November 11, 2002
Dear Betsy,
It has been nearly two months since I first came to see you and I still cannot believe how much of an improvement there has been in my health. After years of medical treatments with various medications and major abdominal surgery, I never felt the way I feel after only 2 months of treatment with you. I am amazed at how much my life has changed in such a short period of time, not only with my health but my attitude has improved and I have now learned how to love others and myself. I am confident now that I will beat this disease and I will regain control of my life again. Betsy, you are a blessing from God and I thank Him every day for his guidance, which allowed me to find you, and for giving me the courage and strength to fight and to try something new. You are an inspiration to one and all, your positive outlook on life and determination have rubbed off on me and lit a fire under me. I am more determined than ever now to overcome this problem and get well again. I will now tell you about my ordeal with Crohn's Disease.
The summer of '96 is when it all began. I developed an abscess on my bum that was very painful. Eventually it got so bad that I could hardly walk. My mom took me to the hospital to find out what the problem was. A surgeon was immediately called in to open up what had now become a huge pus-filled lump protruding from my butt. He drained and cleaned the infection right in the emergency department, as there was no time to take me into the O.R. Needless to say I was very upset and terrified by everything that had happened. After that everything seemed to be okay, the area that had been infected was healing slowly. About one year later another abscess appeared and this time it was accompanied by other symptoms - nausea, fever, chills and headaches. I went to the surgeon to find out what the heck was going on. This time he took more of an interest, he had me go through a series of tests and in the end he told me I might have something called Crohn's Disease. I had no idea what this was but the first thing that came to me was, 'I will take some medication and everything will be fine.'I was in shock, not wanting to accept the fact I had just been told I had an incurable disease. I was also scared and confused, unsure of what would happen to me; little did I know that my suffering was just beginning.
After several months I was sent to see a specialist in Toronto at Mt. Sinai Hospital, who specializes in bowel disorders. He put me through more grueling and uncomfortable tests to verify that it was indeed Crohn's. I was officially diagnosed with Crohn's Disease and put on different medications. By the time I came to see the doctor, I was experiencing severe abdominal pain and frequent, bowel movements with discomfort. Betsy, all I can say is 'Hell on earth'. This was a very difficult time, how I made it through only God knows. In time the medications helped to bring things under control and the pain lessened. One year later however, I suffered a flare up, the disease returned to an active state. Late August 1997, I was admitted to hospital because of severe abdominal pain and the fact that whenever I ate something, half an hour later it would come back out. I would remain in hospital until mid-October; this was a horrible time in my life. Everything I was going through and feeling was new, I did not know what was going on and what would happen to me. They had me on liquids - jell-o, tea and chicken broth for 1 month, in order to allow the bowel to settle down so they could see what was going on. I was also given liquid nutrient formula so that I was receiving some sort of food.
After some tests, they determined that I had a stricture and required surgery. A few weeks later I underwent major abdominal surgery and had a portion of my small intestine ???. I was sent home where I would begin the long process of recovering from major surgery. I took the year off school as I was in no condition to do much of anything. It took me about a year to fully recover from the surgery and the disease appeared to settle down from that point on. This period of relatively good health or should I say, time with very little pain or discomfort, lasted about 3 years. I have lost a lot weight since this whole ordeal started and 6 years later I am still trying to gain weight and get things under control.
In the summer of 2001, I started to experience some abdominal pain. I was experiencing quite a bit of discomfort during bowel movements. Progressively things got worse, so I went to see the doctor. This had been going on for about a year but the doctor would give me different medications that didn't really do much. I also had developed another abscess, which wasn't responding to treatment either. In December 2001, I was put on a new medication that had to be administered at the hospital through an IV. I did not want to try this medication because I had read that it had many potential side effects associated with it. Due to the discomfort I was enduring, I reluctantly gave in and decided to try it. This treatment went on for several months with mixed results. In the beginning I noticed improvement, but over time the effectiveness of the drug appeared to get less and less.
