Sunday, November 27, 2005

 

Lorinda's Friend Visits Her In Mexico

If you would like to be notified as news on Lorinda is posted, please send an Email to lorindastewartupdate@yahoo.com.


Dear Family and Friends of Lorinda,

My name is Denise Kalinske, and Lorinda has been my closest and dearest friend for the past 26 years. I live in Yuma, Arizona, which just happens to be only three hours from Tijuana, Mexico. Therefore, I was fortunate enough to be able to drive over and spend two days with Lorinda this past week. I would like to share my experience with all of you who love Lorinda.

First of all, it is common knowledge for tourists visiting Tijuana to NEVER drive over the border….there are several parking lots on the U.S. side, and shuttle busses take tourists over the border every 20 minutes or so. Lorinda and I had it all planned out that she would take a taxi from her hospital to the border and walk over, and I would park my car and meet her at McDonalds on the American side. It all seemed very simple, but in my excitement to see Lorinda combined with my inexperience driving in that area, I completely missed the exit shortly after the very large, “LAST EXIT BEFORE ENTERING MEXICO” sign! I found myself on a crowded freeway in Mexico with seemingly no way to turn around, and I drove around a huge traffic circle that dropped me off in downtown Tijuana! Of course, all of the traffic signs are in Spanish, which was of no help to me. Luckily, a very nice taxi driver told me which way to go, and I eventually made it to the end of a very long line of cars trying to get back to San Diego. Luckily I still had cell phone coverage, which allowed me to call Lorinda. I reached her just before she crossed the border, so she exited the line of hundreds, in which she had been waiting, and attempted to look for me. If you can imagine twelve lanes of bumper-to-bumper traffic miles long…finding each other seemed next to impossible. But, with the use of landmarks, cell phones, and helpful Mexican vendors, we did it. Or, I should say, she did it! The vendors walk right across the freeway weaving in and out of the stopped traffic to try to sell you souvenirs, and walking right along with them just as calm as can be (and very out of place with her long blonde hair) was Lorinda! She looked beautiful (of course), strong, healthy, and pregnant! Anyway, she hopped in my car, and we proceeded to the border. I guess typically it can take 3-4 hours to reach the border, but thankfully we made it in less than an hour. Then, we did the standard procedure of parking and taking a shuttle into Mexico and then a taxi to her hospital. When we arrived at the hospital, Lorinda’s nurse, Maggie, was very relieved to see her back safely. Usually, she can leave the hospital for a couple of hours each day to get fresh air and exercise, but then she needs to resume her treatments as described in Rod’s letter.

Our little adventure is just one example of Lorinda’s remarkable bravery. Although her doctors and nurses are very competent, professional, and kind, the hospital conditions are very different than what we are accustomed to in the States. Being the positive person that she is, Lorinda has made the best of things, and has turned her room into a cozy little temporary home. She has also made several friends despite the language barrier. Like anyone that ever meets Lorinda, it is obvious that the staff has grown very fond and attached to her. For example, one of her nurses, Carmen, brought a friend and her husband to meet Lorinda, and then the couple returned on their own to visit her and brought a gift. Also, there is a friendly young man that cleans Lorinda’s room each day. In addition to only understanding Spanish, he is deaf. But, through sign language, dramatic gestures, and lots of laughing, they have found a way to communicate. Lorinda told me the funniest story about him. He had offered to take her laundry to a local laundromat for her, and when he returned with the clean laundry, he came to her room and pointed for her to look out the window. Lorinda looked out into the hospital parking lot only to discover her clean underwear, and all of her other laundry, hanging from makeshift clotheslines! She covered her face in embarrassment and he covered his eyes and peeked out with a big smile on his face. She has many stories to tell - many are comical, and all are inspiring.

Lorinda’s bravery and strong faith in Christ are sustaining her through her healing process. Dr. Bernardo, whom I met, is absolutely certain that Lorinda will beat this invasive disease, and deliver a healthy baby boy in just a few short months. By the way, Baby Thomas is growing rapidly, and I had the pleasure of seeing him kick several times. It is truly amazing to see the power of God’s gracious love working in Lorinda every minute of every day. He brings her a peace and comfort that is indescribable. In one of the many talks we had, Lorinda reminded me of something we heard recently at a women’s retreat and that has proven to be true for her: “It is only when Christ is all you have that you realize that He is enough.”

Lorinda will be leaving Mexico Monday, November 28th to continue her treatments in the comfort of her own home. She is counting the minutes until she can be back with Tom and her girls!(her dogs, Precious and Princess). Lorinda is overwhelmed with the outpouring of love, kindness, and generosity that all of you have shown her. She is doing better every day, but please continue with your prayers and support.

