My Story

Brushes With Death (Excerpt from my as yet unfinished book)

1993 marked the beginning of what would turn out to be years of challenges with my health. It was after I had two ectopic pregnancies, which resulted in surgeries, that I began having difficulties with breathing, dizzy spells, rages, memory lapses, fatigue, pain and feeling just plain awful. I gained over sixty pounds in less than three month’s time. It took nearly two years to get a diagnosis.

Once I received a diagnosis, I was relieved. Now something could be done, and I could return to normal. Which isn’t exactly what happened. The doctors called it multiple chemical sensitivity and toxic porphyria, a chemically induced liver enzyme defect.

I was told to eliminate all exposures to mold and toxic chemicals, which included everything from gasoline to my shampoo to blue cheese. And then, I was placed on oxygen to mitigate the memory issues and rages. At the same time, I was diagnosed as gluten intolerant, which meant a complete diet change. The clincher was that I was given about five years to live.

What the doctor said was, “If you can manage to survive the next five years, there is a possibility that you can pull out of this.” He didn’t sound very hopeful as he said it. And as you can imagine, we were stunned.

Consequently, we returned home in disbelief and fear. At that moment, our hope was placed in experimental therapies, support groups, and our ability to remove all toxins from our home, in order to create a safe haven.

No longer able to function in the world, I took a disability retirement from my job with the State of Washington. I went home and slept 14 hours a day for the next two years.

A realization came to me at about this time, that I had somehow created this situation to get me out of a career that was draining and stressful. I hadn’t been happy working in government, but I didn’t believe that I could make any money doing something more spiritually fulfilling.

With that realization, also came the understanding that if I could create this situation, with God’s help, I could un-create it, and create something else. I just didn’t know how to go about it. As I passed that five year mark, for the first time in a very long time, there was hope.

Image of Hope

Today, you would never know that I had ever been so ill, or had been on daily oxygen. I function normally, and live a satisfying and fulfilling life. I volunteer at my church, have a massage business, and have written a gluten-free cookbook. The cookbook was written over a three year period in order to make my very strange and new diet more palatable.

After making changes to my diet, my lifestyle, and learning affirmative prayer, gradually, life became sweeter. I wish I could say that I made those changes, and magically, my life was perfect. But, in truth, I returned very, very slowly to the level of health that I enjoy today. In the process, I had to sell my home and move to the desert of Northern Arizona far from modern pollutants. I learned that faith is the most powerful medicine I could ever use. I also learned that no matter how it might appear at times, I am never alone.

Sometimes, I believe that I experienced my health crises, so that I could be a beacon of hope to others. In that vein, here are my suggestions when faced with a similar situation:

• focus on a positive outcome
• believe that you are guided, and you will be
• trust that the Universe has your best interests in mind
• follow your intuition
• don’t listen to the bad news (from whatever source – in my case, my doctors)
• use your creative imagination to design the life that you want
• take physical action (remember, God – if you will, helps those who help themselves)
• expect a miracle
• find a mentor
• ask for help
• believe in yourself

Remember, you have been created in the likeness and image of something far, far greater than yourself. You are loved, protected, guided, and capable of miracles.

Namaste

JoDee Vale

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