Friday

Okay, it's really Saturday, but I thought I'd like to have a rested, clear head as I wrapped up our week at the Hansa Center. 

Our doctor appointments were packed full on our last day. 

First of all, Luca was up and Dr. Jernigan covered metabolic sensitivities and imbalances, and then food allergies. Luca actually reacted to the entire tray of food test vials. We knew that Luca had multiple sensitivities to foods, but this surprised us a bit, as almost everything in the tray caused a reaction in Luca's body. Dr. Jernigan then added the neurophotonic therapy, and it caused even more reactions as Luca's brain tried to process light and different colors. 

The best part of these appointments, though, is when Dr. Jernigan looks up and smiles and says something like, "It doesn't matter... It's no harder to fix :)"

After a few homeopathic remedies (and one to bring home to treat him), his body is calm, and there are no more reactions. 

It's all so very cool. The big thing is that we know that it works, and here's why... 

Bella's appointment was next. She had been treated for food allergies during her visit in the spring. But Dr. Jernigan tested her again with the neurophotonic therapy. She had no food reactions at all, and only a couple of sensitivities to metabolites and neurotransmitters.

So he treated those, and now she's all tuned up and ready go!  We asked whether the kids needed to come back after a certain period of time, and the answer was to just see how things go. He didn't feel that they would need to be seen again unless there was some sort of trauma or incident that required treatment. This actually made Bella a little sad because she loves Dr. Jernigan like family. But the kids hugged him and we reluctantly said our goodbyes until next time. We walked gratefully out of his office, never ceasing to be impressed with the way he constantly gives God the glory for what has taken place under his care. 

Later in the day, Luca and I each had our last Life Vessel therapies, which were much "easier" than yesterday's. 

We had a few more therapies to do, and then we had to say goodbye to Diana, one of the most gracious and caring people I have ever met. She truly is part of what makes Hansa so wonderful, and saying goodbye to her is tough. But we know we will see her again. It's times like these that we are thankful for modern technology, because rather than goodbye, we can say, "We'll see you on Facebook!"

The kids and Diana

Then it was time for my last appointment with Dr. Jowdy. I've gotta say, just like last time, by the end of my time there, my body has really been through it. All of the detoxing, therapies, and then doctors treatments make so many changes in the body, and I find it exhausting. The great thing is that I already know to expect it, and that over the next few weeks it will get better.  The best is yet to come, and it isn't far away!

This week we dug pretty deep, and were able to cover complex issues that most patients aren't able to get to in a two-week treatment period. We even addressed headaches that I constantly had for weeks, and last night around 9 pm, the headache was finally gone. 

I am also returning home having learned a lesson about pushing too hard once I started to feel well. As tempting as is for me to put the pedal to the metal because I am feeling so well, I've learned that I need to listen to my body when it starts to shut down when I have exceeded it's present capabilities.  Part of the reason for me needing to get to Hansa this time around was due to that.  I had really pushed myself almost over the edge, and my adrenals, especially, were unable to keep up with the demand I was putting on my body.  I know now that, as much as I hate it, I need to work at a more moderate pace as far as physical fitness is concerned, and that will mean having to make some changes that I really don't want to make (but NEED to make) when I get home.  It's not forever, though... Dr. Jowdy tells me that it may take up to a year for my adrenals to catch up with me, so I'm going to listen to him.  Keith is making sure of it!

So now I leave Hansa without a pounding headache, and with a calm heart.  I haven't had palpitations or arrhythmias in days, and if that's all I achieved this time around (which I know it isn't!), then it was worth it!

As I left Dr. Jowdy's office, I hugged him goodbye.  He told me that I really am doing fantastic, and I know it.  I told him that I had him to thank for it, and he replied as graciously as I would have expected... "I don't do the work - I'm just the facilitator."  And again, God was given the glory for all the good that had been done this week.  

Nearing the end of the day I was in a detox foot bath, and I heard the ringing of the Well Bell.  There was the usual cheering and clapping, and then a lot of giggles.  Lo and behold, it was Luca and Bella who had rung it.  It really choked me up pretty good when I realized that it was them, and thankfully Keith had snapped this picture so that I could see it.  They rung it together - and the would have it no other way.

So I closed my eyes and said a prayer of gratitude to my Father... expressing my thankfulness for my beautiful, healthy children, and for bringing us to Dr. Jernigan and Dr. Jowdy at the Hansa Center.  Hope really abounds here, and in our hearts as well.  We will forever cherish the blessing of restored health that has been bestowed on our family through them.  Our future is bright and healthy now, and we will be forever grateful for such an amazing gift.

Ringing the Well Bell!

Before signing off, I feel the need to clarify that Hansa is not a Lyme treatment center.  These doctors don't actually claim to treat any specific illness.  The goal of our treatment at the Hansa Center is to restore the body's natural ability to attain optimum health, regardless of the disease that is present.  In our case, our wellness was not obtained because we killed every Lyme spirochete or other pathological microbe that was present in our bodies.  What the doctors help us to do is to be healthy in spite of them!  Once the body is rebalanced and restored to health, it is totally capable of handling Lyme (or anything else) all on it's own, without the need for damaging antibiotics or other chemicals.

By the end of this week, we witnessed healing in patients at the center that was nothing short of miraculous. These patients were sick and debilitated, and before our eyes, they improved each day.  We are blessed to witness such miracles... I can't imagine what it's like for the staff there to see such things day in and day out - what a privilege it must be.  It is truly amazing what the body can do when it is allowed to function the way its Maker intended it to!

Until next time... thanks for checking in :)

Thursday

Well this post is sure to be short, because I barely have enough energy to type.  Today was exhausting.  We all made great headway today, and without going into too much detail, Bella, Luca and I were able to get to the bottom of many issues!
If you prayed for Luca and me for our Life Vessel treatments today, THANK YOU!  It was much easier for each of us, and Luca even slept for both hour-long therapies.  That in it self is proof that something that Dr. Jernigan has been doing with him is bringing relief to his overamped body.  
As for my sessions, the first one was pretty cool.  I was able to stay still and calm down, which I was unable to achieve yesterday.  The second one, however, was exhausting.  I am thinking that by design, this one was supposed to help one deal with suppressed emotions, or things of the past.  I honestly hate going there.  I can't even stand to watch sad movies, but as soon as the music began, I was instantly sucked into my childhood, and it was like watching a movie of my past.  Anyway, we all have things that we lock up and put away somewhere in our mind that most likely shape who we are and affect how we deal with present day situations.  I am hopeful that by processing things like that today, stresses that I encounter in the future will not have such a negative affect on my health the way they do now.  Since getting sick a few years ago, stress has had an almost instant detrimental impact on my physical self, and to be free from that would really be one of the last pieces of the puzzle for me to get my life back!

