Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting. 
On August 9, 2018 I was diagnosed with Stage 4 "Terminal Cancer" that originated in my stomach, esophagus and small intestine and then spread to my ovaries and spine. Up until 6 months ago, I showed no symptoms and then rapidly lost 30 pounds over that time period and started experiencing extreme pain. But I thought I'm young how bad could it possibly be? Apparently...pretty bad. The type of cancer I have is metastatic gastric cancer. The doctors told me I was already Stage 4 for probably over a year and didn't know it. My father had colon cancer in his 20's when my parents met. They met at a macrobiotic center and through nutrition, my Dad's cancer was miraculously healed but that also means that I carry a potentially mutated gene. I have undergone 3 rounds of chemo and then was switched to immunotherapy after the chemo proved ineffective. I spent 24 days of my first month of my diagnosis in the hospital. I am so blessed and lucky to have a great oncology team that has my best interest at heart and has my back. I trust my doctors. Although I wasn't afraid of chemo, the immunotherapy is more gentle on my body and I feel lucky to have this treatment because it is so expensive and not everyone can have this option and I am so fortunate to have health insurance that covers me. Because of the cancer in my esphohogus I am unable to consume enough calories to support my survival therefore I must carry an infusion bag with me at all times. This makes it difficult and basically impossible for me to go to work. For basic job requirements...I am unable to lift 50 lbs. let alone having 2 hands free due to the infusion bag. Just like my Dad, I believe that I can also help heal my body through nutrition and naturopathic remedies, methods and therapies. A family friend took me to a naturopathic oncologist to give me the option of trying everything possible to support my healing. I have started on a regiment of several supplements that he recommended along with dietary guidelines. This branch of my healing plan is unfortunately not covered by insurance and the regiment can be costly. I am juicing, eating nutrient dense foods via smoothies, soups and juices. I already feel a big improvement in the way I feel from this diet change. I can't wait to get well. Thanks for taking the time to read my story. ~Alyssa