About Me

Hello my name is David.  I’m 53 years old and a father of two young adults. Gianna is the oldest, 19 years old and Aaron, 18 years old. I’m also married to their mother, Lucia (Lulu) for 23 years. Thanks for taking the time to read my blog. Here is my story:

Washed out from the sun coming in the window.
Me on Christmas morn; I was already sick by then.
I ate Lulu's special Christmas foods
and paid dearly that night at work.
I was still working then.

In October of 2015 I began having back pain.  I thought it was my mattress.  By Thanksgiving I was having horrible trouble feeling like everything I ate just stayed in my stomach and fermented there.  It would take days for anything to go through my system and even then I didn’t feel like my body processed everything.  I began to eat very little.  I was itchy and jaundiced.  By the middle of December 2015 I was unable to eat anything but soup and Jello.  I went to the doctor.  My nurse practitioner ran blood work and told me my liver enzymes were elevated.  She asked if I was a drinker.  I’m not.  She ordered a CT scan but insurance required an ultrasound first.  In the ultrasound the technician noticed several stones in my gal bladder.  We were hopeful then that this would be treatable by removing my gallbladder.  But they were unable to see much else because of gas obstructing a clear view.  Next I got so itchy that I was unable to sleep at night.  My nurse practitioner prescribed anti-depressants to help me sleep at night through the itching.  They didn’t work that well.  

The next test they ordered was an MRI but I was unable to get an appointment at an imaging facility until a week later and at that point I probably would have died if I waited that long.  I was too jaundiced and weak so I was admitted into the hospital on January 7^th where they performed the MRI that evening.  They saw a mass in the head of my pancreas, 2.5 centimeters, constricting the bile duct.  They suspected it was advancing upon the mesenteric artery, which is the artery that provides blood to digestive organs and the lower intestine.  In the morning on January 8 they did a scope where they put in a stent to open the bile duct and performed a biopsy of the mass.  The biopsy only showed results of atypical cells but the gastroenterologist and my oncologist were sure that all things pointed to pancreatic cancer.

We went home to deal with the news.  I still had tremendous trouble with bilirubin levels being high and the itching that went along with it.  Not only was my skin yellow, but the whites of my eyes were as well.  Due to itching I wasn’t sleeping, I wasn’t eating, wasn’t eliminating; a toxic mess. 
A few days later a friend who is receiving alternative care for breast cancer came over with groceries and a hand mixer.  Her doctor recommended I try an alternative therapy of flax seed oil and cottage cheese called the Budwig protocol; named after its founder, German doctor Johanna Budwig.  More can be read about its origins and benefits in fighting cancer here: http://cancercompassalternateroute.com/therapies/bill-henderson-budwig-protocol/ . 

 At this time I also began to watch The Truth about Cancer video series.  My wife Lulu had seen several episodes and encouraged me to watch them.  Up until then I had been too sick to do so.  As I started to feel better I started viewing them as I was able and my eyes were opened.  Clips of this videos series can be watched here: https://thetruthaboutcancer.com/category/videos/.   

On Jan 21 I was scheduled for a PET scan and another scope.  The doctor felt the stent might need to be replaced since my jaundice was still so bad, but it was still in place when he looked.  He also biopsied the mass again and would call the following Monday morning, Jan 25, with results.  He called with results of the biopsy; still atypical cells and no pathology for cancer.  They scheduled an endoscopic biopsy.  We met with my oncologist to get the results of the PET scan and blood tests that afternoon.  She informed us that the PET scan lit up at the head of the pancreas.  Where the tumor marker reading was normal at 34; mine was 231.  We were to meet with the surgeon and receive his recommendations on whether he thought he could operate right away or if they would need chemo to shrink the tumor away from the artery first.  We told her then that we were considering alternative treatments.  She encouraged us to do both since I am young and otherwise “healthy”, and the cancer was still contained in the pancreas and had not metastasized.

When my sister Joanne, nephew Mark,    and dear friends Sandy and Gary were visiting mid January. Aaron's graduation night.

The same night. Aaron opening graduation gifts

We met with the surgeon on Jan 27.   He did not feel he could operate with the proximity to the artery.  The course of treatment he recommended was 4 months of aggressive chemotherapy if the tumor shrinks enough; if not 4 more months.  Then he may be able to operate along with more chemotherapy and possibly radiation afterward.  Lulu and I left there resigned that we would not do that. We met again with my oncologist on Feb 1.  We told her we would not be going on with chemo, radiation or surgery.  In our research we learned that we should not biopsy the tumor either as it spreads the cancer T-cells.  We told her we would not have the endoscopic biopsy.  She of course encouraged us to use those methods which she believes are effective however she is willing to help us as she can; scheduling blood tests and another MRI in the near future. 

Saying goodbye to my nieces
at the Boise airport.
February 22, 2016

On deciding to go the route of natural and alternative treatment we began researching extensively. I learned what kinds of diet changes I had to make as a cancer patient.  I adopted a mostly vegan diet with the exception of the cottage cheese in my flax seed oil concoction.   After having my bile duct opened, using the Budwig mixture for several weeks and eating vegan, my system was functioning well again.  I stopped taking the anti-depressants for sleep.  My jaundice subsided and I became able to sleep again.  Further research led us to the practice of Dr. Nicholas Gonzalez and his partner Linda Isaacs.  We found them to be one of the most successful with pancreatic cancer.  The testimonies and success stories we read gave us hope. We were also considering other courses of treatment at first, but felt we were divinely led to the doctors who will give us the greatest success.  I went through the process of applying as a new patient and called them the day after they received my packet to consult with them.  I have appointments to see Dr. Isaacs on Wed. and Thurs. March 9 and 10 and will be going to New York City for the appointments.  I am very excited to embark on my journey of healing.  Although I am feeling so much better since the dark days in early January, I am ever aware that I have an aggressive life threatening illness.  I am at an impasse and know the sooner I start treatment the better my success will be.

My beautiful wife Lulu (right) and my amazing kids Aaron and Gianna

     I love my wife and kids and need to be around for them.  I want to grow old with Lulu and walk Gianna down the aisle some day.  I want to be able to see my grandchildren grow and for them to know me.  I want to be able to continue and advance in my job.  I work as a correctional officer for the state of Idaho. I‘m good at what I do and love the difference I make in the lives of those I’ve been given temporary charge over.  I believe in the golden rule of treating others, as I myself would want to be treated.  When I got sick it was the beginning of a vacation time that I had right after Christmas.  I had not been back to work since then but will return Feb. 29.  There is much on the horizon for me.  I know with God’s guidance and sustaining power I will get through the tests ahead.  I am determined to thrive and will take every step necessary to do that.