And that's pretty much the gist of today.  We did manage to get out to a yummy dinner at P.F. Changs, and found some cool spots to take pictures, so here are a few.  

And with that, I am going to sign off... Thanks for checkin in :)

Wednesday

Well it's Wednesday night, which means that we are more than halfway done with our week here, which, of course, makes me sad.  I have to admit that a part of me really wishes that our family could just pack up and move out here so that we could be closer to this amazing place. We just can't say enough about the wonderful doctors and caring people.  Please know that so much more happens here than I can blog about, and these people have helped my family - Keith included - in amazing ways.  They have truly blessed us, and we are constantly in awe of the way the Lord has worked in our lives through them.  


But since we don't have any immediate plans to relocate to Kansas, we will just have to keep coming back when we are in need of care, and we will be happy to do it!

Today, Luca and I began a new therapy involving what is called the "Life Vessel." In the Life Vessel, frequency, vibration, sound and light waves are non-invasively applied to the human body in a resonant frequency chamber, resulting in the body being able to perform its innate natural ability to heal itself.  
Our doctors felt that this would be a great way for us to help balance out the sympathetic hyperactivity that is present in both of our bodies.  Although I wasn't very excited in lying still for an hour in what looks kind of like a coffin, I am all about getting my heart settled down. I did worry more about Luca being able to stay in there without breaking out!  However, he managed to get through it, and even though I am told he got pretty fidgety near the end, I am really proud of him for sticking in out.  
For me, the fidgety part was in the beginning.  I really dreaded going in there.  I don't know if I was afraid of what may come to the surface if I had to spend that much time with just myself and some sound waves, so I panicked a bit at the beginning.  I did manage to get settled down for most of the time in there, and now that I know what to expect, I am hopeful that the anxiety will fall away for the next time.  Tomorrow, we each will do TWO sessions, and if you'd like to pray for each of us to get through them smoothly, we'd really appreciate it :)  I really look forward to seeing the benefits of the therapy.  I am hopeful that by Friday, the results will be apparent.

During my appointment with Dr. Jowdy, I challenged him with some good old chiropractic work.  I am so thankful that this man is not only great at what he does with bioresonance scanning and testing the body, but he's an awesome chiropractor to boot!  If you know me, you know that I love to challenge myself physically - probably to a fault.  And since I was feeling so well up until a couple of weeks ago, I was working out pretty hard.  But when you work out they way your mind wants to, but your body isn't quite ready for, you get injured.  And that's what happened to me.  I have been having headaches for days now, and today I was completely bound up from my shoulder blades up.  I felt like a huge ball of tension.  To make a long story short, it took the entire hour appointment to get to the root of the problem, which happened to be my injury of the iliotibial band (ITB) in my right leg 10 days ago.  It's really cool how everything in the body is connected.  If he would have gone straight to trying to fix my head, he would have missed the fact that my pelvis was totally out of whack, which locked up my hip, restricting the movement.  That caused my entire body to be off balance, and ended up causing terrible tension all the way through the back of my neck into my head.  
I ended up walking out of his office feeling so much better - and again, thankful that this guy really knows what he is doing!  He has also been helping me with the injury to my shoulder which has been causing me serious pain and frustration for almost a year now.  And if I would only stop aggravating it, I'm sure it would heal, too.

Again, Bella is doing fantastic, Dr. Jernigan is running out of things to do with her!  She has still been having her detox and supportive therapies, and she really just loves being at Hansa.
And that was our day at the clinic.

Today we all also realized that we really miss our little princess, Mia.  We are thankful that my mom keeps sending us pictures of her - and she is always smiling and waving.  And when we talk to her on the phone, she barely has time for us, because she is too busy having a great time at Nonna and Pappy's house swimming, playing with my nieces, and being the center of everyone's attention.  
We are so at ease here, knowing that she is so happy there - but we still miss her.  Mia is such a sweetheart, and really brings light and laughter to everyone she comes in contact with - and we can't wait to squeeze her again!

Tuesday!

Today at Hansa we each plugged through our different therapies that are designed to help us detoxify and heal from Lyme and other bacteria, viruses and environmental toxins that we have been exposed to.  

Here is Luca having the ST8 lymphatic drainage therapy.  Today's focus was his tonsils!  

Here is Bella having the Lux light therapy.  She was listening to her favorite little man teaching her how to meditate...

I also managed a selfie while I was on the lymph therapy :)

We were pleased to report to Dr. Jernigan today that Luca had no night sweats last night, so that was really quick progress!  It's amazing how fast the kids progress.  How awesome is it that they both will never have to grow up feeling sick all of the time, bound to taking harmful drugs, without an end in sight?   We think very.

As far as us adults, things do take a little longer - especially when an illness has had so much time to do damage to our bodies.  In addition, the drugs I had been put on in the past have also affected the way my body works, and not in a good way.  But I am hopeful that Dr. Jowdy and I will make significant progress in helping me with my greatest concern right now, which is my heart.  I have been dealing with arrhythmias for years, but in the past two weeks, some really scary things have been happening.  I even hooked myself up to my own monitor so that I could watch the rhythm in real time, and it was very interesting.  The rhythm did tell me that I still have some significant metabolic imbalances that need to be addressed, and therefore have landed at Hansa at precisely the right time.  

Also tying into the picture is that I had been placed on prednisone a few years ago when I was misdiagnosed with having Rheumatoid Arthritis (before my Lyme diagnosis).  The prednisone caused my adrenal glands to be suppressed from producing their own cortisol (the body's "stress" hormone), and now I have what is known as adrenal fatigue.  My adrenals have never recovered from that insult, and my goal now is to help them heal.  Once I am no longer dependent on taking cortisol in pill form to supplement what my body cannot make, my other hormones should fall into line much better, and my body will be able to handle stresses such as illness, physical activity, and everyday "stress" much better.