 

Additional Way To Contribute

In addition to the methods of contribution posted on the front page, you can now receive a tax receipt for your donation if you mail your check to Veritas College, a 501c tax exempt corporation that Lorinda worked closely with before she got sick. They will be managing this fund

Lorinda Stewart Medical Benefit Fund
C/O Veritas College
P.O. Box 49362
Colorado Springs, CO 80949

On the memo line write "For Lorinda---Medical" You will receive a tax receipt from Veritas.

We'd like to thank Ray and Jane Teutsch for setting this up. All contributions are sincerely appreciated.

Friday, November 18, 2005

 

Details Of Lorinda's Experience In Mexico

If you would like to be notified as news on Lorinda is posted, please send an Email to lorindastewartupdate@yahoo.com.

Lorinda called me, her brother, from Tijuana and shared some details of her experience so far. I'll type my notes below from our conversation to update you:

She said that when She and Tom arrived, it was a little scary because Mexico is so different from the U.S. and there was a bit of a language barrier. The hospital was very small and could have used a paint job. It is, however, clean and now that they are settled, she is very comfortable with everything. She said the nurses and the staff are so kind and a “huge blessing”, taking care of her every need. One of the first things they did, which was rather traumatic, was to install a “port” just below her collarbone to administer all the different I.V. treatments she is on. She spends 8 hours a day in her “treatment chair” on an I.V. and gets a little “stir crazy” sometimes, but she tries to stay focused on the Lord and it brings her peace.

The main treatment she went to Tijuana for is Enercel. The name was changed from "Hansi" to better reflect what it does, build "Energy" in the "Cells". Essentially, it strengthens the roots of the immune system so the body can destroy the cancer cells. Dr. Cesar Bertacchini is the world's foremost expert in the application of Enercel and he is treating Lorinda for the next several weeks. They are in Tijuana instead of El Salvador because of sensitive issues regarding her pregnancy. Some helpful and enlightening Enercel links are below:

http://www.enercel.com/layout.htm (World Health Advanced Technologies, Ltd. website)
http://www.heall.com/body/askthedoctor/disease/cancer/homeopathy.html
http://www.lightparty.com/Health/Hansi.html

We first heard of Enercel about 10 years ago from a friend who completely recovered from lung cancer by being treated with this method of alternative medicine. There are many impressive testimonies from people who have gone this route.

The other doctor who is treating her is Dr. Bernardo. He has a tremendous track record using alternative medicine for many years. He is treating Lorinda with Ozone (I.V.)(Apparently cancer cells hate oxygen and this sort of starves the cancer cells), shark cartilage, high doses of vitamin C, a Laetrile I.V. (Vitamin B-17 extracted from apricot seeds), Immu Plus and HCL Acid (rids the body of acidic toxins). She said he was really concentrating on raising her PH level (Alkalinity). Apparently, when she got there, it was in the low 5's and it needed to be at least 6.4. She eats lots of melons and papaya among other fresh, organic fruits and vegetables. She drinks about 8 cups of asparagus tea per day (it raises the PH very quickly and is a super immune system builder). The only 2 meats Dr. Bernardo will allow are lamb (because they feed on the roots of plants) and wild caught salmon. She says that now, after the first week, her alkaline level upon waking is 6.4. Dr. Bernardo says this is good but they should keep working on it to get it to 7.0.

I found a really good link that describes many of the treatments she is undergoing:
http://www.cancure.org/choiceoftherapy.htm

She says she loves both of her doctors and she says they "compliment each other very well". Dr. Bertacchini is very refined, professional and dressed immaculately. He is fluent in 4 languages: Italian, Spanish, French and Portuguese. Unfortunately his English is very limited. She says he has very calm, confident, assuring eyes and pats her on the shoulder and says, "you are going to be just fine". He is in his late 60's and has 4 children around Lorinda's age. She says he comes in every morning and does several tests to monitor the baby and take readings on her toxicity level... Apparently, as the Enercel is destroying the cancer it releases toxins into the body. He tempers the dosage level so it doesn't get too high, too fast. Next week, Dr. Bertacchini is planning to do another ultrasound to measure the progress of the treatment so far and to evaluate the possibility of doing a direct injection into the tumors. This is very precise work and should he decide to do this, your prayers are requested.

Dr. Bernardo, also an older gentleman, speaks very good English. She says he is extremely intelligent, confident and experienced with a rather gruff sense of humor. For example, he said, "The only way you are going to die is if I shoot you myself" and curing her of the cancer is a "piece of cake". She says he is a "crazy genius" in a good way. He has helped many people (including some celebrities) overcome cancer and other severe illnesses through natural and alternative medicine. He doesn't think much of the U.S. medical system. Both doctors are very confident that this enemy will be defeated and both have some very impressive track records to back it up.

