Working on a Cure for CLL has kept me busy!

Working on a cure for CLL (Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia) has kept me busy the last couple months. If you did not know that I have leukemia, now you do. I want to get that out of the way. There is not time for tears here, not now. (Prayers, I like those.) You can read more about my journey here in this blog Cancer Free and Yoga from 2012.

This does not mean I am dying. Well, not in the traditional sense of one gets an aggressive form of cancer that spreads quickly and possibly gives them a short time to live. No, I was diagnosed with leukemia 7 years ago. I went through chemotherapy for six months and came out the otherside.

My dad would say that is why I should just do chemo again. It worked. It shrunk my lymph nodes, and I was able to resume my “normal” lifestyle, until now. The disease is chronic. So that means, it comes back. When my lymph nodes grow big enough, unmoving in certain regions of the body, pushing into things and causing ruckus, I become again a candidate for chemo. But not this time, or at least not now.

While my lymph nodes are big, I am not struggling. My throat, where they are the biggest, is not constricted, but does feel dense. They are also swollen in my groin and underarms. I have night sweats. At times, I feel anxious about this, but then I contemplate on the time that I have to do something special with what I have been given.

I can find a cure. Why not?

I am not a doctor. I am a teacher. But I have a team of people who have specialties. I have been working on this team since August, asking people if they would like to join me in this work.

It starts with my husband and son. We have talked about what this means for them, what they feel comfortable doing. I have asked them both specifically if they would like to be apart of my team. Their roles continue to morph. We talk about or they attend my doctor’s appointments. They report what they see in conjunction with what I say. Staci, my husband, has recommended many people on the team, people he saw first and knew personally from his own health journey. Last week he took me to a workshop on the Keto diet. Before and after each doctor’s appointment, Boston asks me questions. Most importantly, both hubby and son know that at any time they can push their stop-and-go-get-chemo request button. It is important to me for them to know they are heard and loved.  

I also have a wonderful oncologist who talks with me about my blood work, new protocols, and is open to what I am doing. His take on my efforts is that it won’t hurt me to be healthy, and if I need chemo, he knows what to do.

I have a naturopathic doctor, soon to be two of them, who will help me think about diet and supplements and administer Vitamin C  IV treatments. The second one, whom I will be adding next month hopefully (this costs money) will help me identify the substance/ reason for the leukemia by studying me and researching where I grew up and what toxins contributed to this occurrence.

An acupuncturist is on my team; she talks to me about everything and works her magic with proper placement of needles. She also contributes her Eastern herb studies, so she prescribes herbs to help my Qi (Chi) move.

My psychologist, who I have seen for three years now, will continue to support me with a place to shed the weight of anxiety and grief that I have carried, and to work through experiences, thoughts, emotions, and put them in their proper place.

My friend, sister, and yoga teacher who is currently studying Yoga Therapy will give me Kundalini kriyas and use me as the subject of her study for her practicums.

And, I have a Doterra specialist who gives me zyto scans every other week, so I can chart imbalances and properly use Doterra oils and supplements for balance within the bodies systems, among other things. She even reaches out to her guides as well on my behalf.

God, what I call Supreme, Numero Uno, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, I believe they heal, and I could not do anything without these relationships. As well as other teachers that I listen to and enjoy, that uplift and remind, for them I am thankful.

And, I am on my team. I take ample time to think about, meditate on, and pray for and about my body, mind and spirit needs. I buy products consciously (as we all should). I utilize products and meditations and kriyas that work for me. I test them. I observe. I listen to my body. I make meals that contribute to healing and I try, big try, to sleep more. I have a consistent yoga practice, mostly Kundalini but also Vinyasa, with emphasis on pranayam practices. I drink lots of water  with lemon (alkaline water as much as possible) fresh smoothies and juices made at home, and tea. I take my vitamins, minerals and supplements every day.

Not everyone agrees with what I am doing, but my team and I believe that if anyone could do this, I can. I have had minor setbacks (like a sugar addiction that hid under my daily alcohol consumption). I stopped drinking all alcohol and was able to see the truth, a total success!! There are people who support because they are excited to see someone do something different, and people who don’t because they are scared for me. I understand both sides.

Life is a journey. I am excited to share mine with you. If you have ideas that might help me or even help you in some way, I am open to them. But I will not take all of them. Just be clear, so there is no affront to you. I am excited. Let’s begin!

Over the next year, I will share the names of the people on my team and more specifics about their work. If they should want to share their thoughts here, they will. I will also share recipes, treatment effects, struggles and successes openly. I already do some of that on Instagram. Follow me there to see some of my previous thoughts and pictures.  

You can share too! Share your ideas with me on Instagram using the hashtag #cureforCLL and tag me: @courtneyrohan.

ALSO, Share this blog with someone who is looking for an alternative to traditional medicine, someone who needs encouragement, or some help that this might provide.

Sat Nam

Courtney.