So that's the goal, and that's where we stand on day 2 :)

In other news, it was actually 106 degrees today - even at 7 pm.  Now that's hot.  Thank goodness for the good ol' Kansas wind that makes it a little more bearable!

We're Back!

So I'm tired. Today was a little nuts, as I knew it would be with three of us now having treatment. I ask for your forgiveness in advance if this post ends up being a little choppy! 

But let me say how awesome it was walking through the doors of the Hansa Center again!  It was so great to see the smiling, caring faces of those we had gotten to know this spring welcoming us back, and graciously welcoming Luca. There were a lot of hugs today, and that's really cool because you don't usually get those at your typical doctors office!

The Hansa swans - and now babies!

Mondays at Hansa are different because that's when the initial testing happens and new patients begin their treatment. To recap from my explanation in previous posts, the CRT involves measuring the temperature of over 100 points on the body, then subjecting it to cool temperatures for 10 minutes and retaking the temperature at the same points.  And with CRT testing comes rules... No coffee, shower, deodorant, lotions, make-up, bra, or brushing your teeth. It's very much "patients in the raw" on Monday mornings, and today I really came to appreciate my cup of coffee!

But anyway, Bella and I had our retesting to determine our progress and what else our body is saying in terms if dysfunction, and Luca had his initial test. 

After my test, I practically sprinted back to the hotel to clean up and downed a cup of coffee before getting back for Luca's first appointment with the founder of Hansa, Dr. Jernigan. 

We went over Luca's CRT results, and we learned that his body is mirroring exactly what is happening in Luca's mind. It is almost globally hyperactive in terms of its response to stress (in the case of the CRT test, the body's reaction to exposure to a lower room temperature.) 

We also learned that Luca is actually dealing with Lyme rather well. However, he is dealing with other bacteria, viruses, parasites, hormonal issues and cranial and joint fixations.  We also talked a lot about Luca's nightmares and night sweats.  We have even hypothesized that Luca's extreme reactions to many stresses may actually stem back to a terrible vaccination reaction he had when he was 11 months old. 

The awesome part is that Dr. Jernigan is totally confident that he can help Luca break his struggle with a chaotic mind and body, as well as free him from nightmares and hypersensitivities to everything from bug bites to food!  That really brought serious peace to our hearts :). Luca rolled through lots of therapies today, and he did awesome. He loves it here already, and we are so happy for him. 

Luca making some cool toxic soup in his ionic foot bath.

My appointment with Dr. Jowdy was next. My CRT results had improved - and I have improved. I walked out of Hansa in May and literally left my chronic pain behind. I have not since had a day of feeling like I had the flu, like I couldn't concentrate or think, or pain all over my body. All of that is gone from me now, and I feel so very free - like I need to go out and do something really active... or big!  It has really been a huge and wonderful change in my life. 

My results still showed a level of hyperactivity in my body, as well, though. An autonomic dysfunction to stress that is still causing me to have some serious symptoms such has heart arrhythmias (which, at times, keep me awake at night for hours on end.) My adrenal glands, and therefore many other hormones, are still quite out of whack due to damage from Lyme and the treatments I had been previously exposed to. 

The great thing about today is that I only tested for four things that needed to be addressed (yes - some of them quite big), rather than a mile long list like before. And even though I have been feeling kind of crappy for the last two weeks, it pales in comparison to the mess I was before I went to Hansa in April. 

And so for this week we have a plan for me, and still plenty of work to do. 

And then came Bella's turn with Dr. Jernigan. Her CRT test results were actually quite impressive. She is really doing great, and the test proved it. She is basically asymptomatic now, but her digestion still could use some improving. She actually tested for h. Pylori, which is very common in a child who has had such a long-term exposure to antibiotic treatment the way Bella had for Lyme.  She is pretty much a rock star when it comes to beating Lyme, and we are so thankful for the way God has delivered her from this nasty disease.  

This week Bella will still do some detoxifying and some lymphatic drainage therapies, and we expect her to return home all tuned-up and ready to take on the world!

Today was also really cool because I got to meet, in person, two people who I had the pleasure of meeting online through my blog.  What's really cool is that both of them decided to go to Hansa for treatment, and that God allowed them both to be there at the same time I am returning!  It brings my heart such joy to know that these two beautiful ladies are in for such a blessing and a redemption of their health.  I will only get to spend the week with them, but I know that by the end of week two, they will be well on their way to optimum health!

And with that, I am going to sign off for today.  I am so grateful for your gracious words of encouragement and prayers for Luca, Bella and me.  We are humbled and blessed by your support :)

Thanks for checking in!

A Look at Luca

We have said goodbye to our little Mia, who is now in the care of my parents in Pennsylvania, and we are on our flight to Wichita, KS.  We have been awaiting this return to the Hansa Center since the day we left it in May.  Bella, my 9-year-old daughter, and I experienced such amazing progress during those two weeks of treatment, and we developed such great relationships with the caring people there.

This past week has dealt me some personal health challenges, but I don't want to get into all of that just yet.  Let's just say that Monday can't come soon enough for me.  Now it is Luca's turn to begin the healing process, and we are confident that he will leave Lyme Disease in the dust after his treatment week at Hansa.

Since my previous posts have all focused on Bella and me, I thought that I should introduce Luca to those of you reading who don't know him :)

Luca is my 7-year-old prince.  He is the middle child, and certainly has many "middle child" attributes.  He is quiet, and sort of just mixes into the family background most of the time.  He has a sweet, tender heart, and an old soul.  His brain is constantly at work - you can see it just by looking at him.  And every now and then (or maybe for his teachers at school - more often) - he will spout off a fact or two that will give you a glimpse of just what is going on in his head at the moment.  Most of the time when this happens, Keith and I will look at each other with a knowing glance, and the unspoken words that we can't believe what he just said are exchanged as we are in awe of how his little mind works.  

