

Olive

Storm the Heavens with Prayers

3 months of oral chemo is over and once again Ernie experienced no side effects except for skin roughness (expected side effects of the drug iressa). By friday, March 30, Ernie will have 3 exams - ctscan of the chest and lungs, mri of the pelvic bone and ultrasound of the liver, to evaluate the progress of his treatment. In my heart of hearts I am praying fervently that the lung tumors and pelvic bone lessions have disappeared, and that the treatment along with our regimen of organic supplementation, detox, almost vegetarian diet (Ernie still eats fish), juiicing, and other natural strategies have stopped invasion of this dreadful disease into other organs.

Although I have finished reading 3 phenomenal  books on natural strategies against cancer and now on my fourth, still, understanding this "invader" and how it destroys life is such a massive matter to grasp. A cure for cancer has remained elusive. What is hopeful though from what I have read, is that cancer can be treated as a chronic disease just like diabetes. One may never rid cancer from ones body but may contain it so that it does not progress and one can go on with a normal life but with very major changes in lifestyle. What a wonderful thought!!!! That indeed is our goal!

Please storm the heavens with me with prayers for Ernie's wonderful test results!
I believe that Jesus is here with us today, among us, healing us if we believe. Jesus is the same, then, now and forever.Lord, we trust in you! Grant healing to flow in Ernie's body!

"Jesus went around visiting all the towns and villages. He taught in the synagogues, preached the Good News about the Kingdom, and HEALED people with every kind of disease and sickness." Matthew 9:35

Olive

Loving Nature

Ernie, Ryan, and I along with Lyca and Alic (baby dachsund pets) travelled 2 hours from Manila to Camayan Beach Resort in Subic Bay for a much needed back to nature overnight. Ernie has been feeling really great and looking great, without a trace of sickness whatsoever. Except for skin rashes, oral chemo Iressa showed no side effects-something we are overflowing with gratitude to the LORD for!

It was wonderful to sleep and wake-up in a cozy room beside the rolling waters of the beach. Watching the sunrise in a beach  has been some of the most memorable moments of my life, obviously because this is something I rarely get to see! But what thrilled us more, and one of the reasons we went in the first place, was to see if dogs, when thrown in deep water, can instinctively swim. There was fear and doubt for our 2 "babies" Lyca and Alic initially. But after a bit of warming up, they amazed us to our delight as they swam (langoy aso) perfectly well!

Swimming in Cawayan Beach with the pups.

The dogs stayed overnight in Wildlife In Need WIN, a sanctuary for all kinds of animals. We explored around to see snakes, monkeys, owls, eagles, etc - all being watched with tender loving care with the purpose of being set free again into mainstream nature. What a wonderful break it was!

On Wed next week we booked another overnight at Nuture Spa in Tagaytay - rated one of the top 7 Spas in the whole Philippines. Ernie has become almost addicted to regular massages which he enjoys here at home and so we are looking forward to going back to nature again!!

Ernie eating vegan food as part of his diet

Ernie will be scheduled for a scan evaluation mid March, to see how he is responding to treatment. I am deep in reading books on natural healing which were highly recommended to me. I am learning soooo much about how nutrition can stop cancer cells from progressing if not killing it altogether. How plants from nature, what GOD gave us in nature, can boost immune system. These books are describing cancer as a chronic disease, much like diabetes. A cancer patient CAN live with cancer and have a normal life, as long as he makes MAJOR lifestyle changes in diet, exercise, attitude and rest. AMAZING BOOKS!!!! We applying what we are learning straightaway to Ernie daily regimen.

ALL PRAISE AND GLORY TO GOD!!

God's Favor for Us All in 2012!

Christmas and New Year was a whirlwind of events, celebrations, get-togethers, just like any other Christmas Season. There was hardly anything different in our home and activities from Christmases of the past. No clue at all that we continue to wage a battle against such a dreadful disease.

Ernie's Dec PET/CT showed regression in size and biological activity of the lung tumors but progression in bone lesions. In short - mixed response to chemotheraphy. Our beloved oncologist - Dr Charity, as always, has very kind and encouraging words (bless her big big heart). She says that lung response is good and that bone metastesis is far less dangerous and that an adjustment of theraphy will be the next strategy.

She changed medication to oral chemo (Iressa-targetted theraphy for lungs but with benefit too for bones). This is so welcome as oral chemotheraphy is less toxic and a little less expensive (very costly too nevertheless) than intravenous chemotheraphy. And true enough, Ernie continues to do very well, no side-effects, nausea, weight or hair loss, depression, pain or any kind of difficulty. Praise God! HIS FAVOR is upon us! In fact, Ernie was super active in church, community (emceed Christmas Party for the whole Philam Homes Village) and family activities never losing even a small degree of his energy, enthusiasm and upbeat spirit during the season just passed! Again and again, he continues to amaze me, Ryan, family and everyone who sees him.

I am reading Suzanne Somers (breast cancer survivor) book on "MDsThat CURE Cancer"...and find it very very uplifting and encouraging. Alternative MDs today are working to make cancer a "livable" disease just like diabetes. Patients will have to be on maintenance drugs (low dose chemo???) make major lifestyle changes on diet and regular de-tox and live a normal life!!! What a wonderful idea. In my heart of hearts....I truly want to believe that!! With GOD on our side, anything is possible!

I ordered 2 more books from the US which was highly recommended. I want to devour information and arm myself with the new and cutting edge science on Integrative medicine - having the best of both worlds-conventional and alternative medicine. Perhaps one day I will truly become an expert in this field, having learned from 2 real life challenges - Ryan and Ernie.

Here's to a 2012 filled with GOD's Graces and Favors! All Praise and Glory to HIM! - Olive

Holidays with Ernie

It's been a busy holiday season for the family, but Ernie has been doing well! We thank you all for your prayers and support. Have a phenomenal 2012 everyone!

Last November at a weekend conference in Philippine Trade Training Center with some key leaders in our business

Goofing off during a work-related Christmas party last December 3rd with long-time friends and colleagues and their families

Not to be left out - Ernie bonded once again with his high school buds who decided to throw their own holiday party

Always the comedian, Ernie emcees at the Philam Home Owners Association Christmas party with fabulously dressed neighbors.

Celebrating the anniversary of Sta. Rita de Cascia Parish with a breakfast with fellow parishioners. Joining the celebration are Ernie's sisters, Lina (immediate left) and Luz (directly below). 

New Year's Eve dinner with some of Olive's family. We had a 360-degree view of the fireworks!

Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year everyone!