This past July I had some tests done to see if this new drug had helped at all. A week later when I went back to get the results, I was shaken by what I was told: I had two strictures, this time in the colon and I needed surgery again. I was also told I might need a permanent bag. Betsy, I had a feeling that something was wrong, but when I was told how bad things were, my world fell apart; I couldn't believe it. Surgery again, a bag, how had things gotten to this point? Soon after my shock turned to anger. I could not believe the doctor had not paid attention sooner to my condition and let things go on to be okay and I would beat this and avoid surgery. I can't really explain it but something was trying to tell me not to give up, that there was another way out of this I just had to find it! I believe that it was the Holy Spirit that was sending me a message. My parents were both devastated, they were crying uncontrollably. I told them to stop crying because there was no need for it because I would get well and I would beat this damn disease - enough was enough!
The first thing I did was to reintroduce God back into my life. I started going to church more often and even went to confession for the first time. I learned more about the Orthodox faith and continue to do so, immersing myself into the spiritual world. It would not be long before I received a sign from God. One day my mom came home from work and told me that her boss had given her the phone number of this lady who could help me. Her sister-in-law had told her about this person, who was a natural healer and worked with, as we would say in Greek - Ta Praxtika. I knew the Lord would come through for me and that my prayers would be answered. It is amazing how powerful prayer is and what can happen when one has faith and really believes with all their heart in something. A couple of weeks later I came in to see you and so began a new journey in my life.
In two short months I have noticed significant improvements in my condition. I have gone through all different types of treatments - deep tissue massage, cupping, coning and of course, the wonderful herbs. Who knew that things like pumpkin, cayenne pepper and seaweed have the ability to treat various ailments? In the 2 months since I started this treatment I feel significantly better: Virtually no abdominal pain, my energy level is up, bowel movements have improved (formed stool). And I managed to gain some weight. When I first came to see you, I felt weak, very tired, depleted and I did not have any energy. Now I am like a completely different person, full of life and ready to go. The journey and recovery is not yet complete but for now I will enjoy the progress I have made and thank God for all the blessings he has bestowed upon me. I have also improved my relationship with my father thanks to the emotional treatment you went through with me. I feel better about myself and others. Considering that all these different treatments were and still are new to me, I think that I have come a long way. There was a time when my attitude stunk and I thought that you would tell me to leave and not come back, but we managed overcome that and now I am fully committed to seeing this through to the end.
I am really still in shock over everything that has happened but I am very grateful. The Lord has given me the strength and courage to continue fighting and He has blessed me with great parents and blessed me when He brought you into my life to help me to get well. I feel better than I have in years and I woe that all to you Betsy. I pray that God will give you strength and keep you healthy so that you can continue to help others with the special gift you have been given. 'Never Give Up', these 3 little words will forever be a part of me and guide me through life. Thank you for not letting me give up and to work through the problems that contributed to me becoming afflicted with this horrible illness.
Yours truly,
Nick K.
September 2003
Dear Betsy,
I wanted to thank you for all your help and guidance. I had been suffering from excruciating pain and burning for 10 years on my abdominal and female areas. It was impossible to cope with. I'd gone to every medical specialist still I did not find any relief. I had my initial Iridology examination with you and you put me on a Nature's Sunshine herbal and nutritional program. Within 2 months I felt wonderful. It has now been 5 months and I still feel wonderful. The pain and burning are gone. I can hardly believe I am free from the suffering. Thank you so much. May God bless you to continue to bless others as you have blessed me.
Rose A.
September 2003
Dear Betsy,
I am so grateful to have crossed paths with you. I had suffered from asthma my entire life. Within 2 weeks of taking the Nature's Sunshine herbs you recommended my symptoms greatly diminished and today after 4 1/2 months I rarely experience any asthmatic symptoms. I also suffered from boils and acne all over my body. After 3 months of taking your recommended customized plan the boils and acne have disappeared because the source of the internal toxins were, and are continually releasing.
You have also taught me a great deal through your Wisdom Development. I have learned the blessings of what it means to live life in balance. Through the process of learning simple universal truths, I now carry with me the tools to enable myself to always come back to balance no matter what challenges life has to offer me.
Betsy you are truly gifted at cleaning the physical body from the inside out and cleansing the mind, letting go of old behaviours that no longer serve and replacing them with positive, loving and peaceful ways to be of better service to this world.
Eternal peace and love,
Ross M.