It was his uniqueness that set him apart at a very young age.  Luca had an interesting first 2 years of life.  When I was pregnant with him, Luca got settled deep into my pelvic bones pretty early on, and when he was born, his cranial bones were malformed.  He also had torticollis in his neck, meaning that the muscles on one side of his neck were in constant tension, pulling the bones to continue to form asymmetrically.  When he was four months old, Luca was diagnosed with brachycephaly and plagiocephaly.  For this, he wore a cranial remolding helmet 24/7 until he was more than one year-old.  

I have these great pictures of our little stunt man in his helmet and arm cast, because during his early walking stage, he decided to try to pull himself up on a sofa table - which he actually pulled down on top of his little right hand, smashing it between the table and our hardwood floor.  He broke 3 bones in his hand that day.  And I could just feel the stares of everyone around us after that - as my little boy now had to trudge on through with his helmet AND and cast!  We lived in San Diego then, and were thousands of miles from any family.  Those were challenging times.

Luca also decided that he wasn't going to speak - at all - for the first two years of his life.  We couldn't even get him to utter an animal sound.  It was at this point that we began to be concerned about some of the tendencies that we had been noticing.  He was not a snuggly kid - he preferred to be by himself rather than held by us.  He was obsessed by spinning objects… car wheels, fans, etc.  We certainly thought that he was just being a boy.  But when we coupled that with his delay of speech and a severe reaction to a vaccination that he received, we had suspicions of autism in the back of our minds.  Luca began to get frustrated with everything.  He was constantly sick, and he didn't know how to communicate with us.  It was at this point that we brought sign language back to help him, and it did.  

We prayed for our child.  We prayed specific, detailed prayers for Luca.  

And then one day, he spoke.  It still brings tears to my eyes when I remember hearing him say, "mama" for the first time.  I have videos way back in the archives of this blog with his little afro reciting what sounds like a jumbly mess of the alphabet.  But he was talking.  And he had broken through the cloud that he had seemed to be in for months before that.  My little boy was back, and I am convinced that it was a miracle, and that the Lord answered our cries for our child.  We are blessed, and so is he.  

The infamous, "It's not a wizard, it's a WIZARD!" tattoo ;)

From his first words, Luca hit the ground running and didn't look back.  We always to say that he will talk to everyone and anyone.  I would find this kid having in depth conversations with the Fed Ex guy!  Now he loves to talk - once he gets to know someone - and much of the time, he talks a little too much!

We have found that Luca's mind is packed full - and he often finds the need to get some of the information out.  He is obsessed with things like volcanoes, tornadoes and hurricanes.  He plays the piano quite well for his limited exposure to lessons, and he picks up on a new piece, or even something he has heard and just wants to play, very quickly.  Luca is quite the character, and like his name implies, he is the bearer of light to our family.

Luca is the most "asymptomatic" of the three of us.  However, knowing that Lyme can be transmitted in utero, we began suspecting that Luca may also have Lyme more than a year ago when he began to complain of neck and back pain.  We did take him to the chiropractor often, and given his history of torticollis, we knew that it could have some lasting craniosacral implications for him.  Luca has pretty bad eyesight, and was given corrective glasses before he began kindergarten.  However, he began to have persistent headaches after that, and by this past winter, he was getting them almost every day.  Then he began to complain of random joint pain, particularly in his neck and shoulders.  Late last summer, Luca got terribly sick with mono, which is atypical of a healthy, 6 year-old.  

As his mother, though, the most concerning of any of his symptoms is the state of constant chaos of Luca's little mind.  During preschool and Kindergarten, I was a frequent visitor of his school's principal's office.  I think they had my number on speed dial, actually.  Luca was very challenged with self-control in the classroom.  I look back and laugh a little now at the randomness of some of his outbursts that landed him in the office.  At first, we were angry and disappointed in his behavior.  We were embarrassed and punished him for his bad choices and lack of self-control.  Throughout this time, though, we began to understand Luca a little better, and realized what a challenge it actually was for him to control himself, pay attention, and refrain from outbursts in the classroom.  Luca's mind constantly has something in the works, and sometimes, it's almost like he needs to vent the top and let a little of the pressure off.  

We were told that he had ADHD tendencies.  However, we decided not to have him evaluated for this, and we were grateful for the wonderful principal and teachers at his school who respected our wishes to work with Luca with his mind the way it was, rather than giving him mind-altering medications.  We have been persistently working with him, helping him by developing structured environments, making sure he gets plenty of sleep, encouraging him to make good choices as he exercises self control, and also giving him nutritional supplements to help him remain calm and focused for school.  Luca's behavior has improved immensely this past year, but he still struggles with these things.  I realize that many children have these challenges and beyond, requiring a much higher level of intervention.  We feel blessed that we have been able to work with Luca the way we have, and that we have been relatively successful.

Luca has also been tested for food sensitivities, and he has problems with many, including gluten, dairy, and soy.  Although he does not abstain from eating them completely, we do limit him at home.  He does not have any tangible reactions at this point, but we believe that his behavior and focus are better when he is off of gluten.  

He also severely reacts to insect bites of any sort, with huge swellings, and he will often get physically ill if he has too many bites.  

It is for all of these reasons that we had Luca tested for Lyme early this spring.  We actually got the results during my second week at Hansa, and they floored us.  Although he appears to be the most "well" among the three of us, his test was the most blatantly positive.  

But I believe those results came at just the right time.  It was by then that we were confident that the Lord had led us to Hansa as an answer to our prayers for deliverance from Lyme.  We were feeling better already, and we had hope that we just needed to get Luca there, and he would be better, too.  

So that's Luca in a tiny nutshell.  This little guy is such a special part of our family, and we are overjoyed at the relief that he will soon have from his struggle.

I will share more on Bella and me tomorrow - but I have to say that I am so excited to get back our Hansa family!  Tomorrow can't come soon enough :)

It's Been One Month :)

So it's been one month since we made our way back from the Hansa Center in Wichita, Kansas. It took me a few weeks to adjust since,then, but things are going really well. Since we got home, we had a plethora of last-week-of-school activities, since the kids have been out of school since before Memorial Day. We made a trip to my parents home in PA where the kids anxiously awaited the temps to warm up so that they could swim in Nonna and Pappy's pool. We brought back my cousin, Cassie, to be our nanny and I have enjoyed some time off from working since we've been back from PA to help her get settled. It's back to my patients next week, though.

