The next step was to begin the difficult process of telling family and friends. The second week after diagnosis was consumed with more tests, blood work, and hour after hour sitting in waiting rooms, which gave us plenty of time to talk about how and when to share the news.
In many ways, the task of telling our families was made easier because The Gerson Institute in San Diego responded to our requests for information within 24 hours. Within another 3 days, we had an appointment scheduled with a Gerson-trained oncologist practicing in São Paulo. We had a strong team behind us and a powerful plan of action.
You wouldn’t think that this part of the process would be as difficult as it was, but it was almost harder than handling the information ourselves. We struggled with these thoughts:
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Were we ready to share?
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Would telling people make it more real?
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Were we feeling strong enough to go the process of sharing?
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Would they support our decision?
Ultimately, we decided that the best we could do was to explain how excited and positive we were feeling, and everything else that needed to happen would take care of itself.
What happened humbled and surprised us.
Helena’s brother Marcelo was devastated, as everyone has been. He was fearful about our decision not to use traditional medicine, but once we explained the facts—that Helena’s chances of survival are much greater using this protocol—he became one of our biggest supporters. Within days, he assembled Helena’s extended family to tell them the news so that we wouldn’t have to tell the news over and over.
Helena’s father was naturally worried that she was in pain, that she was suffering, unable to walk. Over the phone, I reassured him that other than having this small discomfort, she is gorgeous and healthy, mind and body! He would see for himself when we traveled there in 2 weeks.
My parents were amazing. They reminded Helena that she is their daughter, too. My father was the one who surprised me the most. He’s a self-described “Man of Science,” and after I laid out the facts about how we’d come to our decision, he expressed enthusiasm, excitement, and full support of the science and theory behind the approach.
But what really got me was when my Dad said:
The most important thing is that Helena believes in this. If this is going to work, she has to have faith in the approach.
As you know, it took us much longer to make the decision to go public with our story, but we’re so glad that we did. The support we’ve received from friends and strangers has been incredible. We read your comments aloud to one another each day and laugh and cry with gratitude.
People have offered to send us everything from ionic foot baths to organic coffee (for the enemas!). Neighbors have stopped by to help with scrubbing carrots and prepping greens for juicing so that we can rest and spend time together in between tasks.
The Carrot Fund
Our gardener, Alex, scrubbing and chopping carrots for juicing.
What’s more, our friends, and even strangers we’ve never met in person, have insisted on helping us to keep Viva Institute going so that we can focus on Helena’s care. To date, your donations have paid for our staff’s salaries and half our produce for the month. Your kindness and generosity has been overwhelming.
From the bottom of our hearts and the tops of our carrots, THANK YOU. We feel you here with us, we love you, and we know that one day, all of this love will come back to you. It always does.
