'Connecting the dots' and battling cancer - Evening Sun

Wendy Stauffer, of Littlestown, Pa., speaks about the Ultimate Wellness program to connect the dots of the body, soul and spirit at the Hanover First Church of God on Saturday Stauffer, founder of Ultimate Wellness Ministries, battled cancer in 2010 and realized that the key to wellness is changing one's perspective. (FOR THE EVENING SUN TYLER SIZEMORE)

Cancer is no match for God.

That's Wendy Stauffer's mantra. The Littlestown mother of three has always put God in the center of her life, trusting him with anything life throws her way. Her cancer diagnosis two years ago was no exception.

After a colonoscopy in the summer of 2010, doctors noticed a tumor and she was diagnosed with stage three colon cancer. The news came as a shock to Stauffer, who thought of herself as a healthy 50-year-old.

Doctors took immediate action by removing the tumor, several lymph nodes and nine inches of bowel. After surgery, doctors suggested chemotherapy, but because of allergies to antibiotics, Stauffer decided to choose a different form of treatment.

She eliminated sugar from her diet, began exercising daily and attempted to live stress-free. Instead of allowing her cancer diagnosis to defeat her, she said, she used it to gain a closer relationship with God and focus on naturalistic cancer treatment. She felt healthy, she said.

And recent tests showed she's not out of the woods yet, but there's no reason for immediate concern, she said.

Her deciding factor

Although the work is not over, she is grateful to be living and plans to take her time fighting the cancer. And while she's here, she's going to keep sharing her story.

When Stauffer's doctors first suggested she started chemotherapy to help increase the chances of killing any cancer left and helping her body heal, she was hesitant. Her doctor

explained that chemotherapy weakens the immune system, and often makes people sick.

Doctors generally prescribe antibiotics to help fight infections, but Stauffer is allergic to several antibiotics. Her first thought was that she might die from an infection rather than the cancer. For Stauffer, this was a deal breaker.

Rejecting chemotherapy gave Stauffer a whole new perspective on her cancer. She began researching different treatments, deciding to focus on a more natural, less toxic approach. Stauffer said she's healing her body from the inside out to undo the damage she did in previous years while at the same time renewing her faith in God.

Keeping the faith

Faith hasn't failed her or her family yet, she said.

Long before Stuaffer's cancer diagnosis, her youngest child, Emily, was born with a genetic disorder called Trisomy 18.

Children with the disorder are born with a third copy of chromosome 18 instead of the usual two. Emily, now 11, doesn't speak or walk. She is fed through a feeding tube connected to her stomach, unable to eat solid food.

Most children born with Trisomy 18 don't live to their first birthday, the doctors warned the family. But Emily did. Stauffer nicknamed Emily the

Katie Klunk, a student at the Pennsylvania Myotherapy Institute, gives a massage to Cathy Lynn, of Hanover, Pa., at the Ultimate Wellness program at the Hanover First Church of God on Saturday. The day-long event also featured a resource fair, presentations and classes (FOR THE EVENING SUN TYLER SIZEMORE)

family's miracle baby.

Then, when Emily was 1, the doctors found a lemon-sized tumor on her liver. The doctors told the family that even normal, healthier children rarely survive liver cancer and gave Emily six months to live. The family spent every day with Emily, praying that God would keep their baby with them, Stauffer said. And sixth months later, the tumor had shrunk to the size of pea and was cancer-free.

"When that happens to your family, you can't help but know there's a God," Stauffer said.

A doctor's advice

Doctors generally put their trust in surgery and medicine, but many agree that faith does play a role in cancer treatments.

Faith is usually a positive factor in cancer treatment - unless it interferes with attempts to save the patient's life, said Dr. Michael Watson, a radiation oncologist at Cherry Tree Cancer Center in Hanover.

"In general, people who have faith have less anxiety and less emotional problems," Watson said.

Cancer is normally a very scary word to people, said Lynn Eib, patient advocate for Dr. Marc Hirsh and founder of the Cancer Prayer Support Group. Eib, a colon cancer survivor and author herself, said when people hear the word "cancer," they think the worst. It may not reduce the side effects of radiation or chemotherapy, but faith helps people cope by providing them with the emotional and spiritual support they need.

Before choosing a treatment, patients should seek out several different opinions doctors and other experts, Watson said. Then, patients should choose the right treatment, or combination of treatments, that works for them.

Doctors serve as advisors, and cannot force patients to a certain type of treatment, Watson said. Most cancer treatments depend on the type of cancer, he said, but general healthy living is important for all cancer patients.

Willa Lefever, co-owner of Sonnewald Natural Foods in Spring Grove, agreed. There isn't one correct protocol to cancer, she said. Everyone is different and should go over all the cancer treatment options. But to heal, the body does need some help, Lefever said.

The body needs a healthy lifestyle, including good nutrition, exercise and plenty of oxygen. Everything - mind, body and spirit - needs to be working in balance for ultimate healing, Lefever said.

'Connecting the dots'

As Stauffer began learning about the holistic treatment of cancer, she realized how much of her well-being was connected. She needed to be well physically, mentally and spiritually to heal her body.

In her words, she "connected the dots."

Stauffer decided to share this philosophy with a few friends and family. She planned a few focus groups, where she gave a short presentation and explained what she learned throughout her journey.

Soon, friends were telling her to share her information with a larger audience. But Stauffer's response was always the same - she's not a doctor or expert, so she didn't believe she was qualified.

Then, God's path led her to experts with the same passion --to strive for an overall wellbeing. These experts collaborated and planned an Ultimate Wellness event to share the journey to ultimate wellness with others in the community.

Nearly 150 community members filled the Hanover First Church of God Fellowship Hall for the event on Saturday as Stauffer shared her philosophy, on a stage covered with large colorful circles to symbolize her "dots."

But Stauffer wasn't alone. Each attendee rotated from classroom to classroom to hear five half-hour speakers discuss topics including nutrition, fitness and emotional wellness.

All aspects of the program intertwined which helped to show how to connect the dots, said event attendee Linda Funk, of Littlestown. Funk attended Saturday's event to reach her personal goals - to become healthier and more energetic. Although she's working on reaching her ultimate wellness, she said she plans to keep God in the center.

Dawn Hensley, of Littlestown, and Laura Reifsnider, of Mount Airy, Md., said the event was educational and helpful, providing several resources for people to seek out. And with busy lifestyles, it's helpful to have the resources in one place rather than researching on your own, Hensley said.

After the day's sessions, Reifsnider said she plans to take more time for herself. And she didn't waste time. At the event's end she decided to pamper herself with a spa treatment for her hands, provided by one of the event's vendors.

Registration for Saturday's event had filled quickly, reaching full capacity prior to the deadline, Stauffer said. But she hopes this is the first of several different events to promote wellness throughout the area. And she plans on being around for a while.

"I think that's why I'm still here," Stauffer said, "to be a vessel for God to use, and share my story and knowledge. God knew I would turn it around and help others. I'll do that until my dying day."

Ultimate Wellness Go to http://ultimatewellness.jigsy.com to register for future events and learn more about ultimate wellness.

Source: http://www.eveningsun.com/news/ci_22363291/connecting-dots-and-battling-cancer

santorum drops out bby zimmerman website miami marlins marlins marlins facebook buys instagram