My blog has opened up the opportunity for me to be in touch with many, many people who are dealing with Lyme and chronic illness. I am so thankful to be able to talk with you, explain my experiences, and pray for you as you determine your path to wellness. I am so passionate about the methods that are used by Drs. Jernigan and Jowdy. I find myself trying to figure out a way for me to be able to learn from them and study to help others in the way that they have. In that respect, I am praying for guidance and orchestration of the right timing, because I know that this longing I have to reach others who are ill is leading me somewhere. The how and when is yet to be determined :)

So in honor of my good friend, Sherry, who is fighting Lyme herself, I thought I owed you an update on life after Hansa. She recently e-mailed me with a few questions, so I thought I'd go ahead and answer them here!

Do you feel any better?

Absolutely!! Bella is actually fabulous. Just yesterday we went to King's Dominion - an amusement park near Richmond, VA. She rode everything she could! Just last summer she rode practically nothing - not because she didn't meet the height requirements (because she did), but because she was afraid of getting sick. Bella had motion sickness and headaches quite often, and roller coasters and thrill rides just didn't mix with her symptoms. This year it was like she was a different person. She did so well and was so proud of herself.

As for me, I was able to go the whole day without getting tired, having severe joint pain, or just feeling like a sick person. I did great - and even rode a few rides myself (I wouldn't have tried them in my dreams before) without getting sick. It was a great day.

So yes... we feel TONS better.

Are there symptoms that still remain?

A few. I am still dealing with are digestive issues. If you know me, you know that I am very discriminating about my food choices. And I still have to be. I would say that things are a little better in that respect, though. I do not have the gall bladder pain that I used to occasionally have. I so have random joint pain on occasion. But that is usually after I've had a really good workout that morning or the day before, so I'll take that :)

One of my most annoying symptoms was my cardiac arrhythmias. My heart would feel like it was flipping in my chest, and often I couldn't sleep at night because it would start pounding and racing when I would lie down. That has improved greatly. I have had a couple of rough nights since I've been back, but compared to a few sleepless nights a week, it's a definite improvement!

There is still some healing to take place with my thyroid and adrenal glands, as well. They've been quite damaged over the years, and I may need to be on some level supportive medication indefinitely. However, taking one or two little pills in order to feel wonderful wins out over taking fistfuls of pills to never really get well any day!

Are you still taking the vitamins and supplements you took before your trip to Hansa?

Some of them, but not many. The doctors there frequency tested us for the supplements that our bodies still needed, and we take those things.

Are you taking anything that the doctors at Hansa prescribed and if so how long do you have to take them?

We are both still taking the remedies that the doctors tested for us. For me, some are to deal with specific lyme bacteria, and others are for nutritional, digestive, and other support. I will likely finish the prescribed course of the remedies before we return back for follow up in July. At that point, the doctor will test my body and find out what still needs to be dealt with.

Have the lyme bacteria and co-infections been eradicated from you?

No... but that's really not the point of this treatment.  Not even with the most aggressive antibiotic treatment for years on end can you ever eradicate every last harmful microbe. That is why so many people relapse when they finally do discontinue antibiotic treatment for Lyme. The purpose of the treatment at Hansa is to allow the body to achieve optimum health, regardless of whether or not you are living with Lyme or any other infection or microbe. If the body is optimized and the immune system is allowed to function properly, anyone can live harmoniously with any microbe that enters the body.

Did the doctors at Hansa do any blood tests or any other lab tests on you either before or after your treatment?

Before I return in July, I will do a saliva test that will help determine at which level my adrenals and other hormonal glands are functioning.

Have you had to follow any diet restrictions as you have in the past?

I am, because my digestive issues still need some work. And because I just feel better when I do :)
Bella, on the other hand, has been able to eat a much wider variety of foods without feeling any adverse effects!

And that about covers it! Life has been good, and we are steadily getting better and better. I am emotionally so much stronger, as well, because I now have hope, where I once was struggling to find it. I feel that I am more patient, forgiving, and handle life much better now that I am not constantly exhausted by pain. I am learning what it feels like to feel well again, and it's good - really good.

Every day my family gives thanks for the healing journey that we are on. We are thankful that God led us to the Hansa Center. We also constantly pray for those who are dear to us who are still struggling to get well themselves. One of the hardest things for me since I have been back has been to advance so far in this fight - only to turn around and still see my friends struggling. And that is why I will be working on finding a way to help them, too.

I'm praying for you, and I will continue to have hope that you will find your way, too - even when you can't seem to find the strength to hope yourselves :)

Almost 1 Week Home

I have been getting requests for an update since Bella and I have been home from the Hansa Center, and you'll have to forgive me for not doing it sooner, but getting back home was a wee bit overwhelming!  I just spent 2 whole weeks taking care of Bella and me and our health - and that was pretty much it.  I was very excited to be reunited with the rest of our family, and I missed Luca and Mia so much - but I was anxious.  And for good reason.  I don't think I could have mentally prepared myself enough to handle coming home to the house, making dinners, packing lunches, school concerts, picnics, upcoming piano recitals, field trips, book reports, karate tournament, worship team, a broken washing maching, architects, house plans, work functions, work, and on top of all of that, we're in the last 2 weeks of school now.  Somehow, the last 2 weeks of school are torturous for anyone who has more than one child there. The amount of "stuff" that's packed into that time frame is a bit crazy, and with 3 kids in 3 different grades, there is something EVERY day.

So all of that is why I have yet to write an update - until now ;)

How am I feeling?  I feel better with each day.  I do admit, that the Saturday we traveled home I felt like I may die, though.  I really missed my husband that day, who is always in charge of the luggage.  That day I had to manage two 50 lb (okay... you need a lot for 2 weeks, and we brought a lot of stuff home from the clininc!) bags and two carry-ons basically by myself.  It was COLD, windy and rainy in Wichita, and just trying to get the suitcases into the rental car about did me in. After we got them checked in at the airport (which, by the way is so small and super convenient) I was relieved.  We got through the short security line and were off to the gate with an hour to spare.  We were on our way home!

It was about 30 minutes after that I realized that the rental car keys were still in my purse!

