What did we learn?

Always look on the bright side of life

Dear Friends

Today marks the 10^th month since Rob’s death. I have not felt that I was able to write this blog entry until now. However, in the time since Rob passed away in August, many more of my friends have either passed away or been diagnosed with cancer. So I feel it is important to summarize what Rob and I learned from his 7 year experience fighting the disease, in case others may benefit from this.

First, please do not think that because he died, his treatment was a failure. Remember that his cancer was aggressive when it was found, and that he was able to live through 3 subsequent stage 4 diagnosis. Not only that, but his quality of life was good. He was not in pain, and he had enough energy and motivation to build our house in NZ. He confounded the doctors by reducing tumor growth several times, and after Rob died, his oncologist made a point of communicating to me how much he admired Rob for what he did.

Here is what we felt was the most effective strategy in Rob’s fight against cancer. I have written a lot about what he did and why through this blog. If you would like more information please feel free to contact me.

1.       ITS IN THE HEAD 

Many of the alternative practitioners we consulted urged meditation. How we respond to stress is up to us, and this is the hardest lesson to learn. Although he had been practicing meditation and reiki in various forms for years, it was mostly on ‘fighting’ the cancer.  In the last few months he gained an attitude of acceptance of self, and healing his own anger. Rob was at peace when he died, and final weeks were a joy to all those around him.

2.       NUTRIENTS AND POISONS

Gut health, detoxification, and supplementation are really important to maintain a healthy immune system. Rob had a food sensitivity test to determine those substances that his body would reject (ie cause inflammation). He maintained a LOW GI, HIGH ALKALINE diet. He focused on fresh vegetables, probiotics, protein (not necessarily meat) and superfoods (such as vitamin C and spirulina) needed to keep the immune system healthy. Removing toxins (through colonic irrigation, liver cleanse) and eliminating their sources (ie processed foods and additives, and foods grown with chemicals or hormones) was also critical.

3.       EXCERSISE

There is now a lot of research around exercise as a treatment/preventative for cancer, particularly for hormone based cancers. This was a big part of Rob’s daily regime, and his determination to regain his health with hikes up the mountain behind our house.

Rob's final week was a celebration of his life. His characteristic sense of humor was in full bloom, and he could be heard singing "Always look on the bright side of life" at any time of the day or night. He continued his daily walks, and loved to go out to ocean beach to watch the waves, which he did the day before he died. We also visited Blue Moon just a few days before. He passed peacefully at 4 pm 6 August 2017. Coincidentally, the ships clock was stopped at 4.00 when I next went aboard.

I am very grateful for the support of Rob's family during those last weeks, the professional and caring assistance from Hospice, the messages of support from so many friends around the world, making Rob feel so loved in his final weeks, and also the wonderful community of friends who surround me here that did so much for both of us during that time, and continue to light up my life.