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Huber Family

Saturday, April 27, 2013

Blessings in a "Switch"

I know it's hard to believe but often in my early years I needed the "switch" on the backside to set some things in order.  I am so grateful that my parents didn't follow the human reasoning of the day and spare the rod.  I was commenting online a few months ago about how Joni and I used spankings in the upbringing of our children. There were some comments that followed expressing the horrors that a parent could do such a thing to a child. I was able to share that my anchor is not the "professional" wisdom of the day and certainly not my emotions (Who likes to spank their child?) But my anchor is the Word of God and it instructs me to administer the rod as a form of discipline. That's good enough for me even though it may not make sense to most people. I always knew my parents were smarter than the Dr. Spock's of the world.

Well, our switch was of a different nature but it also was certainly for our good. On Monday morning, April 22nd, we switched our healthcare over to Envita Natural Medical Center in Scottsdale, AZ. Location wise it was uneventful since it is just 5 miles in a different direction than our former clinic and our home away from home sits right in the middle.  We are very encouraged by the atmosphere, the professionalism and knowledge of the staff and the aggressive nature that is employed in fighting diseases of the body.  We have met new friends, heard others share their stories of the destructive nature of Lyme Disease, and been further educated on what we can do to be active participants in our own fight against these terrible bacterias and viruses.

Joni has completed her first week of treatments which many are similar to what she was receiving before as well as a more aggressive attack with antibiotics and detoxification.  The next week involves an even more aggressive move that involves using Insulin Potentiated Antibiotics with Chelidonine.  This is rather complicated to explain but in a nutshell insulin is used to drop the glucose level in the blood which causes cells to open up more to receive their food (glucose) and at that time the antibiotics are administered to go in with the glucose. I know that is a very elementary description but you can research it further if you are on the technical side. Actually it bothers me to be simplistic because I do enjoy the complicated ins and outs of the treatment.  This drug delivery procedure is more useful for lyme patients whose bacterias and viruses have crossed the blood brain barrier and are attacking the central nervous system which is the case with Joni. This is a very controversial treatment in the USA but not in most other parts of the world.  One of its uses in the U.S. is to replace the normal chemotherapy treatment in cancer patients because it can use 10-15 % of the dose of chemotherapy thus greatly reducing the side effects of the drugs.  I wonder why the pharmaceutical companies don't want this to get popular? ( hint-hint)  Many of these alternative treatments that are used in conjunction with the more popular conventional treatments will be on the rise in the coming years in particular with diseases like lyme because traditional medicine has a pretty bad track record when it comes to the chronic cases. There is little hope for those with chronic cases of certain diseases unless you go outside the conventional treatments.  Someday people will not have to travel outside of our great country to get the help they need.

Joni has responded wonderfully so far to her treatments.  We understand that at any time she could get very sick as the "bugs" are killed off and she detoxes but so far her reactions have not been on the severe side. Praise God!  I am convinced that she needs to attack her case aggressively when I hear of other patients tell their stories of not even able to remember their kids names. Joni has days that she seems to be perfectly fine but other days when she is not able to fill out the simplest medical forms without great difficulty. The slightest stress completely incapacitates her.  This is a total reversal from the confident, adventurous go-getter she once was.  I used to get upset with her because we would get in the car to go somewhere and she didn't have a concern at all that we would get to our destination without a street address or map. (which is a must for me)  She would just remember the terrain having been there before and wouldn't you know it, we were there. If we didn't make it there and drove around and around it created no negative feelings in her probably because I had enough for both of us.  I share this not to say her way of doing things was best, how could it be when mine was, but just to share with you how much things have changed for her.  She no longer is confident in getting in the car to go down the street.  I dropped her off for a 5 minute look in Whole Foods the other day and went to find her after 20 minutes.  She had been in the return line with her purchase watching others return their items but it never registered.  Many of you probably know of a friend or relative who suffers with mind altering medical conditions.  This can be very frightening and depressing.  I am trying to help keep Joni from a continual noticeable progression of losing her ability to think.  I know this is difficult for many of you to comprehend because at times Joni can carry on conversations well with you but for somebody who lives with her I know the toll this disease is taking on her body and mind.  With God directing the doctors I am confident Joni can recover.

I encourage everyone to research more about their health conditions. We must be super aggressive in learning and understanding God's design built into our amazing bodies.  With all the food, air and water pollutants we are surrounded with the next generation has little hope for a great quality of life unless they build up their immune systems to fight these vicious enemies.  I know there are naysayers out there who think it's no big deal because modern medicine has an answer for everything but you are absolutely wrong.  The success rates for "cures" are completely distorted.  For instance, we are told that one is cured of cancer if it is in remission for 5 years even if the cancer kills them later.  That is not cure to me.  Besides that, what is the quality of life like for one who lives on prescriptions for every ailment.  All I'm saying is that we need to be proactive in staying healthy and not count on the professionals to mask our symptoms when sickness comes.  Joni's disease is not from an insect bite.  It's not the bugs fault.  It is the result of a compromised immune system that couldn't fight the disease.  This reminds me of the person who claims that the devil made him do it.  No, it's not the devil's fault.  If we took the instructions from the Lord to be strong in His might and resist the devil, the devil would flee from us.  In the physical world as well as the spiritual world we are to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.  As the Scriptures tell us in I Cor 10:31 "Whether therefore ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God."  Our health is a serious matter that needs much more attention than what we are giving it.

I had hoped to be home a long time ago to be with the kids and do the work I was hired for, but as yet that has not been possible. The change in clinics made it necessary for me to be here and the start of the IPAC treatments on Monday make it necessary for me to be here at least at the beginning.  It's difficult to think about leaving Joni.  I need to be a protector and provider on two fronts.  I guess this is what it feels like for so many in our military who deploy.  Pray for them and especially for them who leave sick ones and troubling situations.

As for finances,  it looks like we have money for one more week of treatments and we will have to come home.  This will be a very incomplete treatment protocol to us and the doctors but we are not wavering in the trust we have with a Sovereign God.  If he orchestrates different plans, we are onboard.  He is our Shepherd and as Ps 23 says, "I shall not want (lack).  Lead on my Shepherd, lead on.  A heart of gratitude pours out for those who have been praying, thinking of us, sending cards and money to meet our needs.  I know that each gift has been a sacrifice.  As Paul wrote to the Romans so write I to you, "Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost."  Forever grateful for our family and friends...

2 Comments:

  • At 6:16 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Rick, thanks so much for taking the time to write these updates. I'm sure it's not an easy thing for you to do for various reasons including the time it takes and the level of transparency you bring to this table. I want you to know your words are both thought provoking and helpful. We will continue to keep you, Joni, and your wonderful family in our prayers. God bless you Rick.

    Love you my friend and brother!

    - Ken E.

     
  • At 5:39 PM, Blogger Rora Valley said…

    Praying for your family.
    We were wondering how and where we could give money to help with medical bills?
    God bless you!

    The Sanders Family

     

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