And then I got that sinking, heart pounding, yucky, panicky feeling that you get when you've done something really stupid.  We had no choice but to hottail it back - all the way to baggage claim where the rental car counter is (which is right where we entered the airport, by the way.)  I was frustrated and on the verge of tears, and poor Bella just kept reassuring me - "It's okay mom!  I'm totally fine with it, mom!"  So we turned them in and then had, to go BACK through security, which at this point, was a longer line (but still not Pittsburgh or DC like).
This time through, the guy behind me was pretty amused by my beast-sized dinosaur of a laptop.  He made sure he told me that they have these things called iPads now (which I was really in the mood for.)  I made sure he knew that I had my iPad in tow, as well - but I don't like to type on it!
Anyway, we got through in plenty of time, and had a nice flight to Atlanta.  We had time to grab a quick bite and then were getting ready for the final leg home.  As we were boarding, though, the captain stopped us.  He told me that we don't want to fly that plane.  That we CAN'T take that plane, and made us deboard.  Ugh.  So we had a delay - but it was actually pretty short considering we had to change gates and arrange another piece of "equipment" as they called it, to get us home.  Kudos to Delta airlines for not allowing us to board a broken airplane, and for managing to land in DC only 50 minutes late!

Plane #2 (the NOT broken one) 

When Keith and the kids picked us up from the airport, Mia SQUEALED with joy to see Bella and Me. She must have told us that she loved each of us 50 times that night.  They were so precious, and my heart was bursting to hold my babies again.

We decided to have dinner at our favorite Stafford spot, Pancho Villa.  Bella and Luca couldn't stop chatting about everything (ok, mostly Mine Craft), and Mia just wanted to sit on my lap.  It was a good night.

When we pulled in our driveway, it was like Spring had sprung while we were gone.  The grass was GREEN and tall, the fruit trees all had blossomed, and it was sunny and warm.  I was happy to be home.

The next few days were a little rough for me.  I was trying to get settled back in, and I had over- committed myself with a few things.  I, for the first time ever, did back out of something that I just couldn't handle.  And although it was a bit humiliating, I just had to do it.  I was at maximum capacity and barely unpacked, and Keith was very proud of me for making the decision to just say no.  And I learned that it's okay to do that (and maybe I'll do it more often!)
Aside from being overwhelmed with everyone's schedule, I was tired.  Exhausted, actually.  I felt like my body had been drained, and that I needed to be plugged in for 16 hours or so with no interruptions to be fully recharged.
But I have managed over this past week to settle in and get myself back on track.

Ever since I left Hansa, I have been sleeping like a boss!  I say that because sleep used to be my nemesis.  I often dreaded going to bed because I knew it was just going to be a restless, painful, and often sleepless night.  A few of my treatments at the center did deal with that aspect of my life, and I have to say, it has been working!
I know that my body is healing more each day.  The fog has lifted from my brain, and I can think more clearly than I have in a long time.  It's awesome being able to form a sentence without having to pause and think about the next word, or just forget what you wanted to say altogether.  I would say that my cognitive function has been my greatest improvement.  My mood is better, and I am not as irritated as before, probably because I am not in the constant pain that I was in before.  I do have some residual joint pain which will continue to improve in time.  But it rained for 3 days in a row here and I never felt yucky or "Lymey," as I called it, because of the weather.  That was an awesome realization!
My leg pain is much better, and I really hadn't noticed it until last night.  But then I realized that I had worked out yesterday morning, and i was probably getting sore from that!
Speaking of working out, if you know me well, you know that I thrive on physical fitness.  During the past 6 months, however, the amount of physical training I was able to do kept dwindling because I was getting sick again.  And that depressed me.  I still managed to do something.  I'm a firm believer that no matter how sick you are, you need to get up and be active.  It always made me feel better, if not just mentally, to work out.
That being said, on Tuesday I was ready to hit the gym again.  I decided to go back to my favorite Beachbody instructor (no... not Tony Horton - I'll save another round of P90x for a few months from now!), Chalene Johnson, and started a new 90 day round of Chalene Extreme.  I really feel the need to build up my strength again, and since my trainer friend, Jen, isn't here anymore to pick me up and get me going again, Chalene will have to do!
So I am healing.  And without antibiotics!  Many of my symptoms may take more time to resolve, but I've seen such an improvement already that I have renewed hope and faith that my full recovery is in the process.  I am being healed even as I write this, and I am so grateful for God's faithfulness.
Bella continues to thrive.  She was very happy to get back to her friends at school, and has put the petal to the metal when it comes to activity.  She is excited to compete in the Kata division of her martial arts studio's (Champion Martial Arts) tournament next week.  She's also working on a book report, playing soccer outside, and getting ready for her piano recital.
We are both taking our remedies which were prepared especially for us and our individual bodies, not just picked off of a shelf.  When we return to the clinic in July with Luca, Bella and I will both be seen again to evaluate our progress and determine if there are more things that need to be addressed.
I do have to say that I truly miss the Hansa Center.  I think about that wonderful place every day.  The doctors and staff were so wonderful and caring, and they gave us our lives back.  I cannot put into words what that feels like.  We are blessed, and thankful, and we will continue to get better.
If you are struggling with Lyme or any other chronic illness, I know how lonely it can be.  Writing this blog has liberated me from some of that alienation, but it's easy to lose hope when you're in the dark.  I have been encouraged by so many people during this trial, and I must encourage you... God does some of his best work in the darkness, and you are never alone.  I implore you to build your hope and faith by reading Jesus Today by Sarah Young, who wrote it during her own fight with Lyme disease.  I would also highly suggest that you read the book that changed my life, Everyday Miracles by God's Design, by Dr. Jernigan - I honestly couldn't put it down.  Optimum health is truly within your reach - I finally have a grasp on it, and I'm not letting go!

Day 10... Victory!

I can't describe what it felt like walking into the Hansa Center this morning.  Physically, I felt really good, and I was incredibly thankful that all of the work we've put my body through these past 2 weeks was paying off.  I woke up this morning and felt better than I have for a long time.
But we were sad.  The wonderful people there have become like a little family to us, and we will miss them.
Here are a couple of pictures I took first thing in the morning...

 Bella and Tressa... my friend and guest blogger from yesterday :)

 Bella and Kendra, her sweet friend, getting their foot baths on!

