BELLAVITA LIFESTYLE CENTER

THE GIFT by Sue Barrows

Where does my story of recovery begin? It begins with a phone call late in 2006 from Dr. Cox who tells me that the findings from the biopsy "are not good". I learn that I have a very aggressive melanoma skin cancer on the side of my knee, a "Clark's Level IV" and I am referred to a local surgeon to have the tumor removed, post haste. I am not surprised about the results of the biopsy.

Years of stress, 40 years of smoking, over-exposure to the sun, didn't like to drink water, overweight, coffee all day...my lifestyle finally caught up with me. I could not put it off any longer. I must change my ways. I see the surgeon. He tells me what will be. Within a month at the latest, he will remove the tumor in my leg and also remove as many lymph nodes as seems necessary. He refers me to an oncologist for probable radiation or chemotherapy and he schedules me for a P.E.T. scan to see if there is cancer elsewhere in my body. I ask him if I have any alternatives to this plan. He says no - not if I want to live.

A good friend, Sharon, tells me about BellaVita. She tells me how important it is to cleanse the body of toxins. That is how I met Danny Vierra, the founder of Modern Manna and director of BellaVita Lifestyle Center.

      I would soon discover my skin cancer was a gift from God. I called Danny to find out more about the 10-day detoxification and lifestyle education program. He was kind, compassionate and very knowledgeable. It made sense to me that my body was malnourished and diseased and that I needed to strengthen my immune system to fight the cancer and prepare for possible surgery. By the end of the conversation, I was crying and praying with Danny. I felt hope. I had not prayed in years...I felt guided.
       For the next ten days, folks did a lot of praying for me and Danny prayed the hardest. I was smack dab in the middle of the Bible-belt of detoxification resorts.  Seriously, I cannot imagine being in the presence of finer people. I found them to be honest and loving, and each fighting their own battle from depression to cancer. A few folks were there to just better their lifestyles and commit to Christian health principles. All of them seemed to have a strong belief in God, the teachings in the Bible and by the end of our session, an incredible faith in their own healing. I, for one, had no doubt that I would beat the odds because by this time I left BellaVita, I knew God was on my side. But I had work to do.
       In those ten days, we all experienced how wonderful it is to consume organic fruits and vegetables, exercise regularly, sleep and rise early, cherish the sun in a new way, love myself in a new way. I learned about the Gerson cancer therapy program while I was there as well. I decided, with Danny's guidance, to begin this therapy at home, along with continuing the supplements and health principles. I began at BellaVita.
       I went back to work but instead of working nights, I changed my schedule to accommodate my new lifestyle and intense therapy. I would heal my cells, strengthen my immune system and prepare myself for surgery to comfort my family that I did everything possible.  Four months later at U.C.S.F., I had the tumor removed. Five lymph nodes were also removed, just to be on the safe side, but I knew that, and Danny knew long before me, that the pathology report would be negative. And of course, it was! My journey of recovery is not just about the healing of my body. I began a spiritual healing as well when a terrible, frightening sign showed up - the cancer. The small scar on the

left side of my knee Sue's Cancer

reminds me that it was my gift and I believe

it came from God. God was still there. The rest was up to me.

We do not diagnose or prescribe any treatment, medication or cure.

Please consult your physician or the Great Physician in Heaven. Only God heals! Gretchen and Sue followed God's Bible-based health program.

We are an education facility only.