It’s been 3 years since I lost my Dad to cancer…a recurrence of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. It is true that time heals all wounds. The pain of his passing is not nearly as intense as it was in the first year, however there are moments when the reality of him not being here is heavy on my heart; like on his birthday, the anniversary of his death, during family vacations where he should be there too, or when something important happens with me or my girls.
I wanted to take some time to reflect on what I’ve learned these last 3 years when it comes to processing grief and fueling purpose in your life. Although I had lost both sets of grandparents and an uncle prior to my Dad’s death, he was the first in my most inner family circle. And of course the loss was huge and painful.
My Dad had initially been diagnosed with cancer in 2013, made it through 6-months of chemo with flying colors (using diet, supplements, & lifestyle of course!), lived cancer-free for 5 years, and then in 2018 was diagnosed with a recurrence. We spent the next year and a half exploring various traditional, integrative, and alternative treatments up until my father’s passing in May 2019.
If you’d like to read more about my Dad’s journey you can do so here. These were blog posts I wrote as we were moving through his recurrence.
Part 1: Cancer Isn’t From Bad Luck
Part 2: Adjusting Expectations
During the first year after my Dad’s passing I went through all the ups and downs of “managing” my grief…including the intense guilt I had for not physically being there for him and my mom and sister during the months leading up to his death.
There have been lots of tears AND lots of happy memories when I scroll through old photos or think back on moments or experiences with my Dad. I find that as time goes on there are less tears and intense aching and more gratitude for all the lessons, support, and love my Dad shared with me. I feel so blessed that I had a close relationship with him and that he was alive long enough to share many important moments with me…like my wedding, the birth of my daughters, and the start of my business.
And although his physical body is no longer with us I often feel his presence. He comes to me in dreams or in moments of inspiration. I can hear his voice guiding me when I need it the most and I can see his smile reassuring me that all is unfolding exactly as it’s meant to. (he had a great smile 🥰)
One of the books that really helped me tap into this new relationship with my Dad was “Signs: The Secret Language of the Universe” by Laura Lynne Jackson. I highly recommend it to anyone working through grief and loss. It completely changed my perspective on death and how we understand the universe. It also helped me reimagine an ongoing relationship with my Dad beyond the physical plane.
Over this last year I’ve been working toward the recent re-brand of my business, from The Rustic Dietitian to Ground & Root Cancer Nutrition. My Dad’s story has played a very big role in this evolution. It is 100% because of his cancer journey and everything I learned along the way that propelled me to dedicate myself to this work.
Ever since my Dad was diagnosed with his recurrence I’ve focused solely on the world of holistic anticancer nutrition. Diving into all the research and data available around how we can use food, lifestyle, fasting, & supplements to enhance healing & prevent cancer from forming in the first place.
As I learned more about what likely caused my Dad’s recurrence (major immune burden from chronic infections, parasites, and toxicity) and how we can uncover and rebalance these dysfunctions with functional medicine I’ve made it my mission to make sure cancer patients have all the information & support they need to optimize their recovery AND reduce their risks for recurrence.
This is the information I wish I had known 9 years ago when my Dad was first diagnosed with cancer. Perhaps we could have changed his outcome. However I also recognize that without the struggle of his journey I may not be here today doing this work. It’s the Yin and the Yang. It’s trusting the journey.
What I do know for certain is that there is A LOT you can do to support your recovery and prevent cancer. Much more than we are led to believe. It is my purpose to spread this information and help as many people as possible have a more positive cancer experience. (I’m aiming for at least a million 🙌)
If you’re ready to approach your healing in a more proactive and holistic way while diving deeper into root causes then I invite you to take the 1st step and watch our free Masterclass: Take Control of Your Healing. In this free class you’ll learn how much power you actually have in this journey; including 3 ways you can take immediate action with your nutrition to optimize treatment, support healing, and reduce recurrence risk. You’ll also hear more of my Dad’s story and how I formulated my unique “Ground & Root 3-R Approach”.
We leave no stone unturned no matter how advanced your cancer or where you are in this journey. Above all else, we’re here to unapologetically believe in you and all of the opportunities ahead of you!
Let’s get started! Access your free Masterclass HERE.
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