Bella, and "Mama Hansa" herself, Diana.  Oh how we love her.

My appointment with Dr. Jowdy was the first thing in the morning.  We basically wrapped things up, and went over each symptom that I started with.  I am pretty impressed at how far I've come in such a short period of time!  When you put it into perspective against the 3 years of antibiotics I've been on without getting well, this is miraculous.  The pieces were falling into place, and I walked into that office feeling victorous.  For the first time in 3 years, I knew in my heart that I was winning this battle.  

I can't thank him enough for how he has helped me.  

I will see Dr. Jowdy again in July for a follow-up - at the same time we will bring Luca for his initial treatment.

Bella's appointment with Dr. Jernigan was right after lunch, and he is so proud of her and how far she's come.  It's like a switch was flipped, and this girl has new life that she's probably never known, since she's had this since birth.  She's been bouncing off the walls here, and I can understand why.  I've seriously never seen her like this.

After her appointment, Bella proclaimed her healing and rang the well bell with Dr. Jernigan proudly at her side.  I was overcome with joy as my eyes welled up with tears for my baby girl.  

After we said our goodbyes to the wonderful people who have taken such good care of us these past two weeks, Bella and Kendra spent some time together outside at the pond.  I was happy that they were together, because it made saying goodbye to the Hansa people that much easier for Bella.  They became friends so quickly.  I've never heard Bella call someone her best friend forever.  These two share a special bond that not too many 9-year-old girls share.  They both battled a nasty disease that threatened to take their childhood from them.  They both ended up here in the most amazing place for treatment.  And they both beat it, and will continue to heal and flourish for the rest of their lives.

Kendra's mom captioned this photo - V for Victory!

Tonight we had the pleasure of going to dinner with Kendra and her parents.  We were able to chat about where they live and where we used to live in California.  And I am learning that coincidences simply don't exist.

We ended the night going to an arcade with the girls.  Bella deserved a night of fun after being cooped up for 2 weeks in a hotel room.  But these two weeks have certainly been a blessing for us as mother and daughter.  Bella had some serious individual attention that she hasn't had since the birth of her brother 7 years ago.  I know that both of us grew closer and we will remember this time of healing together forever.

I wonder what it must be like for these doctors to walk this path they've been given.  How awesome it must be at the end of a treatment period to hear that well bell and know that they've given someone their life back.  Yet they manage to be humble and kind healers.   They have a gift that constantly changes lives for good.  I am in awe of the work that God has done through these men and the staff at the Hansa Center.

I was glad that today wasn't really "good-bye" but rather, "see you later."  We will be back in July, and I will be so much stronger then.  And then it will be time to write Luca's chapter of the Hansa Story for our family.

I can't thank you enough for following our journey... for the prayers, encouragement, and well wishes that were sent our way.  Chronicling our progress each day was a challenge, but I didn't do this to bring attention to myself.  Those of you who know me know that I have been rather silent about my battle with Lyme - and many people never even knew about my struggle.  I decided to blog this experience to bring hope to others who are struggling in the same way.  Since starting this a couple of weeks ago, I have received many messages and e-mail from people relating their own battles... asking questions, and even encouraging me in spite of their own illnesses.  It's been humbling to be able to shine some light on this very dark and hidden epidemic.  Finally, I did this to encourage others to wait on the Lord.  I have been dealing with this for a long time, and praying for my miracle.  And I give God the glory for making it a reality.  So until the next update, I will leave you with this...

Thanks for checking in :)

Day 9 - (for Noah)

So I fully intended on taking the day off from blogging.  After all, it can be a little exhausting trying to recount everything that happened during our day, and then try and explain it all.  I completely appreciated Tressa taking the task of my hands today.
But then I got a text from my sister, saying that my nephew, Noah, was still anticipating ME posting something today.
So for you, Noah, my first (and only) nephew... I will give a short and sweet update :)

Not much new happened with Bella and me today.  We actually moved through our appointments quite quickly.
But some exciting things DID happen.  One of our fellow patients rang the WELL BELL!  It's a bell (a loud bell) at the front desk that patients ring at the end of their treatment declaring their wellness and freedom from whatever it was they were battling when they arrived.  We heard it a couple of times last Friday from some people who were finishing their two weeks.
But today was Thursday... and we were a little shocked to hear it!  But our friend had gotten well early, and she was able to actually leave a day earlier than expected.  Now that is awesome, and we are so happy for her (but we will miss you, Judy!)

In other news, Bella has a little friend at the clinic.  She actually met her, another 9-year-old girl overcoming Lyme, on Monday.  We were surprised to learn that they actually live in the same town, Encinitas, that we lived in San Diego!  They hit it off very well, and although they are kind of on two different time schedules, when they get to spend time together, it's pretty cute.
The awesome thing is, she is getting well - very well - just like Bella!  The rate at which these kids can heal is impressive.  Both had been on antibiotics previously, and neither got completely well with them.  This little girl is actually doing so well that she will leave THIS Friday, a full week earlier than planned.
I write this to encourage other parents with young children who are also sick.  You cannot be disappointed if you take your children here.  Please read the book, Everyday Miracles by God's Design by Dr. Jernigan.  After I read it, I couldn't get Bella here fast enough.  And I was not disappointed.  I have now seen both Dr. Jowdy and Dr. Jernigan interact with children here, and it truly warms the heart to see the compassion they have for them.
I trust them wholeheartedly with my children, and I encourage you that if you have children with issues that you just cannot define, or if they are about to be subjected to pharmaceutical treatment of symptoms rather than being allowed to heal completely, consider this place.

Anyway, like I said earlier, Bella and I finished a bit early today at the clinic, so we were able to do something extra rather than just having dinner at the hotel or out.  We were thankful that the sleeting had stopped and the sun had actually come out, so we went to dinner and had some tasty Italian (of course).  Bella loves having pedicures with me, so after dinner that's what we did - and I believe we spread a little light to the nail salon who stayed open just to be able to do it for us :)

This is how she rolls...

We surely have some sadness about tomorrow being our last day, but we are getting anxious to get home and see the rest of our family.  It will truly be a bittersweet goodbye tomorrow.  But I will leave that for tomorrow's post.

