What is Eat For A Cure?

 

In 2007, my sister Laura was diagnosed with breast cancer and as with all families, it come as a nasty, deadly shock to us all. It felt like a bomb was about to explode on our little family and we were all very frightened, extremely worried and obvioulsy upset. The person who dealt with it all the best of all of us was Laura herself. She remained strong and positive and went through it all like it was just everyday routine, including the intital operation to remove the tumour, the chemotherapy which nearly killed her and then 30 nightly visits for radiation. She never complained or moaned about anything and was a superstar through the whole thing. I was so very proud of her. She continued to run the family home with her two beautiful sons Zak aged 4 and Elliot aged 6 at the time,with her husband Rory by her side. She also maintained her home business 'Twinkle Toes' baby hand and feet sculptures through the whole ordeal. Amazing......

After the devastating shock of losing all her hair, which seemed like all in one night actually, she researched on the internet what was available. She didn't want to wear a wig as she hated it and it was so hot. She remarkably found some 'cap hair' which was basically a false, long ponytail attached inside a cap! She found it on an American website and had it sent to her. They even colour matched some of Laura's hair that she sent them, amazing.... After she lost her hair, which Laura still maintains was the worst bit of all, she was rarely seen without her 'cap hair' and looked great! She also bought 'scarf hair' from the same American company, so she was either in her cap or her headscarf with a full mane of hair flowing at the back! She was so great at making us all feel that things were normal and going to remain that way. We forgot our fear in those initial months thanks to Laura. But sadly the fear reared its ugly head again in November 2010 when after x-rays and cat scans it was revealed that Laura's cancer had metastasized and had returned as secondary tumours in her bones. We were much more frightened this time around as the specialist this time told us it was terminal and there was no cure for her. He basically told us to take Laura home and make her life enjoyable and comfortable for its remainder which could have been as short as 18 months. When I challenged him and asked him what we could do as far as diet, natural remedies and other things, he basically told me that I had not accepted my sister's terminal illness and that I should not ruin her last few months with us by putting her onto a special diet and making her travel over the world in search of a cure that wasn't out there? He said that I was wasting my time and more importantly wasting Laura’s. He said I was to let her eat doughnuts, drink coffee, climb Kilimanjaro or go skiing if that’s what she wanted to do! I told him that this family are fighters and we don’t take too kindly to being told that’s it and there’s nothing we can do to help.

Laura’s husband Rory and I decided the next day to pick ourselves up, not wallow in sadness and start looking for something that might help Laura. We neither of us was going to sit and watch her die in front of us, even if she was happy eating doughnuts, drinking gallons of coffee at the same time skiing down the bloody mountain! We started off the journey by going to see the wonderful Teresa on the Gold Coast who offered detoxifying sessions. We went several times and during one of these sessions with Laura, she told us of her brother in law who was diagnosed with a large tumour in his brain and was also told it was terminal and nothing could be done. He researched and finally ended up going to Mexico in search of a cure with the Hoxsey Treatment. He visited the Bio Medical Centre in Tijuana Mexico, with Dr Hoxsey about 20 years ago and is still alive to tell the story today. Incredible but true.

Of course we were overwhelmed to hear that there was possibly something out there for us. We embarked on searching for the clinic and made arrangements to go in September 2011. This is where the ‘Eat for a Cure’ charity idea was born. Even though the treatment only costs around $5000 USD and the flights around $1500, it still was going to cost money. I decided that I could raise the money needed for our first visit by hosting an ‘Eat for a Cure’ dinner in March of last year. We sold out so quickly for that dinner, I was encouraged to do it again and ended up doing two more lunches, an afternoon tea, two more dinners and Laura’s friend Melinda, arranged a quiz night for our campaign too. All in all we raised enough money for the trip and also for our next trip which we will go in April 2011.

Our first trip to Mexico last year was inspirational. If the only thing to come out of it was relief, positivity and freedom to believe we could do this, then it was an extremely worthwhile trip. Laura, Rory and their two boys and myself flew to LA, drove to San Diego then across into Mexico. We arrived around 8.00am one morning to be met by wonderful, calm and welcoming staff and also the lady that owns the clinic herself. She flew in from Texas as she heard that people were coming all the way from Australia for her treatment and thought well if they can come this far then I certainly can fly down from Texas to meet them when they arrive! She is in her 80’s has had a bypass and two toes amputated through diabetes and still manages to be at the clinic two weeks out of every month to continue her work fighting cancer. The clinic itself is built high up in the hills of Tijuana and was once owned by a drug lord, who is rumoured to have donated this house after the Hoxsey treatment helped his own mother who had terminal breast cancer. Laura was soon whisked away and appeared half an hour or so later dressed in a gown and wanting breakfast! The blood tests had been done and she was now allowed to eat after fasting, she was starving! We visited the Cantina at the clinic and was served a fabulous breakfast by two delightful Mexican ladies, neither of which spoke a word of English! After two days of tests and results we were able to then all see Dr Gonzalez for the outcome.

He confirmed all that we knew of course, but instead of telling us to take Laura home and watch her die, he started to explain the treatment he was going to prescribe in a very relaxed and stress free way and the diet Laura must embark on. The diet is the most important part of the treatment along with a good positive mental attitude to success in fighting cancer. We must go back to the clinic every 6 months in the initial phases of the treatment. I could explain more about the diet and the tonic he prescribed but it is very complicated. I am however happy to explain it if anyone out there would like to talk to me. Please email me at Alison_taafe@hotmail.com

The’ Eat for a Cure’ campaign is well and truly alive and kicking for 2012 and I will be hosting lots of dinners and lunches this year for the cause. I am happy to announce that Clubs Queensland have pledged their support along with my wonderful sponsors Ballandean Estate Wines, Fruit Service, Bidvest Food Service, Kitchenware Plus and Tassal Australia. I am also about to write my third book ‘Eat for your Life’ dedicated to Laura and her fight to find a cure and all proceeds will be going into the campaign. My aim is to take as many sick people with me to Mexico as I can raise the money to take.

Who does Eat For A Cure help?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In September this year Alison and her students raised enough money to take her little sister Laura, to the Bio Medical Centre in Mexico in search for a cure for Laura's secondary breast cancer. Alison is continuing to raise funds and will be returning to the clinic in April 2012. Laura is doing great and showing very positive signs. Alison's new book Eat for your Life will be released in late 2012.