As most of you know, the downside of this alternative treatment is that it is very expensive and it is not covered by insurance. The Hospital in Tijuana charges $5,000 per week for her treatment and the Enercel plus Dr. Bertacchini's time for the next 3 weeks is costing $10,000. We don't yet know what the exact cost will be when she returns because we don't yet know the Enercel dosage the doctor will prescribe. We have estimated it however, based upon what others who have gone through the same treatment have said. 1 bottle of Enercel is $160 if you buy them 10 at a time. She will probably need at least 1 bottle per day and this could go on for a couple of years. Including the other supplements etc. that she is also taking, the cost will probably exceed $5,000 per month for some time.

We should have a better idea next week about how much longer she will need to stay in Mexico. She says she still has many questions but no doubts about the treatment protocol. She feels “OK” but has had “a few rough days” with trouble sleeping at night because of pain (from the Acidity) and nausea (from the detoxification). She says, “Even the nurses speak calmly and confidently of all the people who come down here who without question go on to live a whole and healthy life.” She says, “hormones for Thomas are PERFECT and he is kicking quite a bit. I listen to his heartbeat everyday and it is a consistent and strong 145 - 150, very normal for 22 weeks. He is very precious and nice to have with me.”

Thank you all for your prayers, contributions and efforts in spreading word about Lorinda. She needs all the help she can get and I’m looking forward to posting updates as we get more information.

Her Brother

Wednesday, November 16, 2005

 

A Letter From Lorinda's Employer's Wife

The following letter was posted on 11/16/05

If you would like to be added to the Email list to be notified as news on Lorinda is posted, please send an Email to lorindastewartupdate@yahoo.com.


Dear family and friends of Lorinda and Tom,

I know that you are anxious to hear news about Lorinda just as were Ray (Lorinda’s employer) and I (wife of Ray and friend of Lorinda). Ever since we had heard that the tumors in Lorinda’s liver were cancerous, our hearts were so burdened for her and for the baby growing inside her.

I had contacted Linda ( Lorinda’s mother), soon after we heard the hard- to- believe news, about some information gathered over the years on alternative treatment for cancer, for I knew that Lorinda would not agree to any method of cure that might harm the baby.

Linda called me three days ago with lots of uplifting good news about and from Lorinda and asked that I put it in a letter to send to those who care, as, Linda is leaving for Tijuana, Mexico soon to be with Lorinda and to relieve Tom who needs to get back to work.

The decision to take the route of cure that Lorinda chose is a story in itself, but, as Linda stated, it was a day to day walk, letting the Lord guide and show the way. Lorinda is at a clinic in Mexico in the hands of two VERY qualified Doctors who are treating her and give her every encouragement that she and the baby will be fine. In the very brief conversations by cell phone (at $2 a minute) Linda said that Lorinda was happy with the clean, cheery accommodations, for her and Tom, the food was the most healthy and nutritious (all organic) possible and the Doctors and staff, professional and caring.

Dr. Bertakeenie (the top oncologist in the world who works with the Enercel product) has treated successfully for 16 years many pregnant women with cancer. Dr. Bernardo is an internist of over 50 years and his expertise lies in the field of alkalizing the body, oxygen therapy, nutrition, and in recent years, using Enercel with his patients.

The only downside of this alternative treatment is that it is not covered by insurance. I have not talked to the immediate family about what the total cost might be, but I do know that the three weeks at the clinic is $25,000 and the Enercel that was bought in the USA and taken with Lorinda to the clinic to be used there was $10,000. Linda said that they will have a better handle on the approximate costs soon.

For those of you who might like to donate money to help Lorinda and Tom pay for these costs, we are working out two more ways for your convenience and/or cost effectiveness. Rod (Lorinda’s brother) is setting up a way to donate by Paypal and Dana Franzen,( the accountant for whom Lorinda took incoming calls), is setting up a fund for those who would like a tax deduction..

Please keep Lorinda, Tom, Thomas, Jr. (yes, it’s a son) and all involved in your prayers. Our loving Father did not answer this family’s prayers for a baby and then to have cancer destroy their joy! Lorinda will have her son and her health, too!! Keep the faith.

Jane Teutsch

Saturday, November 05, 2005

 

Thomas' Photos

Dear Friends and Family,

Tom and I are leaving for my treatment program in the morning (Saturday, November 5, 2005). I'll be gone for approximately 3 weeks and Tom will return to the States on the 16th. We want to thank you all so very much for all your thoughts, prayers, and generosity that you've shown as we face this trial. It has been overwhelming and very touching, to say the least. God is in fact in control, however, and we find our greatest comfort when our eyes our on Him.

On a very exciting note, we would like to share with you our very first pictures of our little boy Thomas. As ultrasound pictures go, some are difficult to make out but others are quite obvious. We hope you enjoy these and want to thank you for your continued prayers and support. I'll be in touch soon! Love to you all.....

In His Grace,

Lorinda Stewart

Wednesday, November 02, 2005

 

LorindaStewart.com Web site

Please take a moment to visit our Web site at http://www.lorindastewart.com. We (Tom, my family and I) appreciate your thoughts, prayers and love. We will update this blog as frequently as we can.

Love, Lorinda.

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