Thanks for checking in :)

Hi... my name is Tressa

I have had Lyme disease for 2 two years. I have been at the center with Keri these two weeks. We have the same doctor as well.
Coming to this place, I was a little skeptical. But I was so desperate to live life as a normal person, I was willing to take this step. Some one said this to me one day as I was trying to describe the things that were going on. It just takes an unconventional remedy to treat an unconventional disease!
So what exactly have I been able to get rid of so far? Well here's the list... I hope you are ready for it:
toxins, amonia, muscle spasms, restless leg syndrome, short term memory loss, brain fog, food allergies, siatic issues, digestive problems, heart palpatations, and emotional issues.
My energy has gone way up since I arrived to the point where they are noticing it in my voice!
The doctors even found some genetic disorders that they were able to work on and eliminate.
You might think that Keri and I are crazy after reading about what they are doing, because its not very conventional. But is God very conventional? Nope! We just like to put Him in a box so that we can understand.
He made us so complex. He created light, energy, and electricity... why wouldn't He allow those things to flow through us and be apart of us?
We have seen a dentist who could barely get out of bed, walk out of this center well with strength and clarity of thought.
We saw a guy with a tumor in his eye decrease so he could actually see.
We have seen a girl with lesions all over her body walk out with clear skin.
These doctors are God fearing men who truly seek to help people get better. They are not here to sell products - they are here to help.
If you struggle with anything, not just Lyme, and you are tired of nothing working. COME HERE!!!! They treat the WHOLE body not just one thing. Think of it as an investment FOR life and OF life. You are getting your life back!

Day 8... Sovereign

Today we headed over early to the Hansa Center for Bella's CRT retest. I was not feeling well because I didn't sleep well last night. My legs were back to hurting, and I had a headache. Just walking in the door there made me feel a bit better, though. After Bella's test we both had our lymph therapy and the Lux - which happens to be my favorite.
The lux instrument targets parts of the body that may need help in adjusting energetics in order to heal or return to a more balanced state. The lamps actually hold gemstones and color filters. Specific combinations are prescribed for different conditions that the patient is dealing with. The gemstones are electronically excited by the lux while the lights are sending low voltage electronic pulses to the body. Electronic gemstone therapy has been noted to support the healing process of the body on many levels. Once the lights are applied to the surface of the body, changes occur on a deeper level activating the healing process in the tissues of the body.
Okay... now that that's out of the way - today I was having the "bliss" therapy, where the lamps were placed near the temples on each side of my head. In my headphones, I was prescribed "Holy Harmony" which is basically a chant of God's name (Yahweh) over and over with the sound of tuning forks. Anyway, it's my favorite, and I decided that today this leg thing was going away. I shut my mind off from anything else and prayed. I meditated, opened my hands and prayed in a way I never had (and I don't mean I begged for God to heal me - I meditated - I wanted to spend time intimately with our Father) for the 20+ minutes of the therapy. When it was finished, my day had been changed. I went from feeling awful to feeling pretty good, and the pain in my legs had decreased by half.
That was a victory. It also proved to me that my leg pain was defeatable. The the whole "energy" thing made sense, and that God had heard my prayer.

My day was a lot better after that...
Bella had her appointment with Dr. Jernigan and we reviewed her CRT test. He explained that it was pretty early to do another one, but he wanted to check out her progress. And she is improving as quickly as we expected! The blood flow to her brain has significantly improved, as we had hoped. We also saw that her digestion still needed some work, so she will be using some digestive enzymes to help process what she eats. We also saw changes in the function of her heart, suggesting an answer to her new found energy, and the fact that she is practically bouncing off the walls! Good stuff, though, really good stuff.
During her appointment, Dr. Jernigan and I talked a lot about energy medicine, and how it fascinated me. I was asking him about books to read, etc., because I wanted to learn more. During these conversations, though, I started pondering my leg pain again. And then my retained baby tooth popped into my head.
Weird, right?
I have 4 congenitally missing teeth. Three were wisdom teeth (yay), but one is a premolar, so my baby tooth never had a permanent tooth push it out. It's still there, but over the years, it's been kind of dying.
So I asked him if there was any way that tooth could be interrupting the circuit to my legs.
Lo and behold, we looked on his chart, and yep - the hips and knees, as well as spleen and other things are on the same circuit as that exact tooth. It's funny... Dr. Jernigan actually told me that he had a new idea for Dr. Jowdy to try, and that it was concerning my teeth, which before I would have laughed at, because I've never even had a cavity. But it was all making sense now.
So I was excited to get to my appointment with Dr. Jowdy, which was next. And I told him about the tooth.
So we worked on the tooth to try and open the interrupted circuit back up. He actually shocked it a few times and used an essential oil and laser on my cheek next to it. And it worked. The circuit was open, but this time, he never even touched my legs to correct it! I also had more color therapy - but this time, no drama with the red... thank goodness! So then I got up and walked around and my legs felt good again. They actually felt like gumby - all wobbly and unsteady, but there was not really any pain, and there still isn't. I will be anxious to see if it holds this time :) You can believe I'll be praying that it does.

So nearing the end of our victorious day at the clinic, Keith texted me during my foot bath to tell me the results of Luca's (our 7 year-old son) Lyme test. He was positive. He was actually CDC positive, which is undeniable in terms of this controversial disease.
This hurts, and it makes me sad and disappointed. But I am not surprised. We have actually been suspecting this, and the test was the conformation.
But we have hope. And I am thankful that God lead us to the Hansa Center, because the thought of having another child be subject to those rounds antibiotics with no end in sight would have been too much to bear.
But now we have hope, and we know that he, too, will be healed, and he will be a testimony of God's grace.

God is sovereign. And to quote my current favorite song, Sovereign, by Chris Tomlin ~

Sovereign in the mountain air
Sovereign on the ocean floor
With me in the calm
With me in the storm

Sovereign in my greatest joy
Sovereign in my deepest cry
With me in the dark
With me at the dawn

In your everlasting arms
All the pieces of my life
From beginning to the end
I can trust you

In your never failing love
You work everything for good
God whatever comes my way
I will trust you

God whatever comes my way
I will trust you

All my hopes
All I need
Held in your hands

All my life
All of me
Held in your hands

All my fears
All my dreams
Held in your hands

God Whatever comes my way
I will trust you.